The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-02-05
ANGRY CITIZENS.
Aldermen Denounced for
Granting the Newman
Liquor License.
DESCRIBED As POT HOUSE Politicians
Second United Presbyterian Church
Crowded Last Night-Red
Hot Resolutions.
DESCRIBED As POT HOUSE Politicians

The citizens of the old Fourth district
held an indignation meeting last night in
the Second United Presbyterian Church
on Hancock avenue. near Bowers street.
for the purpose of c~ensuring the Board of
Aldermen for granting a license to GUS
tave Newman. who proposes to open a sa-
loon next to School No. 25. on zabriskie
street.
The meeting was largely attended and
the speakers handled the Aldermen with
out gloves. The only Alderman present
was Al. Heritage. He was. one of those
who voted against the license.
When Rev. James Parker, pastor of the
church in which the meeting was held,
called the meeting to order, there were sew
eral hundred people in the place. and
probably one-half were women.
Among the prominent citizens present
were:-President U. Allen. and Directors
William Beach and John A. Walker. of
the Board of Education: Rev. Mr.. Wright,
Rev. DIR. James Parker. Rev. Mr.. George
Taylor. Messrs. Butterfield and Walters,
Professor Egbert. of Columbia College;
Alderman AL. Heritage. Rev. Mr.. Johnson
and tina Charles Mcneil.
Mr.. George Taylor was elected Chair
man. and in his opening speech he outlined
the reasons for calling the meeting and the
objects of it.
Mr.. 1. Walters spoke of the Aldermen's
utter disregard for the welfare of the
citizens and of the little respect which
they showed when in spite of the pro-
test of $50 citizens who attended their
meeting and publicly expressed their
views on the subject, they gave a license
to Gus Newman to operate a saloon
next to School No. %. He referred to
the fact that the Aldermen at that meet1
ing had rushed through II licenses with
out any investigation.
Rev. Mr.. Wright said the Aldermen had
outraged and violated all sacred princi-
pies, and utterly d~isregarded the well
fare of the children. These men," he
said, Should be known and held up to
public censure. Every man should go to
the primaries and name their candidates
for Office, and then such beings would
not be elected"
Professor Egbert, of Columbia College,
defined the word alderman as coming
from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning
lone. who is worthy of great respect
1t was a misnomer in Jersey City.
Gaughter.)
We have been deied by a contempt
ible body of pothouse politicians he
said. "and it is time for us to cease fol-
lowing the dump cart to the polls"
He always thought that Aldermen had
nothing to do but go to the City Hall
and sit there. They were always fat in
body and brain. He wished the Board of
Aldermen of Jersey City were wiped out
of existence.
Director William H. Beach said that
the Board of Education had attended the
meeting Of the Board of Aldermen and
had begged them not to- grant the Ii
cense. He said the injury to the school
caused by the saloon would be very
great and the citizens had just cause
for indignation. He wished he could get
some form of words to express his in
dignation without profanity. He urged
the people to keep up the meetings until
Newman changed mis- mind or his bust
ness.
The chairman at this stage of the meet
ing looked around in the audience to see
if there were any Aldermen in sight.
Finally he espied Al. Heritage seated in
one of the back seats ~thoughtfully strok-
ing his beard. A speech was demanded
and Mr.. Heritage said that he was one
of those noble Aldermen who were born
six months ago."
1.-THE vote on that license" he said,
was the greatest rebuke ever thrown
in my face. / am no pothouse politician
nor am 1 growing fat or the money /
have received as Alderman. The license
business was not worked in caucus, and
if Alderman Mccarthy had been wei it
would nave been beaten" Mr.. Heritage
scored Alderman Ross and said that the
petition was referred to the Excise Com
mittee composed of three of the Alder
men. Five members had cast their votes
against granting the license and he did
not want the people to place these five
on a level with the other fellows.
Director John A. Walker. of the Board
OF Education. said that although theYAl-
dermen had granted the license, stillfthe
Mayor had not as yet signed it, andwith-
out his signature the license was of no
value. He urged that a committee be
appointed to see the Mayor. reason with
him. n if possible dissusde him signing
the license.
President U. Allen said there was no in
stitution in the country more sacred than
the schools. and as the saying goes, THAT
he who pulls downs the American flag
should be shot on the spot" so ought the
Aldermen be dealt with who would pull
down the standard of the public schools
and corrupt the morals Of the children
He believed in giving credit to tie deserv-
ing. and thought that the five Aldermen
who voted against the license should be
held Up to the public esteem. One OF these
Aldermen. he said. deserved condemnation.
He had reference to Alderman Ross. Ross
voted against the license the first time.
but when 1T was given a second consider
alton he voted for it. He ended by urging
the people to take more interest in politi-
cal aairs and to see that only good men
received nominations.
Rev. DR.. Parker summed up the case as
mr. ONE run down.