The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-10-19
REASONS FOR FUSION.
The Republicans Could Not
Find Candidates for
Their Tickets.
SOME VERY FRANK ADMISSIONS.
The Kern Kickers Insisted Upon
Being a Tail to the Republican
Kite.

Ever since it became noised about tina
perhaps the managers of the Republican
County machine might indulge In the ex-
pensive political luxury, as they will
doubtless find it, of combine or deal
with Kern, Wanken & Co., speculation
has been rife as to the motives which
prompted the opening of negotiations. 1t
was assumed that If the Repu uplicans
made q straight ticket, an independent
Democratic ticket might draw sufficient
Democratic voters to make the election OF
Republican among the bare possibilities
of the situation. Why was that course
not pursued? The scheme was 80 much
more likely to bring about the defeat OF
the Democratic candidates than fusion
scheme could possibly be. that wondered
why the anti-Democratic canvass was not
run on that line; and buzzed around
among the leaders at the Republican con-
vention the other day till my curiosity
had been satisfied
The explanation two or three of the
very foremost men among them gave me
is ID little too good to keep, and / shall
quote my interview with them-wfthhold-
ing their names, however. for the very
obvious reason that, as the revelations
were made in the confidence of personal
friendship, l have no right to mention the
names.
THE KERN KRowD BACKWARD.
What" asked, to reproduce one of
the interviews-and the reproduction OF
one is practically a report of them all
What, / asked, "fs the idea of weaken.
ing both the Republicans and the Kickers
by making fusion?"
There are two answers to that ques-
tion," was the response. "One concerns
the Kern crowd, the other concerns our
selves"
well, the answer that concerns the
Kern crowd, prompted.
''They wouldn't get out into the field
with an independent ticket" came back
the response. "They would be active in
the fight only on the basis of deal with
us. They couldn't get any one TO take
their nominations unless the Republicans
went In to help them.n
'sWere you assured of that before you
made up your mind to perfect the deal?"
asked.
Eyes, that came straight from head
quarters. There's no doubt about that
fact"
no ONE TO RUN.
ssAnd then the answer as far as it con-
cerned the Republican organizationr
why, we would have put a straight
ticket in the field, but we couldn't find
soul to take our nomination. Not man
we could think of would consent to run
at the head of our ticket. We didn't put
a straight ticket in the field because. for
fact, we didn't have the material to do
it with. We had to go to the Kernites to
piece out our ticket for us. All we hope
to do is to save on Assembly district or
two from the general wreck
Your sole anxiety is the legislative
ticket, them"
ssYes1
..Why, IL that's the case, did you give
hof M inc for
'sWhy, we haven't the smallest idea of
carrying man on the fusion county
ticket. The Democratic county candi-
dates have got clear walk over. We'd
have given Kern the whole county ticket
if he had asked for it. But we do think
or two, and it is with that hope alone
that the fusion proposition was listened
to- We think so little of the fusion, in
fact, that we tried to make terms with
Bob Davis before treating with the
kickers. We told him that we'd have
nothing to do with the other fellows if he
would let us choose half the members of
the precinct election boards; but you see,
from the proceedings of the Aldermen,
that we were not allowed to do it,"
TO KNIFE ALBEIT.
$50 you concluded to make the Kern
ties an annex to your machine?
s'.Jes' So"
s'Well, in view of the fact that the
Kernites have become Republican ten
der. what do you say of their endorsement
CT Abbett?"
ut seems to me that that was good
politics. They had to do something to
keep the Democrats among them in line.
SO Albeit was endorsed. But it doesn't
mean any harm to us. They can the
more easily -n
My Republican friend thrust his thumb
twice between the ribs that protect my
heart
''iThe more easily knife him, chr"
asked, translating his action into words.
you've got it right" was the reply.
The delegation from the Sixth district
stood out. almost as one man, and to the
very end, in the convention against any
dicker with the Kernites. The Kern
crowd visited them in the hall and tried
TO bulldoze them.
YOU'RE against us, eh9" remarked one
of them to the delegation. wen give
it to you in the neck; see if we don'tn
''That means, / suppose" said George
Bogert one of the delegation. "that they
intend to try and beat us in our Assembly
and Freeholder contests in the Sixth dis
trict. We want the Republicans all over
the county to know it. =