The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-03
FIGHT In JERSEY
OYER LEGISLATURE
Control Of Both Houses Now
Linked With Contest for
Governor.
G. O. P. RULES IN SENATE
Only Landslide Would Give
Power Needed for Control
to Democrats.

with the fight now under way between
the two major parties to elect the next
Governor of New Jersey is the control
Of the Legislature, which will have an
important bearing upon the powers OF
the incoming administration. The inn
portance Of having a friendly Legisla-
ture. from the viewpoint of the admin
istration, was emphasized this year when
with Senate strongly Republican and
a House equally divided between Re-
publicans and Democrats the minority
party was able to exert an effective veto
upon any legislation 1t desired.
Republican control Of the Senate is
assured for another year at least. ex-
cept In the event of n Democratic land
slide. As there are no indications OF
such n revulsion OF public sentiment the
Republicans count upon the Senate as
already theirs.
BY an unusual combination Of cir
cumstances due to various causes, ten
of the twenty-one members of the Senate
will be elected this year instead OF the
usual one-third. This year with a va
cancy from Atlantic county. due to Sem
ator Richards entering the military SER
vice. there were fourteen Republican
Senators and six Democrats. Including
the vacancy in Atlantic county the
places of eight Republicans and two
Democrats will be filled next fall.
Republicans Hold Power.
The Republicans will have seven hold
over Senators. or only four less than a
majority, and the Democrats four. or
seven less than a majority. This means
that to continue control of the Senate
the Republicans need elect only one-half
of the outgoing positions they now have.
The certainty OF their doing so lies in
the fact that the vacancies to be filled
are in some of the most strongly Re-
publican counties in the State.
Senate elections in counties now con-
trolled by Republicans will be held In
Atlantic, Bergen, Cumberland. Mercer,
Morris, Ocean and Union. and in coun-
ties controlled by Democrats in Hudson
and Monmouth. Republican victories
are practically certain in Atlantic Bur-
, llngton. Cumberland, Morris and Union
counties Although Bergen. Mercer and
Ocean may be claimed as debatable
grounds they are generally regarded as
safely Republican. Hudson is conceded
to the Democrats, while Monmouth is
looked upon as doubtful
Past political experience in New Jer-
sey indicates the probability Of the
s;ve to public sentiment. being of the
same political complexion as the incom-
ing Governor. Hence II may be inferred
that II the Republicans elect a Gov
ernor they will control both branches
Of the Legislature, while II the Demo
Gratis win the fight for Governor tina;
party will have only the House Such
a situation would probably nullify most
important legislation for a year at least
as II would take at least two years for
the Democrats to gain the Senate Demo-
| cratic control OF both branches of the
Legislature is a rarity in New Jersey.
County Influences state.
The old saying ''as goes Essex. 30 goes
the State" has a peculiar significance
this year, for upon the result in that
| county win proabbly hinge both the
result OF the election for Governor and
control of the House. Regardless OF
who may be the Democratic nominee
| Hudson may be counted on TO pile UT
big Democratic majority that at best
| Will require the Republican majorities
in many smaller counties TO offset II
a Democratic majority in Essex car
be added to that in Hudson Democratic
success is almost certain. as a victory
for the party in Essex would probably
be accompanied by decreased Republi.
can maJorities in other counties nor
mally Republican and Democratic ma.
| jorities in all the doubtful counties.
There is. OF course. a possibility on
Essex giving a plurality to the Repub-
lican candidate for Governor and al
the same time returning a Democratic
delegation to the House, as II did LAS
year. The Assembly situation In Essex
has again been complicated by bringing
to the front the liquor question as ar
issue. 1t was upon Democratic opposi.
ton to prohibition that the Assembly
contest was waged last year. and un'
less public sentiment IN Essex hal
changed the Democrats may again pull
through on the same issue.
In most OF the other counties but
little heed has been paid thus far L
the makeup OF legislative states. bu
in Essex there is a well defined CLASH
between the wet" and dry" element,
OF the Republican party.