The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-04-16
The CITY ~clerkshfp.


The remarks published in 9TH News
Yesterday apropos OF the City Clerk
ship appear to have met with a ready
response in public opinion. This morn
ing expressions OF approval were heard
upon all sides. There was a general rec
ognition of the necessity of naming a nrw
man, unidentified with machine politics
for the office. Everyone saw that 1t was
the ground of offensive p~artisanship and
then expect the public to swallow a pro-
fessional politician as his successor. So
far as we can judge. the name of Mr..
Muivaney has caught on with great
force. The moment it was mentioned, il
struck everyone that if he was not the
man he was certainly the sort of man
who should be chosen.
Since yesterdays publication. it has
transpired that ex-Judge Michael ].
0'Donnell has had aspirations fer the Of
fee. We nave no hesitation in saying
that If any of the old-time politicians
are to get it. we should prefer Mr.. OsDos-
nell TO any other we can think of. Mr.
ofDonheli is q straight man. an able man
and a good Democrat. He deserves we'll
of the party. But the election of a City
Clerk cannot be made a personal mat
ter. However much we may desire to re-
ward faithful party workers, the needs
of the public and the ultimat good of the
party must be kept in view. There is no
use in being mealy-mouthed in discuss
ing this matter. We desire TO offend nc
one. but we are forced by duty to the
party to say that if Mr.. o'Donnell is
elected to this office. the cry of "the same
old gang" which killed us through the
State last fall. win be raised again. and
II win be pretty hardrwork to talk i.
down. DO . sa,''s
When the city government IS won back
for the Democratic party next year. no
doubt Mr.. OaDonnell will be taken care
Of. He certainly should be. He slieuld
be PUT back upon the bench in the First
Police Court when Herbert Potts term
expires. He made an excellent record
there before. and everyone VIII recos-
nize the propriety of his reinstatement.
Meanwhile he is not exactly neglected.
He holds two Offices. at the present time.
He is q Deputy Collector of Internal Rev
enue under the Federal Government, and
he Is a member of the County Board of
Equalization of Taxes.
It is proper for US to say, in conclu-
sion. that 1.-THE News has no candidate
of its own for this office. 1t has no de-
sire to Impose its preference upon the
party. 1t will cheerfully accept the re-
suit of the party wisdom as expressed by
the majority of the Board of Aldermen,
ana it win endeavor to make the best
Of the choice. whosoever it may be. We
have no animosity Of the one hand, and
no axe TO grind on the other.
But we nave absolutely fixed and un-
alterable opinion as to what ought to be
done both on grounds Of rectitude and
party policy, and these we desire to urge
for the consideration of the party Lead
ers and the Aldermen themselves. we
suggest the name Of Mr.. Muivaney be-
Cause he seems TO embody the qualities
be chosen for this Office. If the party
can find some other equally good man.
re have no objections; but we are very
certain no mistake can be made in nam
Ing him, and we have no doubt but his
election will secure to us many hundred
votes in the fall and next spring which
may be easily lost il we make a mistake
ii performing this first Important public
duty that comes to US with our renewed
lease Of power.