The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-19
The Democratic Reorganiz alton
Scheme.

ndependent IN its uiecs on all local questions.
The Democratic Reorganiz alton
Scheme.
We print in our news columns to-
day the text of Mr.. George I. Bou-
tons plan for the reorganization OF
the local Democracy. 1t is a very
good plan indeed, in conception and
theory. 1t is capable Of affording an
active and useful County Committee.
Like all plans, however, its value de-
ponds almost entirely on the way it
is carried out.
The principal aim and purpose of
party organization in this county is
the overthrow OF the boss system
and the substitution of true ID emo
cratic control by the council of the
most active and trustworthy leaders
of the party. Mr.. Bouton's scheme
may be made sufficient for this pur-
pose, and it may be<made wholly in
operative according to the manner in
which it is carried out.
The new committee may be packed
just the same as the old one, and MI.
bob" Davis may remain boss with
the same consequences of commingled
disgrace and disaster that have mark
ell the last two years of the party his
tory.
Anyone with half an eye can see
that the mere mechanical change of
of methods proposed in Mr.. Bouton's
plan will not suffice to appease the
people. The people are after Mr..
Davis and his gang, and will continue
to jump on them as long as they con-
tinue to run the party affairs. Plans
and systems do not count. What
they want is common honesty.
Now, If the net result of Mr.. Bou-
toms scheme is to bring democrats of
high standing to the front, if the
County Committee and the Executive
Committee are made up of men OF
high character and standing, among
whom Davis will be a mere unit, with
whom he can never become the sum
total, then the scheme will be a grand
success. Otherwise it will fail.
In general, then, Mr.. Bouton has
done his part of the work ably and
we'll. He has provided the idea, and
the question now is as to how those
who take up the next step will utilize
the idea he furnishes.
But Mr.. Bouton has made mis-
take. His plan for the filling of offices
is in absolute contravention of every
principle OF good government
In rder that unworthy individuals and indi-
vidu otherwise incapacitated may not be
appseted 10 official positions within the git
applicant for ofiee shall first receive the in
dofs msns Of his precinct club, which iudorse-
ment must be acquiesced in by the regular
Democratic club OF the district, and then re-
ferred 10 the central organization as a proper
appointment to be made, and no appointment
10 office made in manner other than this shall be
sanctioned by the executive body OF the Democ-
racy of Hudson County.
Concerning this proposition, it can
only be said that no s-elf-respecting
democrat would ever accept an office
controlling patronage subject to its
conditions. What decent man would
becouie Mayor of Jersey City with
the understanding that his appoint-
ments were to be dictated to him by
a political machine, and that the die
tation was to originate with a club OF
ward politicians, and that he might
appoint no man without the endorse
ment of such a club.
Imagine Comptroller Heppenheim-
er, OF District Attorney Winfield, or
Judge Ldppincott going to a precinct
club for a recommendation. Imagine
a man like EdIow Harrison or Judge
Garretson having to be passed upon
by such clubs and committees before
a Mayor. or a Governor. or a Board
of Freeholders dare appoint Them to
Office.
The idea is simply farcical. The
method is just the one. of all others to
deprave public Office and crowd the
service of the people with those most
unsuited for it. 1t is the way to make
upright, self-respecting men refuse
the positions which control patrons
age. 1t is the sure way to place the
entire field of patronage in the tight,
sure grasp of rings and bosses.
MI. Bouton will do we'll to eliminate
all this matter from his plan Ap-
pointment to Office, to be pure and
sound, must always be a matter OF
personal Judgment and personal re-
possibility.