The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-10-21
NO PARTY IN A LEGAL SENSE
Therefore the 0oreoran County
Committee is Entitled to No
Standing In Court.
THE COUNTY CLERKS POWERS
Jersay City Police Going Through
she Registry Lists with a
Fine Comb for Fraud.

Justice Lippincott heard argument this
morning on the appeal from the decision
Of County Clerk that the petition and
certificate OF nomination filed by Andrew
j Coreoran, DR. Gordon, Otto Grouse
and others in the name of the National
Democratic party IS the only one he can
recognize as being entitled to that name.
A great many lawyers We're present. Ex-
Senator William D. Edwards presented
the case for the appellants. Judge
James Erwin represented the county. The
Sound Money Democrats We're represented
by Rynier. s. Wortendyke their candidate
for Congress; James B. Vredenburgh,
George L. Record and Charles L. Carrick.
Mr.. Edwards explained that the action
was taken under section 22S of the election
Law, and was an appeal from the deter
InHnation Of the County Clerk in passing
ppen the validity OF certain nominating
pet.tions which had been fled in his
Office. He had decided against the validity
Of the petition signed by William D. Ed
wards, Edward T. c. Young and others.
In that petition William Heller had been
doly. nominated fer Sheriff, James T. Lii 4
Surrogate. and candidates for Cor
Members of Assembly and Free
ideTs, The petition was filed on Sep
~tsFnber 25, and had attached 10 it more
than 100 names of legal voters. These
voters adopted the name Of the National
democratic party. there being no regular
recognized organization of that name
There is group. or clique or what
ever i might be called, which claimed it,
but It had not polled two per cent. of the
vote cast at the last election. the legal
oTganlzed party. and consequently had
no Standing as such. The gentlemen
composing t are in precisely the same
STANDING in that respect as the other gen
Slenen who filed their petition under that
name. The candidates named in the peti-
ton fled on September 26 had signified
their acceptance of the nomination. and
consequently they are entitled to official
ballots.
On October 1 a protest was fled signed
by 4. ]. C0rcoran, an Individual and
claiming to be Chairman of the County
Committee of the National Democratic
party, and Rynier S. wortendyke. and
claiming to be Secretary of the same
committee, They claimed to be the only
National Democratic party. As q, matter
q TACT and Of law they are not a regu-
larry organized party. and have only tbe
right to nominate by petition lust the
same as the others. On October g. another
PETITION was fled, the petitioners claiming
me name Of the National Democratic par-
~ u contained the name of Mr.. Wor-
seiaayse for Congress, Alvah A. Bedell
Tor Sheriff and other candidates for Sur
sogate' Coroner, Assembly and Free
oh october 1e County Clerk Fisher filed
ms determination that the candidates
named named on the petition last flied were en-
sfslea e the official ballots. which he will
2Hs pflhted n the name Of the National
t,s i..lel sg1c party This determination.
~, ~ appsiiants eiaim, is Illegal and un-
Jast- Y. aeprives them Of their legal rights
eap the3 ask the Court to step IA and
aM@ra tHem their legal rights.
is fhe other side represented?', asked
Justiee Lippineott
There is no other side exeent the
e9ga1y Clerk, replied Mr.. McDermotf
thsre is another side y sail M, r..
eeslsurgh Mr. Wortendyl<a was ,lat ,,ssfT-
hed q this proceeding until this morn
Il notified Mr.. wontenavla ,as+ n.o.
day afternoon said Nh FsaxTsrdq y sFr
" N9ftenHyke said that he had . enn,-ar
safion with Mr.. Edwards on MONDAY sq
ssI1ooh rom whIeh he inferred that some
thing was TO be done, but g5l1e4her ~
proceeding was to be an application for
maItanus or what form it was 70 take
ne df4 HOT Know
Il told you" sasd aIr. Edwards s.tbot
Il Was to be an appeal
q beg your pardon, you did notv re-
plisd Mr.. Wortsndyke.
Lawyer Carrick said that Mr.. otto
Grouse is at Princeton, and as IT is the
desire of~the County COMMITTEES tlsat he
take part in the proceedings he vo11Id
like to have the hearing INT off until to-
morrow morning.
Judge Erwin said that the Comfy
Clerk had construed the law and nad
gwen MS decision accordingly That deci-
slcn IS final unless the Court SETS 1t aside
Tie present proeeedsngs Judge T,royin
claimed, are not in proper form The
Comfy Clerk had acted 1Eder the section
OF the law which directs MIN to pass tr,on
ffe validity OF petitions which are fiied
BY different factions of = party. He mad
acted under Section Is Of the ballot re-
form Law and had followed the practice
which mas prevailed IN the County Clerks
Office for years in passing upon the valid
ity Of nominating petitions
THE gentlemen who have come mere 2
said Agfs MeDernott. have 10 standing
Ia court. Our action deals only with the
decision Of the County Clerk He has
passed upon the validity of TWO petitions
bur he Is not a judicial officer He. can
not pass upon the validity Of nominations
made by petiticns IL objections are made
20 i petition because IL does not con-
hat he certainly IS not authorized to
inquire into the personnel of candidates
who are properly nominated and deter
1oigle which of them the voters viii be
allowed 10 Note for. Those vino filed tne
first petition want Official ballots SO that
tAey Hnsy nNHe s1le opportunity OF voE-