The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-03-08
FISH OUT OF WATER.
Ministers Founder About
in the Political Fry
ing Pan.
DIR. BRETT TALKS COMMON SENSE.
The City Needs a Good Mayor, Poll
tics No 0bject-The Rest
Want to Play Repub-
lican Tender.
DIR. BRETT TALKS COMMON SENSE.

The JERSEY CITY NEWS yesterday pub
lished an item concerning meeting be-
ing held by some ministers at the Wayne
Street Reformed Church for the purpose
Of discussing politics. The conference
was not an enthusiastic one
and was very poorly attended,
there being but fifteen clergy
men and one layman present. They
were the Rev. Messrs. John L. Scudder.
Tabernacle; Edwin McMinn, Summit
Avenue Baptist Church, Cornelius Brett,
Bergen Reformed Church; w. 6. Martin.
United Presbyterian Church; David
Theodore Heisig, First Baptist Church;
Mr.. Kommers, Lafayette Reformed
Church; r. K. Wick, Wayne Street Re-
formed Church; Alexander McKelvey,
Second Presbyterian Church; Paul D. Van
Cleef pastor emeritus of the Wayne
Street Reformed Church: John L. Wells,
assistant pastor of the Tabernacle; w. D.
Grant, South Bergen Reformed Church;
Gottlieb Andrea. st. Johns German
Evangelical Lutheran. and Charles S.
Wright, Centenary M. E. Church.
Thorne P. Sherwood was the only lay
man.
Mr.. Mitchell presided and Mr.. Wick
acted as secretary. After some church
matters had been discussed, the su bject
of politics was plunged into in manner
that denoted that the ministers were not
practical politicians.
Mr.. Mitchell said a call had been sent
to the ministers requesting them TO meet
and take an active interest in the ap-
preaching election for Mayor. Mr.. Nit
chell asked who sent out the circular
call.
MR. GRANT ITS PAPA.
nv soil ho fofh it a
said few days ago he had conversed
with Mr.. Herr and DR.. Brett about the
election, and that he wanted the Church
of God to take an active interest in the
government of this city. II right man
was nominated Mr.. Grant thought there
vote for him. He believed the people
were now educated to the moral condi-
tiou of the city's government,
Mr.. McMipn said:-"I am afraid that
this subject, in coming before us without
previous action and the small attendance
of ministers, will have the effect of de-
pressing the people. We ought not to
informal. We do not today represent
whole people," Mr.. McMinn moved that
all discussions be informal and the mo-
'ion pp1i1U.rr ppsd Ur Brett the other day that l
intended to nominate him for Mayor"
said Mr.. Grant. "for he would make a
bpleuuiu MdyOTs 1 uil III edfueSU dUOub
this, as earnest as am in my own saliva
tion. / spoke TO Mr.. Herr about the
matter, but he did not agree with me as
to the advisability of nominating minis
ter. DR.. Brett, if Mayor, would prevent
robbery and jobbery. / move that he be
nominated by the Citizens Movement
Committee"
MAY BE A POTENT FACTOR.
No one seconded this nomination and
Mr.. McKelvey remarked:-"I am heartily
in favor of the spirit of this conference
and 1 believe we could exert great in
the r. -publicans when the church people
force bill through the Legislature
(Werts Excise bilD. We should not COM
NIT ourselves TOO far today. We don't
know a great deal about politics. / have
too much respect for Dr. Brett to want to
see him leave the pulpit for the Mayors
chair. | doubt If any minister could full
fl the duties OF Mayor, for the politicians
know us and they would get around us in
some manner. don't think it advisable
to have the idea 60 out that the clergy
men are trying to pat into Office one of
themselves. Such an impression would
injure our cause"
II had supposed Mr.. Grant was jok-
ing," said Mr.. McMinn.
"Oh, no; heard it BEFORE" replied Mr..
MckeIvey.
''It seems to me-" Mr.. McMinn said,
''that the principle thing for us to do is to
get votes. Some one has spoken
of Wanser. don't know him.
but / think that before he or
any other Republican is endorsed we
should learn ii he is man such as we
want. We should then make the Repub-
licans feel that they have the full moral
support of all the churches in the CITY,"
Mr.. McMinn then described his idea of
the condition of things. and found especial
fault with the violation of the excise law
Sundays.
DIR. BRETT TALKS SENSE.
DR.. Brett here good naturedly said he
objected to being made butt. Hethanked
Mr.. Grant for suggesting his name, and
then declined to allow himself to be
mentioned as a candidate for Mayor.
II agree with Mr.. McMinn." he said,
"and we are interested as citizens,
fathers and professionally, for our pro-
fession depends largely on government.
We have two ways to influence men, one,
as citizens and by going to work like men
and politicians, aud the other through
our profession; If a man can be selected
by the Republicans who will represent
the probity of the city, and not shield
criminal and rack track men we should
support him. If each party, Republican
and Democratic. should select equally
good men, do not suppose the church
people would care to vote against their
political party.
Mr.. Kommers said:-"I don't know
much about this city, but don't believe
the Republicans can carry it without a
Citizens ticket"
Mr.. Martin also thought a Republican
could not be elected. He said both par
ties were organized and would nominate
partisans. He suggested the nomina-
tion of business mau.
A REPUBLICAN SCHEME.
"The only way for us to win and obtain
good government is by backing the Re
publican party" he said, "and we
ought to let the world know that we are
willing to go to the polls and work and |
stay until the vote is counted. IL we are |
to have Citizens movement let us CO.
operate with the Republican party"
Yes" Mr.. McMinn said, ''let the Re- |
pubIicans nominate a good man ana |
then us indorse him. Idesire to offer the |
following resolution
Resolved, That as the ministry of Jer- |
sew CITY we the undersigned, pledge our |
selves TO use our influence and voice to |
further the election to the mayoralty of our |
city of whatever man may be nominated or en- |
dorsed by non partisan convention, repr resent-
ing the honor and probity OF our city, and with |
them the laws touching moral questions shall be |
sustained.
Mr.. Scudder favored a non-partisan
convention on March Is, and offered a
resolution to that effect, but 1T was |
amended SO that committee should be |
appointed to confer with the Repuoli-
cans.
posed the holding of a convention, and |