The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1886-10-31
THE FIGHT IN THE FIFTH.
REPUBLICANS MAKING BITTER
FIGHT AG 4INSr SEWkLL.

In no 0l6Crlct IN the c2ty uOeS SO strong
and deep and fervent an anti-monopoly
sentiment prevail as in the Fifth. Its de-
velopment there made the FIRST break that
tad ever been made in the solid Republi-
canism of the district. Year in and year
out. Spring and Fall, she had come up
smiling with her seven and eight hundred
Republican majority, until her unfailing
regularity marked her out as the banner
Republican district of the county. Four or
five, or Eve or six years ago, however, the
anti-monopely Republicanism of the dis
trict forced itself into view. The Repub-
can machine was so much in control of the
bosses that the anti-railroad sentiment was
allowed no voice in the party, and those
who did not care to be forever at the beck
and call of the corporation managers found
relief in fusion with the Democrats. The
first result of 1t was the election of Win
decker to the Fire Board. The last mani
festation of it was the election of John
Pearson to the Assembly.
When the canvass was about to open this
Fall, the Republicans who cannot bear the
thraldom of railroad dictation clamored for
recognition. As it is in the Legislature
that the railroads achieve their purposes,
it was mainly upon representation there
thst these opponents of the corporations
insisted. The demand came not aloEe
from that end of the district in which the
Hon. Frank o. Cole lives; it was no less
strong and emphatic frem the Hudson City
end.
The party managers in that district are
under contract to deliver vote from the
district to Hon. William J. Sewell when he
seeks re election to the United States Sem
ate next winter. He is the man of all 9th
ers who has organized the strength of the
railroads for political uses; and as no anti
railroad man could be expected to support
him, it was necessary to choke off the anti
monopolists sentiment with an iron hand
There is little doubt that if the will of the
district could have had full and free ex-
preston at the recens primary, ex-Assembly
man Cole would have been selected as the
Republican candidate for Assembly then.
that Cole must be beaten at all hazards,
and more complainant nominee should be
selected. The Sewell men hit upon Dr.
P. W. lowering, Hill druggist, after hav-
ing secured suitable pledges from him, and
went with the primaries determined to
nominate him at all hazards. Preparations
were made to pack the meeting in his in
terest; and the anti-monopoly people, con-
WINGED that lowering was to be nominated
at whatever cost of honor or decency, gave
up the struggle almost before it had COM
menced.
DR.. lowering was nominated; and now
apathy prevails among the Republicans
throughout the district. They say that as
Gen. Sewell has nominated his man without
them and in spite of them, he may elect him
without them. Hundreds of Republicans
will stay at home rather than go to the polls
and cast their votes for railroad in poll
tics. They would rather see Democrat
win than railroad. The Democrat has
some business in politics, but the railroad
hasn't particle of business there. AS it
has got down to question between rail-
road and Democrat, their disposition is
to let the railroad and the Democrat have
1t out.
Some, who ara not Indifferent as to
which of the two wins, may go further
and put ia active work for the Democrat
1t is nothing new 70 beat Democrat in
the district. That has been done 20 often
there that it has grown TO be monotonous.
But the novelty of beating an arrogant
railroad has an air of refreshing excite
ment about it that will tempt many active
Republicans TO give the Democrat lift
ing hand.
into the fray with the more vim and earn
estness because OF the character of the
nomination the Democrats have made. In
John Pearson they may have consistent
and prudent Democrat; but they know
that when he is elected no corporation in
f1uence can induce him to bend the knee
to the railroad kings. His record in the
last Legislature shows that he may be
safe relied upon to aid them in their
efforts to throttle the railroads in their ar
rogant aggression upon popular rights.
The Republican disaffection in the Dis
trict has been explained, SO far, in its
political aspect. But it is even broader
and deeper than that. Men who care
struggle because of its appeal to their
pockets. The Fifth District is district of
taxpayers. Scarcely man in it but
owns his own little homestead. Hundreds
of them in it own great deal more.
These have been startled by the figures
presented in the Hon. Allan Il. McDer-
motifs rec emily published eircular-re-
printed in another column of this issue
on the tax question. They know that the
tax rate is $29. so on each thousand dollars
worth of property they own. If the rail-
10 ID property were subject to the same
tax burdens as theirs, the rate would be
only $40 so on the thousand. Each man
who owns his So, 900 home pays $50 year
therefore of the railroads taxes. The land
owner who controls $4,000 worth of
property, contributes $500 per year of the
railroads taxes. That is costly kind of
Repubiicanism- costly to the poor man
acc ling to his means as to the richer.
That dnaa not nIaaaA fhan and thew aro