The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-04-04
alleged frauds last fall, and it was tor
that and other purposes the conference
had been called

alleged frauds last fall, and it was tor
that and other purposes the conference
had been called
OPENING THE BALL.
The ball was set rolling by Mr.. Hud-
speth, who asked if the Republican
County Committeeman had not by reso-
luton denounced the Democratic County
Committeeman for the fraud at last fall 8
election.
Mr.. Collins said he did not remember
such resolution.
Mr.. O'Donnell declared that If the reso-
luton had been adopted, he as q member
of the Democratic party, and for the
party, stood ready to answer any charge.
This aroused the ire of Mr.. McEwan,
who declared he was willing the discus
sion should be carried on under the hypo-
thesis that these charges were made. He
said the Republicans had come to the
meeting at the request of the chairman of
the Democratic Executive Committee,
and that it was unsolicited by the Repub-
licans. He then referred to the retention
iIf office of the election officers of last fall
and objected to it.
I'm my capacity as Corporation Coun-
sci" said ex-senator Edwards, II advised
that the election officers who acted last
fall be retained, and, while some people
deplore the. fact, all agree that the law
required it"
SOAOnVA <1DCl AOuny COlIp11inCQ bAt1C
Harper, Republican, of the Sixth pre-
cinct of the Seventh district, had been
dropped by the Board of Aldermen
s'lf he has not moved out of the pre-
cinct he shall serve" replied Mr.. Ed
wards and Collector O'Neil added
THAT'S what say, and in every instance
where there is no Republican in the Elec-
tion Board you shall have one.
'lf you gentlemen will send word to
Mr.. O'Donnell as late as nine O'Clock that
you are not represented, he will see that
you are. but the Republican selected
must live in the precinct" said MIR. Ed
wards.
The declaration that man must live in
the precinct he serves in, disturbed Mr..
McEwan's equanimity, and he objected.
He wanted to send men from one precinct
to another as election officers, as the re-
pealed law permitted.
TAINTED REPUBLICANS.
In reply to this, ex-senator Edwards
said:-'It seems to me that any man you
had in the Election Board last fall ought
to be satisfactory now"
This staggered Mr.. McEwan for a
moment, but he replied:- :-''There were
several Republican election officers
accused of fraud at the last election"
Mr.. Edwards said that to fill the places
to have them resign first, and Mr. Hud-
saeth asked if any charges had been made
against them to the Board of Aldermen.
1--WE did not get chance to-" said the
irrepl essible McEwan, 'for the Board
rushed the appointments through"
Mr.. Edwards in plain language, inti-
mated that Mr.. McEwan totally misun-
derstood the facts. The Board of Alder
men for the very purpose of giving a
chance Tor selections took a recess. I'VE
will do, said the ex-senator, what we
agree to do, but you can't ask us to look
after your men,"
THAT is right'' commented Mayor
Collins, 'sand If we can induce the OBJ
jectionable man to resign, we may ap-
point whom we please"
'sIf they live in the precinct where they
serve" added Mr.. Hudspeth.
This resolution was then offered by Mr..
McEwan, and adopted unanimously
Resolved, That this joint committee, repre-
senting the Democratic City Executive Commit
tee and the Republican City Executive Commit.
tee, declare it to be their wish to have free and
Hntrammeled expression through the ballot box
timidation or fraud of any kind, and we pledge
ourselves aud our respective committees to use
our utmost efforts to effect such result
WATCHERS.
The question of watchers was then
brought up by the Democratic members
who proposed that the Republicans should
have them. Mr. Edwards gave assurance
that any watcher being in any precinct
would be accorded all possible facilities
to watch the voting, and examine ballots
that the Democrats would have. Then
the question was asked whether watchers
could be sent from other precincts, and
Mr.. O'Donnell remarked that he thought
there were plenty OF good Republicans in
every precinct.
Mr.. Hudspeth remarked, .strange the
Republicans can find no good men in the
precincts"
Mr.. Edwards insisted that the watchers
appointed must live in the precincts they
represent He said that if the Republi-
cans would send the names of the men
wanted for watchers their wishes would
be carried out.
.sWe would like to send ten men to that
many precincts where they do not live,
said Mr.. McEwan; "and that is not much
out of Seventy-five precincts"
Cant you find q Republican i'll the
precincts you can trust?' inquired Mr..
Hudspeth.
''l'm compelled to admit" said ex-
Mayor Collins, there are some precincts
where we can't find Republican to
properly represent u.s."
Discussion on this matter was ended
by the adoption of resolution, which
stated that any person, a resident of any
precinct, should have the same facili-
ties at the polls thereof as the
Democrats, and that the names of the
gentlemen selected be sent to Mr.. O'Don-
nell before nine o'clock Monday night.
A resolution was also adopted that both
parties take every precaution to prevent
repeating at the polls. Mr.. Collins said
he did not know what good that would
do. and Mr.. Edwards replied that some
thing ought to be done. This accom-
plished the conference was ended.