Bridgeton pioneer., 1911-11-16
FIGHT IS ON
FOR SPEAKER
Sharp Contest Between Pas
sale and Camden.
LEADERSHIP IN SENATE.
Contest Is Between Edge, of Allan
tic, and Leavitt, of Mercer =
Edwin Nichols for Assis-
tant Secretary.

Trenton, N. j., Nov. 14.-Lively con-
tests between Assemblymen McCran,
OF Passaic, and De Unger, of Camden,
Tor Speaker of the coming Assembly,
and between Walter Edge, of Atlantic.
and Harry Leavitt, of Mercer, for Re-
publican leader in the Senate, were
begun at the usual Tuesday gathering
of Senators and Assemblymen-elect in
the corridors of the State House to-
day. Mr.. McCran, who had a large
number of friends busy with his boom,
had easy sailing until he encountered
Mr.. De Unger, who told him that he.
too, was a candidate for Speaker and
that he had the Republican organiza-
tlon of his county back of him.
Mr.. De Unger pointed out that he
was the minority choice for Speak ar
last year, and that if his party thought
him good enough for them then, he
saw no reason why it shouldn't select
him now, when the Republicans had a
majority. He suggested that Mr.. Nc
Gran take the leadership again. The
Passaic Assemblyman, however, didn't
see it that way, and he asserted that
his work as leader last year made him
the logical choice for Speaker and that
he purposed to fight for it.
In order to break up Mr.. De Unger's
support at home, it is understood that
the Passaic delegation offered to sup
port Upton Jeffries, of Camden. for
clerk of the House, in place of Cap
tain James Parker, of Paterson. who
has held that place in thirteen Repub-
llcan Assemblies, and to back George
w. White, of Camden, for majority
leader. Captain Parker didn't like
this news when it reached him. and
he promptly announced that he was a
candldate for clerk and was in the
fight to stay" saJa 3s
Senator Edge said it was untrue that
ne was candidate for president. He
said he and Senator Leavitt were en-
| gagged in a good natured contest for
the leadership, and he thought he
would win. Some one suggested that
| Senator Leavitt had the inside track.
and Edge promptly replied that from
the talks he had with some of the Sen
ators and Senators-elect he guessed he
would have enough votes to make
him leader. Senator Leavitt began an
aggressive fight, however, pointing out
that in view of the fact that he had
stepped aside last year it would be
| unfair for the Republican Senators to
| go back on him now. Senator Prince
had the field all to himself, SO far as
the presidency is concerned, although
there is no telling what will happen
! IN the next week or two
| AS a matter of fact, the states of
both houses are just as much in doubt
as ever, because no one knows Just
what Essex County, with it's twelve
Assemblymen, is going to do. Mr..
Dalrymple, the chairman of the Essex
County Republican Committee. was
around for short time, and he said,
so far as he knew, the members of the
Essex delegation hadn't lined up for
anybody, and didn't purpose to until
they had considered the situation more
closely. Essex holds the key to the
whole situation, and from the talk here
today the Republican of that county
can have anything they ask for.
So far as the candidacy of Colonel
Colgate, for president of the Senate is
concerned, DR.. Dalrymple said that
the Republican leaders in Essex were
now considering the advisability of the
colonel becoming president this year.
because, it was urged, Senator Colgate
will, in all probability, be a strong
candidate for Governor in 1913.
Senator Nichols, of Cumberland,
said there was no truth in the story
that he wanted to be president of the
Senate, and purposed to line up with
the Democrats, if necessary to get it.
The Cumberland Senator said he was
too good Republican to even think
of anything of that sort. He thought
however, that he was entitled to some
recognition from the membsr of his
party. 1t was said that if Mr.. Nichols
wants to name his son as assistant
secretary of the Senate, he would en-
counter no opposition from the Re-
publican Senators.
William G. Murphy, of Camden, who
was secretary of the Senate last win
ter, announced himself as candidate
for reelection. Tuttle c. Walker, OF
Atlantic, is also an active candidate
for the place.
More interest should be now taker