The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-03-28
MR.. M'DERMOTT LAUGHS.
Some Bright Talk About Flavel
MCGEE, Colonel Wanser and His
Own Record.

Allan l.. McDermott was interviewed
yesterday by reporter of morning
newspaper. He disposed of his several
assailants with his customary thorough
ness and good humor. This is what he
said
II don't see that Mr.. MCGEE and l are
at much variance" said Mr.. McDermott,
but Icannot help admitting his monu-
mental talent when he discovers that 1t Is
wrong for me to act as counsel for q race
track association because l am Clerk in
Chancery, while he may properly appear.
as O hard working lawyer, with consid-
cradle appreciation of fees and one eye Oh
the judicial ermine. / am afraid that
John Flavel is a gentleman OF many sides.
and you cannot imagine the tender solicl-
tude / entertain lest John should lead
Flavel astray. 1t isisaid that he has al
ready SO far compromised his aDhorrence
of horse racing that he requested driver
on Court House car to hurry up.
Referring 10 the numerous campaign
lies that have been published in the Re-
publican organs. Mr.. McDermott said:-
During the past week L nave learned
what an abJect wretch am. When the
campaign opened had lingering sus-
picion that 1 was an accessory after the
fact to the assassination of Mr.. Abel, but
never feared the day would come when
would be charged with trying to raise the
amount of my own coal bill. l notice
that New York paper is worried about
nay religious views. and says 1t Is alleged
which is mean little way OF telling
lie-that have publicly declared that
there is no God.' This Is equivalent to
saying that have declared that am an
idiot. None other than an idiot ever
made that assertion.
THE RELIGIOUS QUESTION.
Sixy inc aHa ar nv rQlicyinn
or creed and L decline to argue the ques-
tion of my religious belief in political
campaign, American citizens have no
grander right than that of believing what
they please and of worshipping when and
where they please. II | thought other
wise would be untrue TO an ancestry. In
Guiding men who fought In Lexington
and Bunker Hill to make possible acoun-
try in which the constitution should pro-
vide that no religious test shall be re-
CURED as qualification for any Office or
public trust. To my mind the religious
belief of every man Is sacred, and IL my
brain ever grows small enough to ex-
anime mans religious belief In deciding
whether / shall vote for him or appoint
him to an office / trust my Maker will
determine that to be the moment when
my life shall close.
sHave you read Mr.. Wanser's letter of
aeceptance?" asked the reporter.
HdNb EcdQ LILO IOplicQ
Mr.. McDermott. II am pleased that he
appreciates the trouble ahead in case of
his election, for he says: The problem of
the successful government of large cities
is a most difficult one, the satisfactory So
luton of which has engaged the serious
and prolonged attention of political econo-
mists and statesmen the world over.' NV
pleasure is, however, waited to delight
when read few lines further, that the
application of few business rules can by
no possibility result in anything but a
splendid and economical municipal gov
ernment' Things being thus settled,
suppose that those political economists
and statesmen the world over can take a
siesta. Looks to me rs If Blair had awak-
ened suddenly and overturned the ink
bottle getting things serious and things
flippant decidedly mixed
THE CITY DEPARTMENT.
"Mr. Wanser says:-'I find my opponent
says that the debt of Jersey City is today
$1S,0S1, 900. 1t is increasing 1t is 1t
has been. 1t never stopped but once since
the passage of the charter of 1871. Then
it was $4, 7o6, S46. In seven years, under
the astute management of as fine set of
political pirates as ever scuttle6 a muni-
cipality. the debt was increased to $14,-
737, ,450 That was the figure in 1877. Net
increase, $l0,030604. This should be
charged to Republican nlismanagement
Today the total debt is S1S,08l, 900. In
crease in fifteen years, 50. 253, $50 Charge
this to Democratic mismanagemenJ
That is, most of it. Blair and Company
were in command from 1885 TO 1887.
snow, there was one halt aud your
considerate readers will pardon me for
claiming some credit for that halt
When I was appointed President of the
Board of Finance, December l, 1883, the
total indebtedness of Jersey City was
SIS, ,503, $50. When l left the Board, on
April /, 1885. that debt had been reduced
to S17. 1855, 750-a reduction Of $747. 200-in