Evening star., 1915-07-06
Republicans of New Jersey Ex-
press Confidence in Ability
to Garry State.
COUNTING ON THE RETURN
OF PROGRESSIVE VOTERS
Claim Governor and Senator-Demo.
Gratis, However, Promise Lively
Contest for Governorship.
BY N. O. MESSENGER.


ming far ahead on candidates for such
Offices as United States senator and
governor. They are SO cocksure of
victory that they boast of it. and do
not even take the precaution to rap
OH wood.
Their confidence is based in part
upon the return to form shown in the
last congressional and state elections;
upon the coming back of the straying
progressives, and upon the depression
in business and industry laid to the
democratic tariff. Normally New Jer-
sey is a protectionist state, but went
on a spree in 1912 along with free
trade democrats and a lot of bull
moosers. 1t was an awful orgie, but
now, sobered and chastened by mis-
fortune and hard times, there is every
sign to the political eye that New Jer-
sey will resume its place in the ranks
of republican protectionist states.
Some of the old republican leaders
have passed over the border into the
great beyond, the while the party was
wandering like the lost tribe of Israel
John Kean, Dryden and other big
Jersey republicans also, but there are
good men left.
Stokes Rated a Favorite.
1t appears likely that Edward c.
Stokes will receive the nomination at
the primaries for United States sena-
tor. He probably will be elected, bar
ring the unforeseen, and a possible
stroke of what Jerseymen call will
sons luck Mr.. Stokes was governor
of the state from 1904 to 1907. He ran
unsuccessfully for governor against
the democratic incumbent, when $4,000
votes went to the progressive candidate
Tor governor, Everett Colby. The greater
NUMBER of those progressives are ex-
pected to cone back into the regular re-
publican ranks in the next election
Former Gov. Franklin Murphy of
Newark is expected to be a candidate
for United States senator. He will be
backed by the old crowd of standpat-
gresslVes, who want to come back into
the party, but not under any old stand
pat banner. Walter L. Edge of At
lantic City may also enter the sena-
torial race, and if he finds the going
too swift for him in this class he may
transfer his entry to the governship
contest.
There will be lively scramble for
the republican gubernatorial nomina-
ton. The man apparently in the lead
chancellor of the state. This is the
same Mr.. Lewis whom Woodrow Will
son defeated for the governship in
1910 by $4,000 majority, through the
split in the republican party. Later
Gov. Wilson gave his sanction to his
selection as a vice chancellor, out of
his high respect for him.
Will Have Strong Rival.
Mr.. Lewis will be confronted with a
powerful rival for the nomination in
the person of Austen Colgate, a manu-
facturer of Newark of large wealth.
Combinations involving the senatorship
and the governorship will be effected,
it is thought, with a view to putting
up the strongest ticket, the republicans
being more intent upon return to pow
er than qualification of personal ambi-
tions.
The republican party of New Jersey,
as we'll as of the nation, had a severe
experience as result of the split of 1912.
The party was all but decimated in the
legislature, electing only one state sem
ator and only nine OF the sixty mem
bers of the lower house. The pendulum
began to swing back in 1913, when the
republicans elected half the state SEN
ate and twenty-three assemblymen.
In 1914 they increased their strength,
getting in the lower house a majority
of sixteen and a majority of one in the
senate. They feel sure of keeping their
hold on the legislature in the elections
next November. but with democratic
governor still in the chair. they cannot
do much in the way of partisan leGis-
lation. So, they are looking forward
with yearning hearts to 1916, when
they expect to make q clean sweep.
Democrats to Make Fight.
The democrats intend to make a fight
for the governorship, even if they do
feel downhearted over the United States
senatorship. There are local consid-
erations entering into a gubernatorial
campaign that do not affect to such an
extent the senatorial fight.
For one thing, the Governor of New
Jersey is the czar of New jersey" as
former Senator James Smith put 1T in
conversation with The Stars CORE
to know, having created few of them
in his time. PauSing moment, allow
an observation about this remarkable
man. According to his own statement
he has spent million dollars of his
own money in behalf of the democratic
party. state and national, during his
political lifetime.
He is the man of whom President
Grover Cleveland remarked to a friend
of mine at the time when the United
States contained democrats of the giant
class-Gorman, Gray, Voorhees,. White
of Louisiana, Beck, Blackburn, Vest
and SO on-"Smith of New Jersey is
the greatest politician in the Senate"
Still a Great Factor.
He is still a silently great factor in
democratic politics in the state. Why
doesn't he come back" you ask.
Maybe he will, if he wants to. But he
has enjoyed the crown of political en-
has felt the sting
of it's inevitable thorn-ingratitude.
Many think he is through with politics,
but if they get to picking on him" or
his influence, he may show
them a trick or two yet. For thel
present he is devoting himself to for
warding in business enterprises two
fine young sons just out of Princeton.
He keeps in touch with some OF his
old cronies. such as Chief Justice White
of the Supreme Court and Judge
George Gray of Delaware, and enjoys
life at his cottage" at Elberon, by
the sea.
But, to return to our mutton: The
Governor of New Jersey has at his dis
posal patronage and favors galore. and
he is the biggest man in the world to
thousands of the small fry politicians
who bear the heat and burden of the
day. He has things to give away that
they want and innumerable trades"
and combinations are made for other
Offices with the governorship as the
principal pawn.
A special election will be held next
October to vote upon a constitutional
amendment to give women the right
to vote. If it should be adopted, New
Jerseys vote in the presidential and
gubernatorial elections in 1916 would
be doubled.
rrbera arc M indica tions that there