Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-04-25
RACE FOR KEAKS
TOGA IS GROWING
VERY EXCITING
Murphy, Stokes, Fort and Baird
With Present Incumbent
in the Fight.
GOVERNORS STATEMENT
PROMISED FOR TOMORROW
Cumberland Countian's Aggres.
siyeness Causing Alarm Among
Some of His Competitors.

The United States Senatorial race
Is growing more exciting all the time.
The Republican entries are swelling,
there being five recognized candidates
in the field already. Before another
fortnight passes the popularity or
these aspirants will be put to a test.
The process of elimination will pe in
voked and the likelihood is that rhs
number of contestants will simmer
down TO one or possibly two before the
real hot weather sets in.
Excepting former Governor Edward
{. Stokes none of the FIVE have put
their candidacy sauarely before the
people. The Cumberland county mans
a aggressiveness is an indication that he
intends to fight hard. He will shortly
file with the secretary of State the
petitions that were circulated in his
county.
The marvellous success of this petit
ton has dispelled all of the arguments
which Assemblyman Isaac T. Nichols.
of the same county. has been using
against the popularity of former Gov
ernor Stokes in Cumberland county.
Mr.. Nichols had been saying that Gov
ernor Stokes had lost his prestage in
Cumberland, but the eagerness dis
played in signing his petition for the
Federal Senate would tend TO show thar
there must be something personal in
the Nichols point of view.
Former Governor Stokes is the first
man in the field to take advantage OF
the act passed during his adnlinistra-
ton allowing the voters TO show their
preference, as far as the Federal Con-
stitution says they may. for United
States Senator. Under this act a peti-
ton TO the secretary OF State contain
ing 1000 names for one person forces
that name on the ballots in the various
counties to be voted for at the primary
election. or course the successful
candidate there is not necessarily
winner in the vote of the Legislature
for the Federal Constitution forbids the
election OF United States Senators By
the vote of the people. but the mora
force of such contest is likely to
have weight with the legislators when
they come to ballot for the next United
States Senator. this being during the
early days of the next Legislature.
MIR. Stokes is now planning to tour
the State.
Fort statement Tomorrow.
Former Governor Franklin Murphy
is liable to sprng a bit of literature
most any day declaring his ambition
for the seat to be vacated by Senate,
John Kean. Mr.. kean himself wants
1t distinctly understood that he is seek
ing reelection. The boom for David
Baird, of Camden, has been quietly
but forcibly launched.
Governor John Franklin Fort. the
fifth candidate. has promised to mako
a public statement tomorrow. He -
expected to tell just where he stands on
the question Of United States senator
ship. Repeatedly the Governor has
declared that he is not a candidate for
the Kean seat He has gone still FUR
her. ard in a jocose spirit has de-
clared that he has no political am
aitions whatever The Governor. in
nutshell. is using the same tactics in
the senatorial race as he did when ne
larded the Republican nomination for
Governor three years ago
Il viii have something to say az
Trenton tomorrow, is all that the Gov
ernor would say today when questioned
about the senatorial race
There is considerable speculation as
to just what that means. close friend
of the Governor said today:
Governor Fort feels that somebody
must take up the peoples fight He is
not desirous of going into campaign
but would like to continue his work
for reform legislation, and il he de-
cides that Il Is his duty to enter the
primary campaign as candidate for
United States senator with the idea OF
joining the progressive element of his
party at Washington. you can count
upon him to stir the State from end to
end. The Governor is anxious to have
the people pass upon his sdministra-
ton"
Ever since the South Jersey Repub-
lican leader. David Baird. announced
his refusal TO accept reappointrnent on
the State Board of Assessors he has
been regarded as formidable candi-
date for United States Senator. His
real boom. however. was not launched
till last Friday, as told in this paper,
when he put Senator William J Brad
ley. of Camden. in the race for the Re-
publican nomination for Governor. with
the idea of between them holding South
Jerseys Republican strength this fall
Mr. Baird is recognized as political
power in the southern part of the State.
and is second to no man as a State
leader Everybody in the Republican
ranks agrees that he viii be an import
ant factor in the fall campaign.
The story OF former Governor Stokess
appeal to the voters was told in these
columns last week, when his friends be-
gan to circulate the Stokes petitions.
So far none of the remaining four recog-
nized candidates have taken advantage
of the new law, which permits of what
might be termed a primary plunge.~
Legislators elected at the coming cleo
ton do not bind themselves under the
new primary law. but the plan enables
the candidate to see which way the
wind blows. Governor Fort has persis-
tently declared that he would not per
NIT the use of his name at the pri-
maries. Mr.. Stokes may play lone
hand in that respect.
Intense interest centres around for
.rer Governor Franklin Murphy OF this