The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-11-03
WORTHY NOMINEES
Sketches of the Democratic
Candidates for Congress
and County Clerk.
COLONEL STEVENS POPULARITY
His Deeds of Benevolenee En-
dear Him to the Working
men of Hudson.
Michael ]. O'Donnell a Consistent
Democrat and Efficient
Public Servant.

When a man attains to any prominence
in life, whether in politics, the arts.
nrofassions or on the field of battle,
there is always a desire upon the part
of the public 10 know something of that
man With view to satisfying that
commendable curiosity OF the public,
and at the same time showing the
voters what manner OF men the Demo
cratic party of Hudson County presents
to them for their suffrages at Tuesday s
election, The Jersey City News" pub
fishes today sketches of the county can
didates.
COL. EDWIN A. STEVENS.
Colonel Edwin A. Stevens, the nominee
for Congress, was born March H. 1893.
His ancestors were the first residents
of Hoboken, and the Stevens family
have since continued their home in that
city. Col. Stevens was educated at St.
Paurs School, Concord, NH, entered
Princeton College with the class of 70,
and was, during his college course and
at graduation, among those who stood
well in rank when he received his B. A.
degree.
NOT A POLITICIAN.
He is not politician; 1Ild while this
is the first elective political office for
which he has been placed IN the field,
previous Governors of this State have
had full confidence in his ability and in
te-rity and have appointed him to some
OF the most important commissions OF
recent days. He was a member of the
Hudson County Park Commission, which
fell through by no fault of the commits
Sion simply owing to some alleged defect
in the act The negotiations had with
10 10 'sHiOl-
wood property is still in the minds of
the people of the county. Col. Stevens
was always in favor of purchasing this
property on the Weehawken heights as
a park for the people of Hudson County,
appreciating its natural adaptability for
such a purpose and being alive to the fact
that a few short years would wipe out
practically every available desirable site
for that purpose. The wisdom of his
Judgment in this matter is evidenced by
the fact that the property recently sold
for $4,000 above the figure at which the
Commission wanted to and could at
that time have controlled the property.
Col. Stevens was Chairman of the Com
missioners of Adjustment of the City
OF Hoboken. The result of his work in
that body and his efforts Tor the adj
justment and collection of arrears of
taxes is best shown by the reports of
the Commission, now on file, and by
which the City of Hoboken is better off
by many thousands.
MILITARY CAREER.
He was, until retired. Colonel of the
old Second Regiment, of this city, to
which regiment and its members he was
deeply attached, devoting much time and
money in his desire to place it, where it
was, in the front ranks of the State.
Since his retirement and the Illegal dis
bandment of the Hoboken companies, he
has been equally untiring in his efforts
to secure for the men that justice which
he believed, and still believes. is due
them. AS a result of those efforts the
Governor appointed Court of Inquiry;
the evidence is all in, the case in the
hands of the Governor. and favorable
decision is looked for at All early day.
Previous to his connection with the Ma
tional Guard, Col Stevens was on the
stats of Governors Ludlow and Albeit.
He was also a member of the commits
sion appointed to fix the boundaries be-
tween the States of New Jersey and New
York, and he was alternate Commissioner
to the Worlds Fair. which Office he re-
signed to accept nomination as Presi-
Dental Elector
Always an enthusiastic and consistent
Democrat he was elected an elector of
that ticket for the State or New Jersey
in 1888 and again in 1852. he was Presi-
dent and one of the organizers of the
Democratic State Society Of New Jer-
sey declined reelection at that time on
the ground of ill-health, and was for
some time a member of the Democratic
State Committee.
CHARITABLE CHARACTERISTICS.
The charitable Characteristics of the
Stevens family were never more strong
ly developed than in the Colonel. Dur
ing many years past he has contributed
freely and literally to many charitable
purposes. His purse has always been
open to the worthy needy, and during
the hard times of the past winter many
a cheerless and hungry freside has been
gladdened by his help, quietly and un-
0stentatiously given.
In his mind was conceived the plan,
which he soon put into execution, of
opening up and improving unoccupied
to afford the unemployed work prefer
ence being given to men of family or
those with others under their care. No
necessity existed at the time for taking
up this work, but 1t was done simply to
AFFORD work for the unemployed.
The result of this step was the giving
men of this county the means of earning
the necessary money to keep themselves
and their families. and obviating the
necessity of that bette noir of all poor
but honest men. charity.
From the standpoint Of employer, Col.
Stevens is well liked by his many en-
ployes. Never in the history of the com
been any reasonable request denied;
never has there been any dissatisfaction
expressed which has not been carefully
: looked into. The best evidence of per-
feet satisfaction on, the part Of his men
is the fact that there has yet to be
experienced the first strike OF the en-
ployes of any of his companies.
MICHAEL J. O'DONNELL.
1t hardly seems necessary to introduce
Michael j. O'Donnell, the candidate for
County Clerk to Hudson County people.
Few men are known better or are more
He has held many positions of trust
and responsibility, and has filed them
to the entire satisfaction of all con-
cerned. Mr.. O'Donnell was born in Ire
land in 1856. When a mere child he was
brought to this country by his parents.
They settled in Jersey City about thirty
years ago. Michael has always lived in
this city, and he has an extensive circle
of friends, who are Glad at all times to
point to him as a Democrat who has
always possessed more or less political
power, but who has never abused any
trust or confidence reposed in him.
He secured his education IN the public
schools of this city He was an am
bilious young man, and when only six
teen years of age he declared that he
was going to go to work for himself and
obtain what education he could by dill