Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-11-25
.SPEAKERSH|P MAY
GO TO DARK HORSE
Democrats at Governors Day
Discuss Relative Strength
of Several Aspirants.
Especial TO the newark start

Especial TO the Newark Star.1
TRENTON, Nov. 25.-Democrats
were very much in the minority at
the third Governors Day" here to-
day. Governor-elect James r. Field
er was not present. he having left
Jersey City with Mrs. Fielder early
this morning for Washington to at
tend the wedding of Miss Jessie Will
son, the Presidents daughter, to
Francis Bowes Sayre.
Acting Governor Leon r. Taylor
and Assemhlyman Azariah M. Beck
man, of Somerset county, who seems
to have the call for the speakship
of the House. were on hand. Beck
man was in conference with Acting
Governor Taylor and was later
closeted for some time with State
Treasurer Edward e. Grosscup, one
of his strongest supporters in the
battle for the speakership The Dem
ocrats ON hand ascribed the absence
of their colleagues to the belief that
the tentative slate advanced two
weeks ago at the first conference
with Beekman as the candidate for
speaker and Assemblyman Walter L.
McDermott, of Hudson county, as
majority leader, would be carried out.
Some were of the opinion that the
recent charge made against Beel1man
that he had been a Republican up
until four years ago and In fact had
held a job in his home town of Som
erville under Republican adminis-
, tration, might hurt his chances and
further McDermott's candidacy for
the speakership. Others advanced the
I opinion that IL the charges against
Beekman had any effect when the
Democrats meet in caucus on next
Tuesday, 1t would result In the selec-
tion OF some compromise candidate,
as for instance, Assemblyman John
p. Kirkpatrick, of Middlesex, who Is
the dark horse in the race.
While admitting McDermott's
strength in certain quarters they de-
clare he is weak in others. Then too,
it is pointed out that Naval Officer
H. Otto Wittpenn, with his ten as
semblymen from Hudson will have
considerable to say. Wittpenn is said
to be with Beekman, but If the OPP
position to the latter should become
too strong it is thought the former
Jersey City mayor will make
strenuous effort to put Assemblyman
Joseph M. Branegan. of West Hud- |
son, across as the next speaker of the
House.
The Democratic caucus will be held |
next Tuesday instead of Saturday, |
December 6, as had been announced. |
Assembyman Oliver c.. Holcombe |
said he would issue the call today for |
Tuesday. He said he did not know /
how the story got out that the con-
ference would be called for Saturday |
The Republican minority was very |
much in the majority today. 1t was
their first conference. the meeting |
having been agreed upon last Tues
day. While there seems to be little
doubt but that Senator William 7.
Read, of Camden, will be the floor
leader in the Senate, with Senator
Walter Edge, of Atlantic, as the can
tiidate for president of that body, the
minority leadership is not so certain.
Republicans Caucus.
Tho Republican senators went into
executive session shortly before noon,
while the assemblymen strolled about |
the State House corridors talking
about speakership and leadership |
nominations In the throng was |
Howard Stokes, q brother of former |
Governor Edward G. Stokes.
Shortly after the senators got to-
gether the Republican assemblymen |
also met behind closed doors Mr.. |
Richards called the meeting to or
der.
The Senate conference was a rather
tame affair. After the meeting the |
announcement was made that Senator |
Read of Camden, last years floor |
leader, would again take control of |
the Republican forces on the floor of |
the Senate The honorary nomina- |
ton for president OF the Senate was |
not definitely settled upon. Senator |
Edge, of Atlantic, who was proml- |
nently mentioned for the honor, de- |
clines to accept it. He preferrd the |
nomination be given to one of the |
senators whose term expires this |
] year. 1t is likely that Senator Pierce |
of Senator Smalley will be the |
minoritys candidate for the honor. A |
formal discussion was INDUCED In by |
the conferees following the confer |
ence on the slate making.
Moore Gets Complimentary Vote.
Assemblyman Moore, of Mercer |
and Smith, of Essex, were both nomi- |
mated for the speakership. Moore was
chosen by vote of II to 3. The three
who voted for Smith were Assembly
memn-elect E. Morgan Barradale. w.
Give Crosby, of Essex, and Mr..
Moore.
Assemblyman Richards, last years
minority leader, was the unanimous
choice for that position again. AS
semblyman Kales, of Camden, who
was being prominently mentioned for
the position, was not even nominated. |