The Jersey City news., 1892-03-15
GREAT TR|BULAT|ON,
The Ministers Caucus
Peters Out Amid Cen
era1 CaChinnation.
THROWING OFF THE MASK.
Halt a Dozen Dominies Come. Out
Boldly for Republicanlsm, But
Many Prefer McDermott
to Wanser.
DIsCORD AND DIssENsION REIGN.

"What we want is unity. What is re-
quisite and necessary under the present
circumstances is unity" said Rev. DR..
Parmly. pastor emeritus of the First Bap-
tist Church. at the meeting of the minis
| ters' caucus held yesterday for the pur-
pose of lending aid to the Republican
candidate in the approaching Mayoralty
fight. The meeting was held in the
Wayne Street Reformed Church.
What was wanted and what was pos
sessed were indescribablv different.
For a short time the debating ministers
scared. For short time harmony pre-
vailed, but as the dominies warmed up
to their subject, things began to get live
ly. What unity there existed among the
ministers prior to the meeting, aisap,-
peared. Cutting remarks were mace ana
the result would have been nice little
row had not the Rev. ID. w. McM1nn
called halt in the exciting discussion.
Pastor Sherwood a red hot Repu plcan,
became disgusted and he was not slow In
saying so.
The Rev. John L. Scudder saw his
citizens ticket movement was going up
in smoke and he left the room.
The Rev. DR.. Wick took offense at re-
marks directed at the Prohibition party
and retaliaJed in a manner that caused
several dominies to wriggle restlessly In
their seats. The meeting was not a sue
cess 1t was farce from beginning to
end and the Christian campaign begun In
aid of the Republican party went up in
smoke and placed the ministers III
position to become the laughing stock of
the community. The discord among the
ministers themselves was amusing and
the Rev. DIR. Brett and others. discovering
this fact, made an earnest attempt to put
a stop to debate, with view to prevent
the association from being ridiculed. The
last meve of the association was to eX-
press a wish that the reporters leave all
their notes of the proceedings in the
meeting room.
THE PROCEEDINGS.
In the absence of the Rev. Charles
Brett. President of the association, the
Rev. David Mitchell presided. There were
present besides, the Rev. Messrs. Hal
Ieron, McKelvey, Brett, Van Cleef. Sher-
wood. Scudder. Wick, Heisig, Grant,
Hathaway, Andreae, Westall, Parmly.
McMinn aud Daily.
Immediately after the meeting was
called to order it was announced that Mr..
Philip Meschutt and Mr.. Black, repre-
senting the Prohibition party. were pres
ent for the purpose OF securing, II pos
sible, the endorsement of their candidate
for Mayor, Richard Grant. Mr.. Grant
was introduced as q God fearing, law
loving conscientious man, and good gov
ernment was foreseen, were he elected
Mayor. These enviable characteristics
had but little effect upon the ministers as
no one took kindly to the suggestion OF
his name as a candidate.
The Rev. John l.. Scudder started the
ball rolling as usual. He advocated the
endorsement of the Republican nominee.
whoever he might be. II understand"
said Mr.. Scudder, that Mr.. Wanser will
be the candidate. He is o popular and
good man and know that he hates the
Democrats like God hates the devil. He
is man of principle and I think we
would do well to support him."
Mr.. Scudder's little boom for Wanser
was Immediately knocked into a cooked
hat by the Rev. DR.. Brett, who disagreed
with Mr. Scudder as to the advisability of
supporting Wanser. Mr.. Brett argued
that Wanser was politician, that he had
been in politics for several years
"There are rings in both parties," inter-
rupted Mr.. Scudder, land both are
equally rotten"
Mr. Brett continued by urging the
ministers to support Mr.. William A.
Lewis, another God fearing. law loving
man, who does law business in the We'll
don building.
WISE Mr.. HATHAWAY.
The Rev. DR.. Hathaway, a far seeing
in predicting walk over for Mr.. McDer-
mott, no matter who his opponent might
be. Up to this time the Prohibitionists
had almost been forgotten.
The Rev. Alexander Mckelvey, how
ever. started the ball rolling for them by
stating that the party was in some re-
spects good one, but it was not practi-
cal. He considered it folly to endorse
the candidate of a party that did not have
the ghost of show of winning anything.
"The Republican party is the party" he
continued, 'and our support should go in
that direction"
Pastor Wick, red hot Prohibitionist.
retaliated in u lively manner. He scored
the opposers of the Prohibition party and
stated that he would fight for them, and
even though they We're a weak party he
would support them, and, If necessary.
90 down with them with colors flying.
Pastor Westall was the next gentle
man to create a sensation. He stated
that he had not been in Jersey City long
enough to be a voter, but he objected
strenuously to the course the ministers
were persuing. II think we are on the
it our duty as ministers to take any ac-
tiop in such matters as these"
"Well, then, what in the world are you
here for ?" asked Pastor McKelvey.
EXIT SCUDDER.
Mr. Westall sat down, smiled, but made
".
meeting was getting hot, gently made his
escape.
Pastor Van Cleef, of the Wayne Street
Reformed Church, was sorry to see his
assistant, Mr.. Wick, such fighter in the
Prohibition ranks. Pastor Van Cleef said
tnat inasmuch as that party was q weak
one and unable to accomplish anything.
it was the duty of everyone to support the
party from which the most good could be
obtained.
SENSIBLE MR.. MAiINN.
"Mr. Allan l.. McDermott represents
the majority of the people of this city
and he represents the party in power,n
said Pastor McMinn. HE is an able man,
and when elected will probably rule with
an iron hand and sway things to his own
advantage. Mr.. Wanser may be good
man. Mr. Wanser may be shrewd poll
tician, but tell you it is habits, as un-
derstand it, that makes him popular with
what are termed the boys Can we sup
port such a man? l say no. For my part
would much rather have McDermott.
He is cleaner man and a better and abler
politician, ana l say when it comes
to question of politicians give the office
TO the best man. What we want is an
available citizens nominee. 1t would be
better to fall fighting for good man
than succeed for bad one"
This speech dispeased many of the
ministers, and especially Mr.. Sherwood,
who in an nndertone remarked that he