The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-03-07
WILL THEY ACCEPT?
Mayor McDermOtt Offers the Repub-
licans a First Glass
Issue.

Allan L. McDermott has offered the
Republicans an issue for the local cam
paign. They can accept it or not. If
they don't they will lose the opportunity
of their lives-though Republicans don't
mind that. They are continually doing
it. Mr.. McDermott also incidentally paid
his respects to Major Zebulon Kallikrates
Pangborn in the matter of Finance, the
Major going upon the theory that the
more money man spends the richer he
will become.
Il am sorry" said Mayor McDermott,
shat the Republican Convention ad
journed without making a nomination.
We might have had two weeks of pre-
liminary fun, listening, for instance, to
Major Pangborn telling what nonsense it
is to pay five per cent. when you can get
along by paying seven. My high regard
marking that he doesn't know any more
about finance than Fiji Islander does
about Beethoven's symphonies.
II notice that the firm of Blair 81
Grouse Is bothered about my candidacy,
and that the senior member of that Fl rm
is insultingly personal Mr.. Grouse, as
/ understand it, is in doubt whether !
truth, l have doubt or two on tn at
question myself.
II never realized what q really de-
praved character / am until Mr.. Blair
told the public that had acted as counsel
for men accused of breaking the laws.
Blair was Corporation Counsel for the
city several years. He drew salary, but
there is very little record of his doing
anything else, except to tell the Board OF
Finance that it could use the money col
lecJed under the Martin act in paying the
current interest on the city debt. If his
brilliant direction had not been cut short
by an Investigating Committe of citizens,
ship, Jersey City would, by this time,
have been in tie hands of receiver.
''The fact that Blair was Corporation
Counsel of Jersey City gives me an oppor-
tunity. l was, from 1879 to 1888 Corpora
tion Attorney, and | am willing TO have a
comparison of services rendered
'In the Republican Committee the
other night, as | am informed, some gen
tleman was mentioned who would, il
elected Mayor, be willing to give his sal
ary away. Now. l like a campaign with
an issue in it. We cannot discuss the
tariff question next month, and the fish
cry question is difficult to localize as a
factor in municipal rumpus. But here
we have an issue as is an issue. That
gentleman will, If elected, give his salary
away. won't. So you see the issue is
Joined.
''If selected, would probably leave a
number Of things undone which should
be performed, and I should not be sur
prised, at the end of tine term, to find
that had done. thing or two which it
would have been just as well to have left
undone. 1t might be that l would not
pay our trifiing city debt out of nv pri-
vate bank account; it is within the limits
of possibility that I may forget to spend
my evenings patching the city fire hose,
but there is one thing / will do if elected
l will keep the salary. 1t is just as we'll
to have no uncertainty about planks on
great questions in political platforms.
"Bv the way, am treating this aues-
tion in the view taken by the other side,
but you must recollect that 1 haven't
been nominated. and modesty-my DOM
inant characteristic, by the Way-forbids
that l should point out what an impetus
my election would give to the progress
of human happiness In this and foreign
lands.
II told you week ago that wouldn't
talk any more on this subject until after
the convention, and you are inducing me
to endanger my reputation for veracity,
which is about all the reputation l ex-
pecJ to have on hand 'if l get mixed up
in q months campaign.