New-York tribune., 1912-01-22
SIT ON ROOSEVELT WAVE
FOR RIDE INTO SENATE
Two Former Governors OF New
Jersey Credited with
This Plan.
STOKES AND FORT BUSY
Everett Colby Also Candidate
for Briggs's Place and Strong
for denomination of the
Former President.

TEron, the Regular Correspondent OF The lrlouhe'I
Trenton. N j., Jan. 21.-The recent ac-
tiyities of ex-Governors Fort and stokes
and of ex-senator Colby on behalf OF the
domination Of Colonel Roosevelt by the
coming Republican National Convention
have led many persons in close touch
with political conditions In New Jersey
to believe that the coming contest Tor
limited States Senator in New Jersey Is
PLAYING an important part in Inc oesile
of these three prominent Republicans 70
have Mr.. Roosevelt again become the
standard bearer of his party.
There are some persons who say tina.
each one of the three men mentioned Is
irving TO come back" on what they
hope may he o Roosevelt wave, because
IT is understood that each one of them
is now outside of the breastWorks' SO lar
as the Republican organization OF tho
state is concerned.
Former Governor Stokes makes no Sc
cret of his aspirations to succeed Frank
O. Briggs i'm the United States Senate
1t is an ambition that he has cherishe1
for a long time and although he has not
vet announced that he will be CONTENDER
for the Endorsement of the Republicans
at the September primaries, his close
friends say that he is just waiting for the
PSYCHOLOGICAL moment TO spring 1t. Mr..
Stokes and the regular" Republican
leaders Of the state are not on the best
terms Just now. and as a candidate for
United States Senator he would have TO
depend on his friends throughout the
state. as the Republican organization is
unit for the return Of Mr.. Briggs on
the theory that the present senior Sena-
tor from New Jersey has made good
and is entitled to a second term.
Hope for Roosevelt Wave.
With the Republican organization
working solidy against him, Mr.. Stokes
has a pretty hard fight on his hands,
unless, Of course, a Roosevelt wave
should materialize and the Ex-Governor
should happen to be part of it, There
is no doubt, however, that Mr.. Stokes is
a Roosevelt boomer, although he has not
as yet given ii as his intention to get
up a petition with the colonels name on
it. neither has he announced his inten-
tion of running as a delegate pledged to
the nomination of Mr. Roosevelt at the
primaries in May.
| Ex-senator Colby is also a candidate
for United States Senator and he hopes
to have the backing of the Progressive
Republicans But there is not the best
Of feeling in the Progressive family Just
now, the majority Of the leaders Of this
faction maintaining their loyalty to SEN
ator La Toilette. George L. Record,
who is Mr.. Colby's opponent for the in
dorsement Of the Progressives for the
United States Senatorship, is a devoted
La FCllette supporter, and it is under
stood that Edmund B. Osborne, presi-
dent Of the Progressive League of the
state is also a supporter of the Wiscon.
sin Senator.
With Mr.. Roosevelt in the race. how
ever, Mr.. Colbys friends say that tho
Progressives would rally under tho
colonels banner and thus put Record
and his followers to rout leaving the
field clear for an Endorsement Of Mr.
Colby as candidate for United States
Senator by the Progressives. In addi-
tion it is said that Mr.. Colby has bones
of being included in a possible Roose-
welt wave. as with the backing of the
Progressives only he has not much Of \
chance of being a victor at the prima ria,
in September.
At the present time the Republican n
Progressives are confined to Essex and
Hudson counties. with a handful in Rer.
gen and Passaic counties.
So far as Ex-Governor Fort is CON-
cerned, his friends say that he is lust
keeping his ear to the ground, and that
if the time should become ripe he would
at once jump into the contest for the
United States Senatorship. Mr.. Fort
J maintains that he is out of politics. but
his activity in behalf Of Colonel Roosa-
Welt indicates that he is ready and will.
ing to get back into the game. and b,c
friends say that he, too, would not ob.
tect to being included in a RooseveI,
wave If he were made the successor r.
Frank o. Briggs.
So far as the Republicans of New 1or
sey are concerned there is every indi.
cation that President Taft will have .
united DELEGATION from, Nyau, 1