The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-02-06
T7fs paper Is Democratic In principles
and is Independent IN its Utetos on all
local questions.
Maroralty Candidates.

The Mayoralty campaign has set in
bright and early this year.
No wonder. The New Charter
gives the chief magistrate Of this city
SO much power that it is a matter of
vital consequence who shall WELD it.
This is the first election, too, under
the new order of things. And why
should not public sentiment be
aroused ? Now, If ever, is the time for
the people to come in and speak their
mind.
So far, the republicans have not
been heard from. Perhaps they are
on a still hunt. But the Democracy
is well represented with four candi-
dates in the field, who either seek the
position themselves or are sought
after by their fellow citizens.
Two of the four are avowed aspir-
ants to the office, MI. Henry Lembeck
and Mayor Orestes Cleveland. The
other two have been placed before
the public, not by themselves, but by
large constituencies of citizens, dis
gusted with bad government and
anxious to place the great powers of
the chief magistracy in the hands of a
man who would use them for the pub
lie benefit, and not for the creation of
q personal ring.
Thus it happens that a non-partisan
movement has been steadily in pro-
gress for the nomination OF Allan J..
McDermott on the Democratic ticket,
with a strong independent endorse
ment, while a vigorous pro~pagandisrn
has started within the ranks of the
Democracy to force Sheriff Davis to
the front as the standard bearer Of
the party.
Mr.. Lembeck's campaign is the only
one that progresses to the accompani-
ment of a brass band. The band is a
loud one and not inharmonious. 1t
hath charms to soothe the breast of the
disguised citizens, and not a few of
them are inclined to keep step to the
music. But we rather dis
trust brass band campaigns,
especially when the melody begins to
flow too early. People are apt to tire
OF the tune, and when other process
slons cross them with guns and rock
cts the bands are apt to be drowned
out. Still Mr.. Lembeck's aspirations
are a factor ia the situation.
Mayor Cieveland's quest for the
nomination is the very antipodes Of
Mr.. Lembeck's. His Honor is, of
course, engaged in a 'sstili hunt" 1t
is at once his strength and his weak
ness that he is already the incumbent
in the office. This gives him in the
first place a strong grip on the politi-
cal wires which are controlled
by patronage. But, on the other
hand, it may make it obligatory on
him as a man of honor to prove that
the allegations made by the DIRECTORS
to the new charter are not true, viz,
that the possession of the Office made
the possessor a sort of dictator, who
could control denominations whether
the people liked it or not.
The other two gentlemen are not
formally in the field, but the drift OF
circumstances in their direction is SO
strong that many persons feel certain
that either one will be the
candidate. 1t may be taken
for granted that under no
-l 4
for the Office, and in all probability
one or the other will have definitely
declined the race by the time the other
is induced to enter it. In that case,
we should not be surprised to find a
coalition take place in the forces which
are now at work for them severally.
At any rate, with the material at its
disposal the Democracy can have no