New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-01
TELLS OF historic BOLT
Sen. Nichols Thrown Into Same
Position as rs Years Ago.
REPUBLICANS SPLIT THEN
Ambition of Old Man Forced a
Combination with Democrats
and Griggs Lost.

Trenton, n J., Nov. so (SpeciaD For
the first time in twenty-five years the he-
publicans have a majority of a solitary vote
i'm the Senate. and an interesting thing III
this connection is the fact that Isaac l.
Nichols of Cumberland, a member Of the
present Senate. was also member OF the
Senate a quarter of a century ago
That was In 1885, and instead of an mar
monious caucus, with all eleven Repupn-
cans pledged to stand together, as was the
case last Tuesday. two Of the Republicans
bottled. and lining up with the Democrats
forced the election Of one of the Republican
boilers as president.
John ". Griggs, afterward Governor OF
New Jersey and Attorney General In NC
KinIey's Cabinet was a member of the Sen
ate that year. and was the choice OF the
Republican caucus for president. senator
Abraham V. Schenck of MiddleseX, was
the Republican who refused 10 stand by MS
Republican colleagues and who afterward'
with the aid Of the Democrats, was chosen
as president.
Writing Of the contest for president IN
1855. Senator Nichols says
WAS then in the fifth year Of service IN
the Senate, and. as a young man ampltlous
for bonOrs IL was my desire 10 rounq OUT
my Senatorial career with the PresldenLE
OF the Senate. Six was majority or me
caucus as six will again be at the session
which opens in 1912 After declaring my
candidacy for President of the Senate
Senator John W. Griggs of Passalc, AFTER
ward Governor announced mmself can
diGate. Senator Abraham " Schenc,k1'
MiddleseX, was also named. The Repupn-
can caucus convened at the Trenton House.
Nine Senator'S were present, Selld'VI 9
Schenck, of MiddleseX, ana 1ounSDlooo' OF
Morris. absenting themselves because or
their belief that the caucus had been hXed
for John W. Grggs They retired TO Sen
ator Schenck's rooms at the Windsor
Hotel. H.
The truth of the situation was that the
writer had q majority of the caucus so far
as pledges were concerned, but two Sena-
tors violated their agreement TO vote ior
ME The ballot gave GriggS nVe votes;
Nichols four; Schenck and Noungolood
absent 80
1t was a great disappointment, and was
keenly felt, yet as good Republican II
became my duty to Loyalty support the
nominee Finding the condition OF afalrs
critical for party organization Of the SEN
ate the chairman OF the caucus apponlItu
Senator Cranmer, OF ocean ana eNlcioIs,
OF Cumberland, TO wait on Senators
Schenck and YoungbloOd, and urge thep
10 the support Of Senator Griggs. Senator
Schenck was advanced in years, had been
a lifelong Republican, one of the founQers
Of the party, and a lawyer of distinguished
ability in the courts Of the state. He sara
that he believed the honor was due him !;
that Griggs was young man and cOulq
afford to wait inaSmuch as there would
be other opportunities for him. He pleaded
for the honor as a GROWING laurel for MS
cid age and final retirement from pubic
life.
II was a pathetic picture, for Senator
Schenck was a noble gentleman who de-
served well Of the Republican party. Sen
ator Youngb!ood, his associate, voiced the
Same views arguing very forcibly Tor
Schenck and his claims on the party.
Finally Senator SchenCk said that while
he earnestly desired the honor he would
give way if the caucus would reconvene
and nominate Senator Nichols. Senator
Youngblood indorsed this statement, and
thus the two dissenting Senators made IL
much harder for me with the prize appar-
entity 80 near. We returned TO the caucus
and announced the result Of the interview.
The caucus would not recede from its po-
sition as TO Griggs, so the matter went on
for hnal decision by the Senate.
At o'clock in the afternoon the Senate
met with all the Senators present. They
presented the name of John w. Griggs for
President. Senator YoungblOod presented
the name of Abraham V. Schenck. The
Democrats made no nomination. The roll
was called Nine Republicans voted for
Griggs, ten Democrats for Schenck, to-
Ccther with Senator Younghlood Senator
Schenck did not vote. Thus Abraham V.
ScbenCk became President of the Senate.