Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-08-30
Speculation Rife Following the
Candidacy of Prosecutor
FIorance for State Senator
from MiddIesex County.
DEMOCRATS LOOK AHEAD
FIorance, if Elected, viii Give
Up $4,000 Year Job for
$500 State Office in the
Senate of New Jersey.

With Prosecutor w. Edwin
Florance one of the Democratic can
didates for the domination as state
senator from Middlesex county,
speculation is already rife as to who
will succeed to the prosecutorship in
case of the present incumbent's ad-
vancement to the senate. The most
likely prospects are Joseph E.
Stricken, of this city, former assist
ant prosecutor, and John A. Coan, of
South Amboy, who is at present
assistant to Mr.. Florance.
Much interest seems centered
around the prosecutorship in the
present political fight, for Mr.. Flor
ance's nomination and election will
give the Democrats an opportunity
to advance their choice to the Office.
Friends of both Mr.. Stricken and Mr..
Coan believe that they are entitled
to the advancement, and the selec-
ton to be made will undoubtedly
have direct bearing upon the ap-
preaching political campaign.
Mr.. Florance, who has been coun-
ty prosecutor for less than a year,
will have to give up an Office now
honor of sitting in the state senate,
the salary for which Is $500. When
the former incumbent of the prose-
cutor's Office, George S. Silzer, was
placed upon the bench in the Circuit
Court, Joseph E. Stricken, who was
then occupying the assistant prose-
cutorship at what he maintained was
a personal sacrifice, naturally expect
ed to be advanced to the prosecutor
ship.
When the vacancy occurred, Mr..
Stricker was in the war zone of Europe,
a'sd upon his return his cl.im to this
90 was ignored by the party leaders,
and Mr.. Florance was made prosecutor.
Disappointed, Mr. Stricken refused to
continue as assistant prosecutor, and
John A. Coan, Oh South Amboy, former
county solicitor, was named to fill the
vacancy.
Mr.. Stricken, who was former
county chairman, is said to be a very
valuable man to the Democratic
party in Middlesex county, his pow
ers as linguist being a valuable
asset. On the other hand the ad-
vancement of Mr. Coan to the prose-
cutorship would open up a path for
filling up the assistant prosecutor
ship. In this event it seems likely
that George L. Burton, present
county solicitor, will be moved up to
Mr.. Coan's position and this will
give the county leaders an opportu-
nifty to hand out another office.
Friends of Assemblyman Arthur A.
Quinn, one of the candidates for the
Democratic senatorial nomination,
maintain that the opportunity for
handing out "plums' in the event Mr.
Florance vacates the prosecutorship
is the cause of the apparent backing
being given the present prosecutor in
his fight for the senatorial nomina-
tion by the county leaders.
The expiration of Judge Peter F.
Daly's term as judge of the court of
common pleas is said to be another
factor entering into the senatorial
campaign. In appointing Judge
Daly's successor it is likely that Gov
ernor Fielder will be guided by the
suggestion of the senator from Mid
dlesex county, and it is known that
former Mayor George A. Veihmann,
of New Brunswick, who until recently
was mentioned for the senatorial
nomination, would not favor the reap
pointment of Judge DAILY. Assembly,
man Quinn, it is also believed, would
not look with favor upon DAILY if he
becomes senator.