The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-11-05
WOOLLEYIZING CAMDEN
Republicans Plot to Vitiate tt e
Ballot in Democratic
Precincts.
Special to the jersey citu Ne,rs.

/, CAMDEN, Nov 5, 1S95.-The validity of
to-day's vote in 80 of the so precincts of the
city of Camden was the subject of sensa-
tional move before Supreme Court Justice
Garrison yesterday. The matter came be-
fore Justice Garrison on rule to show cause
why d peremptory or alternative writ OF
mandamus should not be allowed, command
ing and enjoining City Clerk Thad. P. Var
ney ''to erect or cause to be erected voting
booths or compartments in the several vot-
ing places heretofore designated by him, and
not otherwise The writ, which was allow
ed in the morning, was made returnable at
the Court House at 8 O'Clock in the after
noon. The affidavit, on which the writ was
obtained, was made under the direction of
the Auxiliary Committee of the Democratic
County Committee.
ROOMS MUST BE PROVIDED.
Attorney Ridgway opened the proceedings
with the contention that, under the Forty
sixth section of the Werts' Election law, it is
the duty of the City Clerk to designate the
different polling places throughout the city,
which in each case must be suitable room
in which booths or compartments must be
erected for the accommodation of voters and
the carrying on of the election. He stated
that in SO out of 50polling precincts this pro-
vision of the law was not complied with.
That, instead, iron houses were erected on
the streets in front of the designated places,
in which it was proposed to conduct the cleo
tion Mr.. Ridgway held that this was in
direct violation of the law, and asked Judge
Garrison, in view of plain fact to allow the
rule
LACK OF CONVENIENCE PLEADED.
In defense of the City Clerks action Mr..
Morgan pleaded that, because of a lack Of
proper accommodations in the places desig-
mated by the City Clerk, it was deemed ad-
visable to erect booths on the street opposite
the premises named, by which to facilitate
the work Of the election The remarks of
Mr. Morgan were backed by Attorney F. A.
Rex. who contepded that the affidavit
on which the rule was granted was in
sufficient, inasmuch as the complainant had
not shown that any injury had been done
him as voter On this technicality, ne re-
uuested Judge Garrison to dismiss the pro-
ceeding, because of lack of evidence.
Judge Garrison cited the law and said that
the plea of inconvenience was of no avail
when an open violation of the law was con-
templated He could simply interpret the
law and not amend it. He said if both sides
consented the Supreme Court would settle
the contention within an hour, a course more
to be desired than decision after election
nullifying the vote. He said he would sit
as the Supreme Court and decide the con-
tention.
Attorney Ridgway at once consented to
such an arrangement, but City Counsel Nor
gan said there was insufficient time; that the
matter had been sprung at such an hour as
prevented any change in the polling places,
and he would not consent, and said the City
Clerk would take chances. Tbsreupon JUS
tice Garrison dismissed the prs .eedlngs, but
said he would allow another RUE, returnable
| tomorrow, the first day OF the November
| term of the Supreme Court, when the case
would have to take the usual course.
! HUSTLED THE CHANGES.
The Republican managers left the court
| room looking rather shaky, and acting on
the advice OF City Counsel Morgan they at
| once got gang of workmen together and
hustled over the city in an effort to abandon
| the iron houses erected along the streets.
| The stalls, ratings and other voting para
phernalia were hurriedly ripped out and
| moved into rooms in the designated houses.
| They found good deal of dificulty in some
cases, but at midnight City Clerk Varney
declared that in all the thirty two questioned
precincts, except two or three, the voting
! places would be in the houses designated in
The official notices from the City Clerks
|