Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-07-28
DEMOCRATIC
GRIP ON SENATE
IS VERY SHAKY
The Loss of One Vote Means
Surrender of Upper House
Control.
special to the Evening Star.


TRENTON. July 2s--It is not hard
to figure out that If the Democrats
hold their own in the contests for.
State senators this fall they will con-
troll the upper house of the Legis-
lature next winter by the slim ma
jority of one just as they stood in
the majority last winter, and il is
equally as easy to calculate that if
they don't elect three senators in
November they will be up a tree.
The odds are against the Demo-
Gratis accomplishing anything of the
sort. The terms of three Democrats
expire this year. They are John W.
Sloeum, of Monmouth county. Isaac
S. Smick, of Salem, and DR. Thomas
Barber. of Warren.
Complete Reverse.
That Monmouth and Warren will
each return a Democrat is reason
ably certain. but Smick's prospects
of being reelected in Salem are very
dull indeed. With a Republican sue
ceeding Smick and the Republicans
returning senators from the five Re-
publican counties that elect sena-
tors this fall. the complexion of the
Senate would be changed from eleven
Democrats and ten Republicans in
1914 to eleven Republicans and ten
Democrats in 1915
The terms of 1--WE Republican sena-
tors will expire this year. The out
going members of the Upper House
are william t. Read, of Camden;
Austen Colgate. of Essex; George w.
F. Gaunt, of Gloucester: William W.
Smalley, of Somerset, and Carlton B.
Pierce, of Union.
- of
Gloucester the chances of the Re-
publicans losing are considered re-
mote. Still the Democrats may get
look in in Somerset.
But awarding each party all that
il has at present the outlook for
Smick is causing uneasiness among
Democrats. Smick was elected last
year to fill the vacancy caused by the
resignation of ]. Warren DAVIS. who
became United States district attor-
ney He won out by 21T votes. He
had the solid backing of the local
option element. while this year the
local optionists have candidate Of
their own in the person of Rev. =. p.
Gwynne. pastor of the Presbyterian
Church of Elmer. The auti-saloon
league is with the clergyman.
Ingratitude Charged.
In the Legislature of 1913 MI Smick
was the assemblyman from Salem
county. and at the request Of the
Anti-Saloon League introduced the
local option bill 1t was House bill
No S73. Last November Mr.. Smick
was elected senator from Salem TO
fill the unexpired term of J. Warren
Davis.
Last winter Senator Smick again
introduced the local option bill for the
Anti-Saloon League. This year Sem
ator Smicl1 is the candidate for re-
election to the Senate for a full term
of three years, and Pastor Gwynne is
fighting him for the nomination.
1t is expected that the Republican
candidate for senator will be former
Sheriff Collins B. Allen, of Manning
ton Township, near Salem City.
Smick's friends are openly accusing
the local optionists and the Anti-Sa-
loon leaguers of bad faith and in
gratitude
Democrats are not attempting 10
conceal their misgivings, but while
looking hopelessly almost at Salem
County are casting about elsewhere
to make up the expected loss in
another way