Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1923-11-14
STEVENS GROUP
HAD DAPARLEY
Is Report at Trenton Which
Results in Senators Being
Divided Again
LARSON THERE, REPORT
Stevens Still in Lead for Sen
ate President -PaSGoe Like
Iy as Speaker of House
LARSON THERE, REPORT

TRENTON, Nov. 14:-The line
which divided the seventeen mem
bers of the Republican senate ma
jority into two camps last winter
over the highway controversy has
been redrawn as clearly as if it had
never been erased. This is the fact
which stands out today as the result
of Yesterdays firs ,athering OF the
senators and assei..sly members VINO
are to control the destinies of the
1924 legislature. When Governor
Silzer launched his attack on Sena-
tors Stevens. of Monmouth, and case,
of Somerset, during the last cam
paign for control of the new law
kmaking body Republican senators
hwho had been aligned against these
two men in the last session, ike
Mackay, of Bergen, for instance,
Immediately rushed to their defense.
AS a result it was predicted that the
Democratic governor would face a
solid Republican front in the senate
of the coming year. 1t was then de-
clared by certain observers that the
Executive had solidified his political
opponents.
This was true too until last week
when the group who stood with
Stevens last winter called confer
ence to frame their slate for the or
ganization of the 1924 senate. AS
soon as the senators who refused
to follow Stevens last winter learned
of this move all plans for united
action were Immediately declared
off This conference was held, some
say in New York and others at ELI
zabeth. In any event 1t was held
and apparently took the form of a
dinner given by Senator Whitney
of Morris county.
Those invited were the men who
supported Stevens in the road fight
plus Senator's elect Harrison, of Es-
sex, Woodruff. of Camden, and Bor-
ton, of Salem. Among those reputed
to have attended were Mr.. Stevens
himself, Senators Roberts, of Bur-
lington Pierson, of Union, Larson,
of Middlesex Case. Of Somerset, and
Woodruff. Senator Blackwell. Of
Mercer, was absent. although invited
and Messrs. Harrison and Borton
did not avail themselves of the in
vitation.
This left out the reckoning Messrs.
Reeves, of Cumberland, Richards, of
Atlantic, Bright of Cape May, Mac
kay. of Bergen, Smith, of Passaic
and Mathis, of ocean, and Senator
elect Davis, of Gloucester. This in
cident is apparently responsible for
the renewing of the cleavage OF last
winter and one senator, discussing
the situation yesterday, declared he
/. had no desire to be named the lead
Der of the majority for the coming
winter when it might not De possible
to count eleven votes behind him
which is the number required to
rule the senate decisions.
ANYHOW Senator Stevens is a can
didate for the presidency of that
body and his followers seem to favor
Roberts, of Burlington. for leader.
The anti-Stevens group are more or
less for Senator Reeves, of Cumbest-
land. for president, although there
Is talk from this quarter for both
Smith, of Passaic. and Bright, of
Cape May.
There is talk that the Stevens men
NAV induce either Mathis, of Ocean,
or Bright, Of Cape May, to come
over to them which, if it happens
will settle the contest. 1t was SAID
Yesterday afternoon that Mathis, OF
ocean, who had been grouped with
the "antis", would probably change
his Affiliations, and there was talk
that an offer of the senate leader
ship to Bright was in prospect in an
effort to ween him away from the
supporters of Senator Reeves.
(Continued on page Al