The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-01-03
CR0AKtRS At DAVIS
! Twenty-Seven Ex-Honor-
ables Hold a PoW-Wow
at Taylor's Hotel.
ALL FOR THE PARTY GOOD
P. H. 0'Neills County Commit
tee Initiation Plan Under
Discussion.
BOOM FOR FAKE CLUBS
The Scheme Shown to Be Vicious
by Several Speakers
Action Tonight.
BOOM FOR FAKE CLUBS

A new branch of the old sore heads
of the Democratic party, who are styled
The Croakers'' met last night in Par
lor A of Taylors Hotel. The object of
the meeting, it was reported, was to
discuss plans for the Improvement of the
party.
The leading croakers who undertook
this esSimable scheme were Daniel Y.
Lewis. the ex-Hon. Charles Birdsall, p.
H O'Neill and Assemblyman John Sur
prise Party Hewitt.
While the object of the meeting was
declared to be for the party good,'' it
is asserted by prominent Democrats that
it was a forerunner of a fresh attack to
be made upon Robert Davis
There were twenty-seven patriots pres
ent. and it win doubtless cheer the pro-
jectors CT the enterprise to know that
.-of the twepty-seven, no less than ten
intimate friends of Davis were on hand
prepared TO handle anyone without gloves
who attacked him. They were spared the
trouble, however, as Davis name was
not mentioned.
Every man present wished it under
stood. of course. that he was not in any
way opposed to Davis. They merely
wanted the party councils enlarged so
that everyone who takes an interest in
politics will be permitted to have some
thing TO say about the selection of can
didates. The true object of the meet
ing. it is said, was to get in line all
the old timers, who have monopolized
offices for years and keep them in readi-
ness for emergencies that may arise.
now that ydctory seems in sight.
Among the men present last night
/ ere:-Stephen L. Harvey. Frank Scott.
John Donelan. Patrick Coyle. James D.
Manning, Thomas 3. Cretty, Judge
William B. Rankin. James Burns VIII
m-, Murray. john E. Hewitt. P. H.
b'Neill, Messrs. McEntee. Sweeney and
Mccormack, of the Sixth Ward; ex-
alderman Joe Keogh, Daniel Y. Lewis.
Charlie Birdsall Patrick Kenny, ex-
Alderman Michael Day, ex-Alderman
rtrony Hauck Mark Curley, Henry Hoff-
man. Judge oBrien and Martin Adams
Stephen L. Harvey was elected chair
man and Frank Scott secretary. The
meeting had been in progress only a few
minutes when it was made apparent that
lfhe scheme was TO secure an endorsement
of P. H. O'Neil's plan to change the
constitution of the County Committee
so as to give every ward club a repre-
: sentation of five members in the COM
hnittee for every fifty members of the
ward club. If such change could be
brought about it was thought Davis
power in the committee would be les
Eened
The County Committee is to meet to-
night and O'Neill's amendment will
come UP for action. Democratic poll
sticians generally say 1t will be hope
s1essly buried. He expects this and SO do
his friends. Their fight will not end
there, however. as it is proposed to sub
INIT amendments for the increase of
the committee until such time as an
agreeable one Is found.
Michael Day, who was the leader of
the Democratic minority in the Board
OF Aldermen last year. expressed it as
his belief that to admit five members
from every ward club to the County
Committee would not be beneficial.
Ex-Alderman Hauck also was opposed
to the amendment. He contended that
any man could raise club of fifty in
any ward and get five representatives
in the committee. If they did not do
as he wanted them to, there was nothing
to prevent him from organizing new
club and getting five members more, and
50 on Until he had fifteen or twenty rep
resentatives from the one ward.
Charlie .Birdsall. the ex-Jailer and
ex-Police Justice. and several other exes,
said the enlargement of the committee
was in keeping with the present rules,
which provide for the organization of
precinct and ward clubs. He favored
Mr. ONeiil's amendment. and said he
thought it would patch up the trouble in
the party about the selection of can
dsdates. distribution of Offices and SO on.
Mark Curley was opposed to any move
ment to increase the committee claim
ing that it is too large already He con-
cluded by admitting that Tammany
Hall had thrown open dts doors to Dem
ocrats. but held that over there there
was a boss.
1.-THE Republican party has boss in
{ New York. and it gets along pretty
well" he remarked.
Comparisons are odious,'' Interrupted
Judge Rankin. III the Republican party
has a boss. it has one who has a bushel
of brains and plenty of money"
Patrick Kenny had little to say about
the enlargement of the County Commit
tee. He devoted ten minutes to arguing
for the return of the old system of non-
mating conventions
.aThe system under which we are elect
ing candidates" said Counsellor Man
Ming. ..is pretty good. The rotten part
of it is the scheme of making returns
to the Executive Committee The mem
bers Of this committee meet in secret
and then announce the candidates How
docs any one know that the returns
are not tampered with?'
Mr.. Manning raised the point that it
seemed Illegal to him for the Executive
rommittee ''to act as nominating
convention.
John &. Hewitt and Secretary Scott
spoke In favor Ct the enlargement Of
the committee and then = II o'Neill !
made himself heard
~ state without fear Of contradiction"
- began. that there is not member
81 the present County Committee who
can organize bona fide precinct or
fSayd club of fiffy members IA the Third
Evard there il population Of 1900 ana