The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-12-30
FRIDAY. DECEMBER 80. 1892.
This paper is democratic in principles
and Is Independent IN its UieWs on all
local questions.
Mr.. Davis --latest Scheme-Why He
LIS Against nj. j. O'DonnelI.

local questions.
Mr.. Davis --latest Scheme-Why He
Is Against NJ. j. O'DonnelI.
Michael J. O'Donnell possesses a
most enviable reputation in every re-
spect. He is generally conceded to be
man of excellent ability and abso-
lutte honor. He is known to all men
as a devoted and unselish Democrat,
and the feeling is general that he has
by no means received from the party
all that his services deserve.
Mr.. O'Donnell has never taken part
In factional squabbles. He has never
sought power or prominence for him.
self. He has never taken part in
any schemes for the profit of in
dividuals or cliques, but has labored
a~ssiduously for the good of the whole
party. He has never been a grabber
for public plumber, nor has he aided
the greed of others. He has held pub
lie offices, but they have all been very
moderately paid. He has never held
two offices at the same time, but to
every one that he has held, he has
given his full time and attention, and
in every position he has made himself
an unsurpassed record for honesty,
ability and sense of duty.
As an officer of the local Democratic
organization, Mr.. O'Donnell has
shown the same capacity, energy and
devotion that he has in his other en-
pigments. He has, besides, been alb
solutely impartial. As Chairman of the
Committee, he has only had
hiding rule, the will of the party
cation and the success of the
atic ticket at the polls.
tding Mr.. Robert Davis as an
tie curse to the community he
lives "A as the very personification of
vulgar sslf-seeking, of greed of money
and lust of power, of cynical con-
tempt of public decency and utter
lack of all principle, we admit that
there is one phase of Mr.. O'Donnell's
political curse which calls for ex-
neutrality-suspicious. apology. This is
his course in appointing Mr.. Davis,
several years in succession, to be
Chairman of the Executive Committee
of the Democratic County Committee.
A little examination of the case,
however, shows that Mr.. O'Donnell
could not have acted in this respect
otherwise than he did.
1t would be absurd to deny that
Mr.. Davis has exercised great power
as a leader of the party in this city.
1t would be idle to question his pos
session of extraordinary ability as a
leader of men, and an executive
manager of political affairs. OF
course, we have no reference to the
methods of winning, which have
brought reproach on our politics.
All crookedness out of the question.
it is undeniable that Mr.. Davis is a
remarkable political manager. He
a lay out a campaign with judg-
ment. and conduct it with skill, and
II he wants to win-we all know that
this is not always the case-he is
likely to come very near it. His re-
pute as an organizer and his consider
able following in his own districts
nave thus, in a sense, made his APP
pointment to the position he has held
for several years unavoidable.
and Mr. O'Donnell is not really
to be blamed for doing a thing which
was. in a manner, forced upon him.
Just what Mr.. O'Donnell thinks of
Davis himself, in his own heart. we
do not know. It is only plain to all
fair people that he dealt fairly,
squarely ana honestly by Mr.. Davis,
and, by naming him to a place of great
power, year after year, earned for
himself much misconception among
people who considered only Mr..
Dayis's moral character and public
career, and not the compelling forces
of the situation.
In return for all his fair and impair
tial conduct, Mr.. Davis now proposes
to turn down" Mr.. O'Donnell. He
cannot control him for his own ends.
Mr.. O'Donnell will not make the party
organization a machine to pour money
into Mr.. Davis yearning pockets, or
to place patronage in his unscrupu-
Ious hands. He insists on holding the
party above the man, and so Mr..
Davis has no use for him.
OF the gentleman, whom Mr.. Davis
has picked to replace Mr.. O'Donnell,
it is only necessary to say. at this time,
that Mr.. Davis feels he can absolutely
control him, and that, under his chair
manship, the Democratic County
Committee will be a Davis machine,
pure end simple. The story of the
yentlsman's career would not look
told in parallel columns with