New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-20
SELECTIONS FROM THE NAIL.
THE NEW-JERSEY OLIGAHCHY.

| A GERRYMANDEE WHICH TOOK AWAY FROM THE
| PEOPLE TIE POWER OF sELFGOvERNMENT.
| TO the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In Two or three articles you have blamed the
people OF Jersey for clcctng the Legsla-
ture 1t Is true they have been joined 10 their Demo-
cratic IDOL and have bowed down to 1t with devotion
that amounted TO fanatici.m. iut permit to re-
mind you OF few facts and figures.
Last fall the people Of New Jersey angry with
the Democratic party because OF Abbcttsm. the Coal
Combine bill and the Hudson County frauds, and they
showed their wrath at the polls While Cleveland
ceived 1000 majority In the state. the Democratic
candidate for Governor had majority of only
'.G2J. and the Democratic AsScmblymen taken alto
gcher, majority of only 1,49j out Of total vote Of
1913 $50.
From these figures II Is plain that the people Of
New-Jersey. more than has seemed. struggled last
November TO free themselves from Democratic mis-
| rule. Why did they have little SUGGEST Be-
cause by gerrymandcrinG the state in Sol the Demo
cratic bosses have bound the people hand and foot.
Here in Essex County the Republican candidates for
the Assembly received 1900 more votes than the
Democratic candidates. and yet eight Democrats
elected and only three Republicans. In the whole
State the 427 Democratic votes elected thrty-nine
As,emblymen. while the 1G0,932 Republican votes
chose only twenty-onc.
Please look at the figures OF Essex County In de-
tail. To the inequality In the appOronmon and
how the Republican votes are maSscd in a few dis
tricts. The total vote In the Democratic districts
last fall as follows Isl District, 1891 Id 1892
lid. 3,1s5 IVth 4,62S: With, 1886 With. 6.62'
With, 5137; Xth G.3G3 Here is the total vote in
the Republican districts: Vth 6.592 IXth, G,270;
Xlth, 9.735.
In the Vth District the Republicans cast 1868
votes, In the IXh zoo. and In the Xlh 5.619 and In
each district elected. Of course. only one candidate
In the Ist District the Dcmocr chose by casting
only 195 votes In the I'D, Also 1851 lid, 1,sS6;
Ivth 2.612 With, l.967 With. 3,i33 With. ..625
Xh 3.557. The $500 Democrats In the lSt Id and
With Districts elected three ASscmblymen but the
300 Republicans In the Xh District chose only on"
Now We see that Ncw-Jcr>cy citizens are indeed
bound and practically gagged. They may vote against
the Democratic party nj the polls: nevertheless they
are made to choose lis candidates. and thus hand
the state the rule Of gamblers and other
scoundrcs. Had their WILL expressed last NoTem-
bcr been carried out. Assembly would have been
almost cquallY divided between Democrats and Re
publcans ana there would have been no rlcetrack
legislation.
The work done by the las Legislature was unspcak-
ably bad. But far more sciiou, was the work OF
the bosses and the Legislature which gcir,mandcred
the state for the latter killed sci" rule In N"wJ-is"y
and converted her citizens into slaves. NcIpuN laws
were passed by the Duke Of Gloucester" and the
villains who sat with him in lh" legislature 81 l0:,j.
INT it T. TO the bosses ana The legislature of I13i
that "" are indebted for our utter hrlllr>'n">s nnl"r
those laws. How can We hope to elect l'fIHlathrc
Which ,Iail repeal them. when The vol" al u sinEl"
Democratic citizen in district balances III" votes
OF three Republicans In another district New jersey
citizens are not equal under the law and wrilhc aud
siIIggl" rs autumn what hop" l. there
that We can do better 10 regain our constitutional
rights than did li>t wear,
This 1, the mDn-trOuS wrong that NcwrIcrs'y has
suffered at the hand of ia" Democratic party. RAJ
track legislation /, small In imporianc" compared win
ballot box stunC and the ci>frauc hsng of citizens hN
communicating schemes. Iacciruk laws are but
one OF the great brood of evils which have resulted
and MAY vet be- expected 10 result from III" parent
iniquiiv the robbery of voters II their rights.
lin Michigan and Wisconsin Democratic ?crrym,niers
were overturned by IN" courts ia" highest court
Of New York refused disturb yor D"moc rn'ic gerry
mandcr. In New jersey the Republican party has
not had he spirit 10 bring onr g'rrN mand"r to t>t
I'm the courts. To-day Democratic government In
Ncw-JcrScy /, dead. We do rot rule ourselves. bit
are under the heel Of dcspOc bosses. their plund"ng
hcnchmen and the gambler, and hlncllcgs from whom
they draw support. w taxed without equal
representation. rs tho above figures show. and our
law, are made by men whom do not elect. What
better cause for revolution had the men OF l71r1
Newark. y. j.. March -. lS"3. g. W. I.