The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-12
FRIDAY. MAY i2. 1898.
This paper is democratic in principles and Is
Independent in its rie,cs on ~dll7oeat questions.
The Party Reorganization Move
ment.

The Democratic County COMMIT
tee is to meet tonight. The feature
of the meeting is to be the reorgani-
cation scheme. There seems to be
some doubt as to just what is to hap
pen: but the prevailing idea is that
some sort of committee is TO be fabrl-
Gated to take the work of reform and
reconst ruction in charge.
Unquestionably, the opportunity is
a great one for the Demo crazy OF
Hudson, If the reorganization com
mittee is made up the right way. it
may prove the redemption OF the
party. If the will of the boss and n
grind of the machine are set at de-
fance and first rate repres entatiye
democrats are chosen to co nduet the
work of remodelling the party, then
all will be we'll. If a REQ rganization
committee be made up, however, to
suit Mr.. Davis, with all the worn-out
Jacks of the old Coun ty Committee
upon it, then it would be better to
let things stay as they are. The re-
organization committee should be
one which it will be i'm possible for
"Bob" Davis to boss or control. On
any other plan, it will baa farce and
a sham, and will organize My disas-
ter.
At the same time, we have no idea
of recommending the formation OF a
committee made up wholly of politi-
cal greenhorns and theorists. There
should be- sufficient number of practi-
cal politicians on it to give it practical
vitality. Mr.. Patrick H. O'Neill,
MI. John P. Feeney. Sheriff Stanton,
i Mayor Pagan of Hoboken. Mr.. John
Edelstein, Chairman Murphy of the
Bayonne City Commit tee, Mr.. e. A..
Dugan, Justice Kimm erly, Justice N.
J. SO'Donnell, and perhaps four or
five more Of the best known party
workers, should certainly be placed
upon the committee, though it is
equally certain that they should con-
stitute less than a majority of 1t.
In our Judgment, one radical mis-
take has been made in the entire re-
organization movement down to date.
The State Committee has been studi-
iously ignored. The proper way to
have taken up the subject, was to in
vite the State Organization-not to
reorganize the local party, but to
start the machinery for doing so.
However. let US hope for the best
results.
1T seems to us that in the Atwell
Ease Judge Ingraham stood up so
straight,that he leaned over Taking
all the circumstances of the case into
consideration, it seems to US six
atty. OF course. from n point of
view the case was N of aggravated
guilt; but then it carries an aggravat-
ed penalty with it, irrespective OF that
Inflicted by the Court. II DIR. Atweii
is an intelligent. educated man, who
ought not to have committed such a
crime, he is all the more severely
visited by the disgrace, obloquy and
ruin of his fortunes which must re-
suit from his confession of guilt.
Perhaps Governor Flower will ex-
ercise his discretion in liberating DIR.
Atwell in q short time. We hope SO.
We do not in the least desire to palli-
ate the unfortunate mans ~offense; we
merely favor a rational relation be-
tween that and the penalty.
Governor Werts and the Trolley.
We are somewhat amused to see
Governor Werts' name on the list OF
those who protest against the opening
of a trolley line through Crescent av-
enne, past the front of the Governors
beautiful home.
There was a little bill put through
the Bad Legislature which enables
traction companies to III their lines
through any and all streets without
asking the consent of property owners
at all. 1t was put through to facil-
itate the plans of the syndicate which
has taken hold of the car lines OF Jer-
sey City and Newark and designs to
extend them. To avoid obstruction
of it's plans by property owners, who
only thought of their own holdings
and not of the public good, the syndi-
cate had the bill framed and intro
duced. Senator James Smith. Jr..
put it through. He came from Wash
ington to Trenton especially to do SO.
Later Governor Werts signed the
bill. We have no criticism to make
Of his course in doing so. There is at
least as much to De said in favor Of
the bill as against it.
But since he did signi 1t, and 50 gave
up the property of all the cities in the
State to the tender mercies OF street
car promoters, at least as to the ex-
posure of their frontage to the con-
tignity of lines of track, we think it
Just a little funny to find him figuring
himself as a protesting property
owner against a line which propo ses
to pass his doorstep.