The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-11-13
That Democrats
Will Not Like to
Hear.
HE SAYS HE IS NO BOSS
And Has Not Been in Some Time
Had Nothing to Do With Nominate
ing Candidates-Scorches the Street
and Water Board-Savs There is No
Ring Here Warned Mclaughlin of
Defeat.

Jailer Robert Davis. who has Cor sew
eral years been one of the recognized
Democratic bosses of Hudson county,
was comfortably seated in tho cosy par
Tor OF his pleasant home, No. 237 Grand
street this morning wnen a Journal re-
porter called uaon him aud asked MIN to
talk for publication about the results of
last Tuesdays election. Mr.. Davis re-
luctantly consented to be interviewed.
When asked whether b tie nds to cons
of the Hudson County Democracy in the
face of the adverse majority on Election
Day. the jailer replied:-
II have not been the boss or leader of
ths Hudson county democrats for some
time. County Clerk Dennis Mclaughlin
is the only leader at present. The Mons
nations made by the Democratic party
OF this county during the past two or
three cam paigns have not been suggested
by me-. They were not made at nv rec
quest. nor were the candidates selected
by me. Mr.. Mclaughlin has been, AS o
matter Of fact. the only leader in this
county during the East w or three cleo
tions."
III answer to the question as to what
was the principal C use of the recent
democr tic disaster, Mr.. Davis replied:-
Hard times and the race track lie gisla-
ton of last winter. Idon't think it was
so much OF account of the rings or hoses.
The democrats were defeated all over the
country, aud IN many cases they were de-
feated where they had no rings or bo.es.
In Jersey City the majority was against
the democratic ticket, partly because the
people were sick OF the way some of
the boards have been acting. From what
| can learn the voters want some SAY as
to who shall COMPOSE the diff srsut
boards. They don't want the members
of the boar,ts to ACT as thougn hev wsrs
entirely independent Of the voters."
But you were ones of those who help
ed to give Jersev City her present cnar-
ter. were you not?" asked the reporter.
II thought ut the tins the new cnarter
was passe | that IT. would be best for the
city. buf I have learned siucs tnst 1t does
not work very well. The commissioners
when appointed by the Mayor havs CONS
to think that thev are only respon ,ibie to
that QUE man. They den's care anything
about the taxpayers. As long as the TAX
payers pay for the city government tnev
should have some say as to VINO shall
reprsseni them III the different boards.
This svstsm Of having the boards ap-
pointed By the Mayor has virtually re
lieved the Democratic party OF all respou-
sibility, hat Is to say. the coi nmissloners
lave not acted In accordance with the
wishes of the party whom thew were ex-
pected to represent. They nave not rec
ogulze.f any leaders or county commit
tees. Since the election Of Mayor Wan
ser they have been more Independent
THAI ever. When the boards W dom
wrong the papers aud the public geusr-
ally have been quick to charge it all to
bossism, and have had to bear the most
Of the blame. but l ha Q never received
credit for the reforms which I have
urged"
"What reforms did you urge, Mr..
Davis!'
II tried to get the Street n Water
Board to repair the streets OF Jersey City
where there was not money enough to
have them rspavsd. l thought that by
that method the general appearance of
the city could be improved aud the re-
pairs would not be confined to snv par
tioular section OF streets. On tue Hill |
suggested that the dirt on the improved
streets could be levelsd off and the ap
pearance of the highways be greatly inn
proved. But the Street and Water Board
failed 10 DO az l suggested. The Commits
sionsr4 excused themselves by saving
that the board was short Of money, or
that the Mayor would not consent to the
necessary transfers of app o riations.
Then / was opposed To the vacation of
Brown place. which ere ated sucn a strong
feeling against the board. l fought
against the vacation OF the upper end OF
Railroad avenue. and opposed the ordi-
nance granting to the Consolidated
Traction Company a monopoly of the
street railway traffic in this ely. But in
all these matters the board completely
ignored me, and aftsrward the So-calied
bosses were blamed for tia actions of
r D., a. Gtraaf and NNotau u o-d -
"What do you think will become OF the
Democratic ring in this city, In view of
the recent electiona"
''The e ia now no political ring In this
city. II there was the democratic boards
would no5 have been acting SO indspeud-
emily. But 1 believe ia rings. 1 think
the bigger the ring the nes tar it IL for the
city in which the ring exits. If there are
about fifteen or twenty p-ople iu a ring
there will be more persons to consult
about the policy Of he party and the
responsibility will not all rest on the
shoulders OF one or two msu. Rings are
Liable to exist everywhere. In fact, you
can hardly help having u ring. tn. Re-
publicanR WON'T BIZ in power long In Hud-
SOP county before they will have u little
ring of their own"
Are o ready now to resign your
iearershipf"
II an only district leader of the Fourth
Assembly district now, At any time thai
the democrats of mat district want me to
get out, l will cheerfullv do so. To show
you that ] have not been boss of this
count for s me time. it Is only necessary
TO remind you that told Denuis Me-
Laugnlin Mt the time he proposed Staa-
ton's nomination hat l believed Stanton
had no chance Of being elected. l be-
lieved that the popular feeling was
strongly against Nh. Stanton, aui l be
lieved that it would have been better to
nominate some Gsrman-A nerican like
ex-Sherif Heintze. or Police Justice
kimmerly. They might have he'd n bet
ter chance. although he election returns
seem to show that hardly auy democrat
could nave won."