The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-06-27
A CRYING DISGRACE.
The Fire Department Pro-
-stituted TO Further. C1eve-
land S. Schemes.
UTTER GENERALIZATION REIGNs.

In Order to Get Square with Sheriff
Davis, Cleveland Suggests Conway
as a Shrieyalty Candidate, and
the Fat Little Saloon Keeper is
Prosecuting and Rewarding Fire.
men to That End.
The sudden appearance of President
Conway. of the Fire Department, in
municipal affairs as boss of the most
despicable order, as related in THE JER-
sEY CITY NEWS Of yesterday, was no sur
prise to those who attentively watch the
drift of political affairs. The determine
tion of the fat little Commissioner from
''de fort" to obtain absolute control over
the men of the department, and compel
them to submit to the lash Of
his proprietor, the de facto occu-
pant Of the Mayors Office. has
been apparent to many for some time.
That there is some tie which binds the
kindred spirits of "Old Rats and the
saloon keeper president was made evil
dent at the time the first appointments
were made under the new charter.
That ex-Commissioner John Brennan
was to be the Republican member of the
Fire Board was generally conceded up to
the time the nominations were made
public. Two hours before the nomina-
tions were announced, two we'll known
Republicans, to both Of whom his fraudu-
lency was under obligations, went into
the Mayors Office in Mr.. Brennan's be-
half.
The Mayor asked them if they had
come in Mr.. Brennan's interest," and they
replied that they had The Mayor then
exclaimed that every man, woman and
child in the city seemed to want Johnny
Brennan appointed to the position, and
gave the gentlemen to understand that
Mr.. Brennan'S appointment was assured.
City Hall when Conway waddled into the
executive presence and demanded an in
teryiew. There was hasty adjournment
to the famous back room, and when an
hour or two afterward the nominations
were made for Five Commissioners. Mr..
Brennan's name did not appear on the
list.
1t is said by one who is eognizant Of
what took place at that conference that
Conway gave the Mayor to understand
that Mr.. Brennan would be dangerous
man to have in the Board; that it would
not be possible to get him to consent to
any of the schemes which the Mayor
might want to put into operation by
means of the department, and that ii the
other Democratic member should kick
against the yoke, where would the Mayor
and his fat little president beS So Mr..
Brennan was quietly shelved and every
thing made snug and ready for the carry
ing out of the plans of the Mayor.
THE FIGHT BETWEEN TWO BOSSES.
rf,raa or
in operation has arrived, hence the un-
wonted activity of Mr.. Conway in asser t.
ing his bosship. 1t is well-known fact
that everything is not as it should be be-
tween Sheriff Davis and the mayor dc
fGcto, and that no longer do they speak
as they pass by. 1t is also understood
that the mayor is exceedingly anxious to
''get hunk" with Bob and is working
every means at his command to thwarB
Mr. Davis and his plans. Mr.. Davis, it is
understood. desires to have Mr.. Nc
Philips, his efficient under sheriff, sue
coed him as sheriff.
In this the Mayor sees an opportunity
to injure Davis, and has had his fat little
president of the Fire Board come out as
candidate for Sheriff against McPhilips.
1t is said by politician who is in posi-
tion to know what he is talking about,
that the Mayors idea in having Conway
announce himself as q candidate was to
compel Davis to once more aid him in car
rying out his questionable schemes.
But Conway was not that kind of a
man. AS soon as he was acquainted with
the part he was to take in the Mayors
scheme for vengeance against the Sheriff
he was the subject OF an aggravated and
fatal attack of :. elephdntioSis of the ca
putt Failing to appreciate the true
position he occupied as q tool Of the
Mayor, he Immediately conceived the
idea that he was 2 bigger man than "Old
Rats" himself, and that as the Fire De-
partment belonged to him he would work
it for the development of his little boom.
With this END in view he inaugurated a
course of rewards for those who did his
bidding and prosecutions for those who
possessed enough manhood to refuse to
do his work. until the department has
become thoroughly demoralized.
EASY TO GET LEANES.
Any foreman who had reason to con-
slider himself in the good graces OF Com
way when he wished to absent himself
from duty had nothing to do but to step
to the telephone and notify Conway that
he wished to be absent for while That
was all that was necessary. No notice of
the mems absence was sent to the chief
and it frequently happened that he called
upon company for service which it was
unable TO render owing to the abs ence Of
the men on Conway's leave.
4uO biCAAOCi6 VI IuS1b0 SOlupdQy NO.
are said to be especial favorites Of the
fat little president His liquor saloon adj
joins their engine house and they are
said to be excellent customers of the
commissioner. Several disastr ous fires
occurred in that neigh borhood which
property owners say mi ght easily have
been averted were it not for the state Of
1emoralizati on into which the mem bers
of Engine Company No. had been
thrown by ConWay's lax discipline and
the proximity Of his saloon to their en-
gine house.
HOW GAITLEY WAS wHITEwAsHED.
John Gaitlay is a member of Engine
Company No. 2, and is said TO be an ex-
ceedingly handy man to have one's side
election day. Not long ago he assaulted
one of the .buffaloesn in the engine
house, and charges were preferred against
him. The case was SO clear against
Gaitley that he did not think it worth
his while to deny the charges, and when
he came before the Board, pleaded
guilty. Conway recognized the advantage
1t would be to his Shrieyalty boom TO
have Galley on his side, and the usual