The Penn's Grove record., 1915-11-26
STATE CAPITOL NEWS
What The State Officials Are DOiRq.
What The Political Leader Are
Talking About.

Trenton. November 24-Yiewed as a
preliminary contest in the fight for State
Treasurer and United States Senator, tie
result Of the Republican Assembly eau
Gus yesterday would indicate the over
throw Of the Stokes-Bugbee combination
and the election Of a Treasurer and the
probable nomination Of a candidate for
Senator by the faction controlled by for
mer Governor Franklin Murphy snd Da-
yid Baird. Mr.. Baird and Alfred Il.
%Dalrymple, Murphy's Lieutenant, were at
the State House early yesterday and held
a conference before the caucus assembl-
ed. Following this confab came an easy
victory for this combination.
Opinions differed, however, as " the
real significance of the election Of Assem-
blyman Pilgrim, of Essex, as the candi-
date for Speaker. over Assemblyman
Runyon, Of Union, last years Republican
House leader. Some Of the men who set-
ed for Pilgrim declared that their vote
had no bearing whatever upon the Treas
urership or other future party matters
I'VE were merely deciding she orgaIie
zation Of the Assembly" said one mem
Der, .'and the Treasurership viii be en-
tirely another matter"
Whatever may be the significance Of the
action. it shows that Baird and Murphy,
the two old time leaders, still have a lot
Of political power, if they care to exert
it.
Assenrblyman Charles c. Pilgrim was
chosen the candidate for Speaker, To- the
vote of 26, to IA for William n. Runyon.
Pilgrim received the twelve Essex votes,
together with the following: Atlantic, 2;
Camden, 3; 3 Of the Passaic delegation;
Morris ,; and the l vote from Cape May,
Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem. Run
yon received 3 votes from Union; Bergen.
3; Mercer. 3; Ocean. 1; the remaining 2
from Passaic; Burlington L; and Somer-
set, l. Pilgrim was nominated by Cros-
by, Chairman Of the Essex delegation,
and Runyon was named by Morgan, of
Union.
Assemblyman John B. Hates, of Cam
den, was unanimously chosen Chairman
Of the caucus and leader Of the House
for the session. There was no opposition
to Upton S. Jefferys, of Camden, for his
old position Of Clerk, and he was unani-
mously chosen. The following Steering
Committee was named to assign the other
positions 10 the various counties: West,
of Gloucester; Pancoast, of Camden;
Dalrymple, Of Passaic; Downs, Of Morris;
Crosby, of Essex, and Conrad, Of Ocean.
= <
Senator Ackerson, of Monmouth, was
selected as the minority leader in the Sen
ate by the Democratic Senators at their
conference at the State House yesterday.
True to his promise, Senator Hennessy,
of Bergen, did not oppose Ackerson, and
following this, Hennessy was chosen as
the candidate for the Presidency of the
Senate. Following custom, the honor OF
being Temporary President Of the SenNe
at the organization January II, will go
the minority, and the Democratic confer
ence named Senator Ackley, of Cumber-
land, for this position. Senators Hen
messy, Ackley and Ackerson were made
the COMMITTEE on Party Legislation This
Committee win see that bills are pre-
pared and introduced, carrying out the
Democratic state platform pledges
The Assembly Democrats also held a
conference yesterday and made Assem-
blyman-elect Geran, of Monmouth County
their leader. Mr.. Geran was in the As
sembly in 1911, when he was the father
Of the Geran election act. The Demo
Gratis chose Assemblyman Brackner, of
Hudson. as their candidate for Speaker.
The Republican Committee named b.
the State Convention on October 5 TO
see that the bills were drafted on the
party platform pledges met at the State
House yesterday. It was reported that
several of the bills are already being pre-
pared and it was decided to employ coun-
sci to draft the measures that needed
more research and information thar could
be given by the members of the Commit
tee. The Republican State caucus has
also named committees Of three each to
cooperate with the Convention Commit
tee referred to. The general subject to
be covered in the platform measures are:
Budget system, waterways, public
schools and industrial education, addition
al Normal Schools and negro education.
taxation, grade crossings, municipal hnfn-
ces, study of mental detectives, agEisul-
tural Development. roads, economy and
efficiency. labor, simplifcation Of election
laws. home rule, Civil Service, financial
policy. requisition system, central state
purchasing bureau, and rules.
The failure of fsrmer United States
Senator James Smith, Jr., with liabilities
estimated at 81, 4oO.0D0, has been one OF
the chief topics of conversation in p0li6N
cal circles this week. Senator Smith has
placed his affairs in the hands of a trus-
tee to administer them, and 1t viii not be
known how nearly he will be able to meet
his liabilities until she trustee investi-
gates and reports. In past years, Sena-
tor Smith has been q liberal contributor
in a financial way to the cause of Demo-
cracy and it is generally regarded that
his failure win be a blow to his party.
Since the rise of President Wilson to
Democratic leader. the influence of Mr..
Smith has not been so strong.
State Senator Egan. Democrat, of Hud-
son, has issued a statement calling upon
Governor Fielder to favor Naval Officer
Fl. Otto Wittpenn as the Democratic can
didate for Governor next year. Senator
Egan pOints out that Wittpenn stepped