The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-03-11
The Attack on Dennis Mclaughlin

William-J Thompson combination is
not surprising. 1t was carefully
planned. 1t was so much a matter OF
course, that it was freely prophesled
about the Court House. yesterday,
the moment it was known that the
Senate had overridden Governor
Werts' veto. Late last night it looked
as if there was a hitch somewhere.
The anti-winter racing bill was not
introduced on time. As we write, 1t
is not yet certain whether the pro-
gramme will or will not go through.
But the will was there anyway to do
up Mr.. Mclaughlin, and the con-
spiracy was all rugged for his signal
punishment"
The motives are very plain which
actuated the three heads of the trl-
partite conspiracy
Thompson is mad because Nc
Laughlin has taken no active part In
rushing through the Race Track bills.
Mr.. Mclaughlin simply furnished the
Hudson votes and left the other inter
ested parties to hustle for the rest.
Thompson is mad at this, and SO he
wants to put a knife into Gutenberg.
Smith is mad because Mclaughlin
stood by Albeit in the Senatorial
contest, and held his followers firmly
in line. So long as Albeit would stay
= H. Go1l @h4 H1dCnn man vUhn
were McLaughlin's friends. could
neither be bought, bulldozed nor
bamboozled into the camp of the
Essex candidate. Therefore, Mr..
Smith would now be glad to give Mr..
Mclaughlin the knife in the back by
closing up his race track.
Robert Davis started out after the
defeat of Allan L. McDermott. last
spring, to "do up Mr.. Mclaughlin
and make himself sole boss of Hud-
son County.
He has, for the moment, very nearly
succeeded.
The nomination of Mr.. McDermott
was a product of Mr.. McLaughlin's
leadership; his defeat was a product
of Mr.. Davis leadership, whether de-
signed or not, opinions differ. Any
way, Mr.. Davis started out from it to
capture piecemeaI, the party machin-
cry. His activity predominated
in the fall election. With one
or two exceptions, he dictated
the Assembly nominations; where
he failed to carry his point, some n
took good care that the candidate
was defeated at the polls. Then he
crossed swords with Mr.. Mclaughlin
on the Senatorial issue. In this he
had the advantage of Mr.. Smiths
brains and other He had
the winning cards in his hand. He
was on top, and in getting on top
himself, he placed various State mag
mates, who were hostile to Albeit,
under pledges to do his bidding in
legislation for Hudson County. How
he held them to their pledges. the
overriding of the Governors veto of
Senate Bill No. 1913 is ample illustra-
ton.
His relation to the anti-winter rae
ing bill may prove considerably tor
tuous. IL the bill is pushed. he and
his followers may be found opposing
it. It may even be killed and they
may seem to have the credit of killing
it. Nevertheless, Davis is n of the
instigators of it. 1t could not have
been even proposed without his o n
sent.
Then why this double dealing
policy, you may ask Why indeed ?
Simply to read Mr.. Mclaughlin a
lesson. 1t is as if Mr.. Davis addressed
him, somewhat in this fashion,
.sYou see, Denny, I'm boss, and
you're not in it. If l wanted that bill
to go through, it would have gone,
The Gut would have had to shut up,
and you were done. See? But I'm
your friend as long as you don't give
me no trouble, see? And I'll not let
Billy and Jim and them other fell
lers hurt you. Now you just keep
quiet and keep out of politics and run
YOUR race track. Just leave the boss
job to me and ! won't hurt you"
Mr.. Mclaughlin is very much to
blame himself for this state of things.
His friends have urged him to come
out and show his strength on several
occasions. When Davis beat him in
the Senatorial fight, he vas urged to
s.call that gentleman down. in such
style as would reduce the size of his
hat band. He could easily have done
it on two or three occasions. But he
could not be moved. He preferred to
lie back and let the arch little con
spirator undermine him and sap his
strength at every point. until now the
situation is a very one-sided and a
very painful one indeed.
THE JERSEY CITY News has al
ways recognized in Mr.. McLaughlin's
leadership something far better than
that which Mr.. Davis offers. The
lo+far means nothing but dollars and