Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-11-18
DEMOCRATS MEET
AND GOSSIP OVER
NEW OFFICE SLAlt
Beekman Sure of Speakership.
Edwards for Comptroller and
Hermann Chancery Clerk.
[speclaI to the Ncwark stnr.l

little, If any, change in the tentative
slate made last week. 1t seemed to be
regarded as almost a certainty that
Assemblyman Azariah NJ Beekman
of Somerset, would be the Democratic
choice for speaker of the House with
Assemblyman Walter L. McDermott
for majority leader.
AS for the candidacy of Edward
Edwards, of Jersey City, for renom-
nation for State comptroller, the
politicians figured 1t as the one best
bet inasmuch as Governor-elect Field
er had expressed q preference fol
Edwards. Then, too, the appointment
OF ii. Otto Wittpenn, who had been
: mentioned in connection with the
comptrollership, as naval officer, re-
moved another obstacle from Ed
wardss path.
Those who seemed to know were OF
the opinion that there would be no op-
position to Beekman for speaker from
any source. The representatives OF
the larger counties, 1t was ventured
would be more concerned In the dis
tribution of patronage than In the
speakership.
1t was even declared, especially In
view of the fact that six counties
to which patronage was allotted last
year, are eliminated this year by vir-
tue of having returned Republican
delegations to the House. The incent-
i've to look for patronage is too ap-
parent to warrant question. These
counties are Passaic, which had six
Jobs last year; Morris, which had
two. and Cumberland, Cape May
Mercer and Camden. with one each
making twelve in all.
For the position of clerk of the
fe, -
apparently to Mark F. Phillips, of
Essex, who was clerk last year Phil
| lips was on hand early this morning,
as were Assemblymen Charles A.
Nutting Frank A. Foley, Bennett H.
FISHER and James r. Byrne, of Es-
sex. For the position Of sergeant at
arms, which was held by Cornelius
]. Ford, of Hudson, last year, it is
| understood that the Hudson delega-
ton will support James #. Doody,
who was a member of the Board of
Street and Water Commissioners un-
der former Mayor Wittpenn.
Wittpenn Assemblymen Absent.
The ten Wittpenn assemblymen, by
the way, were conspicuous by their
absence. McDermott and Griffen, the
two anti-Wittpenn assemblymen,
were both on hand, however.
Governor-elect Fielder was not ex-
pected to visit the State House to-
day, 1t being stated by his secretary,
l.. Edward Hermann, that Mr.. Fielder
would probably remain at his home
In Jersey City.
There was a current rumor in the
State House corridors that Laurent
j. Tonnele, who was the governors
campaign manager and who is as
sistant secretary of the Democratic
State Committee, would be named as
private secretary to the governor
when he Is inaugurated. Mr.. Her.
mann, so the story goes, is slated for
the position of clerk in Chancery,
now held by Samuel K Robbins.
The office pays $4,000.
Mr.. Hermann. when asked about
the matter, denied absolutely that
there was anything to the rumor, but
the general opinion seems to be that
Mr.. Tonnele will be rewarded with
some Office by Governor Fielder, in
view of the wonderful services he
rendered throughout the Governors
campaign.
No Provision for Meaney.
Assemblyman Beekman arrived
shortly before noon. He denied the re-
port that if he is selected as speaker
he will name Thomas F. Meaney, of
Jersey City, formerly private secre-
tary to Fl. Otto Wittpenn, as his Sec
retary. Beekman is known to have
had a conference with Wittpenn at
the latter's headquarters in the Fuller
building in Jersey City on Friday last.
1t was following this conference that
Meaney's name was mentioned in con-
nection with the secretaryship AS
Wittpenn in his new position as naval
officer is powerless to name his secre-
tary Meaney was to be taken care of
by Beekman in return for Wittpenn's 8
support in his fight for the speaker
ship.
Beekman admitted comforting with
Wittpenn, but said Meaney's name
had not been brought into the discus
sion. He had merely pail a social call
on the former Jersey City mayor, he
declared.
It is said, however, that Wittpenn
will make a strenuous effort to land
places for several of his supporters,
especially Meaney and George r.
Egan, a brother of Senator-elect
Charles M. Egan, of Hudson, with the
ten votes he controls in the Hudson
delegation, and 1t is believed that he
will have very little difficulty in ac-
complishing his end.
Candidate for Speaker.
The arrival of Beekman naturally
brought the topic of the speakership
selection into the limelight. While
many booms which were started last
week have been exploded there are
still about a half dozen candidates
hanging on. McDermott is not out of
the race yet, by any means, and AS
semblymen William A. Leonard, of
Union; John p kirkpatrick, of Mid
dlesex; Oliver c. Holcombe, of Hun
terdon, and Charles A. Nutting, of Es-
sex, declare that their hats are still
in the ring
In connection with the position Of
clerk in chancery the name of As
semblyman Thomas E. Martin, of
Hudson, who was defeated at the pri-
mories for the State senatorship by
Mr.. Egan, was also being prominent
ly mentioned. Martin was one of the
most experienced legislators that rep
resented Hudson county in years and
has number of friends who are
boosting his cause. He is also high in
the esteem of Governor elect Fielder,
and is believed to stand a good chance
of obtaining the position. Mr.. Mar
tin said he had heard some talk of his
name in connection with the place.
A few of the Republican senators
and assemblymen held a little confer
anoe at fhe State House todav md