The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-04-08
GRAHAM HELD THE DOOR.
First District Republicans Could
Get in, but Not Out.

About forty First District Republicans
held a mass meeting last night at Coop
er's Hail. Captain John Graham evident
ly feared these might escape to the street
aud he appointed himself doorman- He
permitted anyone to enter but none to
leave. Ex- Postmaster Green presided.
and on the platform with him were Dom
inicus Negman, DIR. y. K. Pangborn,
John Brennan and Captain Hooker, can
didate for Alderman in the First District.
The principal address of the evening
was made by ex-Mayor Gilbert Collins,
who denounced the recent Legislature
for repeating the section in the ballot re-
form law that prevented ofiiceholder5
from acting as election officers. Mr..
Collins dwelt at length on the magnifi-
cent organization of the Democratic party
in this State, which begins with the high
est and ends with the lowest. and said:-
"We cannot cope with the Democrats II
we have not the the same organization
and system. He thought that the Demo-
Gratis would remain in power until gem
eral uprising took place, but ne
eould not say that this would
happen this spring Mr. Collins also COM
plained of the bill creating Superintend-
ents of Police and Fire Departments; and
of the one abolishing the Buffalo" sys-
TEN, and wound up his list of grievances
by saying thar Major Pangborn had said
that the Journal said that lt was said
= that the Legislature had added an annual
debt of $4,000 TO the enormous debt OF the
city as it existed.
referring to the new district lines Mr..
Collins said they had been improperly
laid out. and were solely to Denent the
Democrats He compared them with the
old lines laid out by the Repu blichns. Mr..
Collins was frank enough to admit that
the old Horseshoe had been mistake,
and tine district should never have been
laid out. He predicted tne election OF
Wegman.
DR.. Paugborn was the next speaker.
and the way he sailed into the absent
Democrats was astonishing. SO much so
that Ike Thompson. the colored barber,
exclaimed to John Graham
swat TO- yo' sayin' de MaJah am Denl-
ocrats"
John made no reply. but listened at
ientively, and looked pleased when the
Major denounced the last Legislature and
ihe present city government as one OF un-
parallel rascality. The Major almost
Congratulated himself because or the I'M
possibility of electing Mr.. Wegman, Tor
said he:-s'I can fight harder when I've
only got small chance OF winning l
..on't predict success for the Republicans
this year. but we could win IL all the Re-
pnDlicans would turn out"
"Who runs this city" shouted the
Major in q tone which sorrowfuliy said
Il don /" ut is Mclaughlin aud O'Neill.
O'Donnell and Davis. Feeuey aud Kern,
Dugan and Somers.'
The Major then sailed into the Water
Boarl and said 1t ran behind $4,000 a
wear and he did not believe there WAS any
record existing that would show the
amount the Water Board was short
Dominicus Wegman was next intro
duced by the chairman. but before he
could mako his little speech u. e. Petty. a
rustic enthusiast feoln the SAND lots of
LAFAYETTE, said he hoped The NEWS re-
porter would report MIR. Wegnan in Eng
jish and NOT use the German dialect.
Then the sand lot orator snbsided aud
Mr.. Wegman, after stroking his long, sill
very beard affeetionateiy, said:-
"You wouldn't expect me to make
speech after so much eloquence. Some
people say could not preside properly
over that Alderman Board. leave to
ron il if | could not preside that Board
over with dignity. Laughter from yari-
ous causesl. l have business been IN
for thirty-fye years, and | have pulled
through holes tight very much, but l
always paid dollar for dollar. This Is all
the remarks can make.
Captain Hooker followed in an equaiiy
brief aud lucid speech:-"l am not mucn
,f hand at a speech" be said. "because
ny education was neglected IN my youth.