The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-26
TE ftNr4
PRICE MAY GET OUT
Democrats Of Essex Talk
of Recognizing the
County Committee.
TO PUT LIFE in THE CAMPAIGN
The Colonel Says He Has More
Duties 10 Perform Than He
Can Attend to.
TO PUT LIFE in TIE CAMPAIGN
Especial to 1.-THE Jersey city News.pl

NEWARK, Oct. q, lSSI.-The proposed
reorganization OF the County Democratic
Committee IN the plan adopted by the
county convention continues to be a favor
lite theme of discussion in political circles.
Republicans, as well as Democrats, ap-
pear to he interested in the change. Some
of The members of the present County
Committee are opposed to the change. bull
the majority appear to favor it. and Dem
oerats on the outside think the plan OF
reorganization will be a benefit. All admit
hat a change of some kind is desirable.
1T Is decidedly amusing to hear the
plan of reorganization referred to as a
scheme to perpetuate the control OF Col.
Price and make him a virtual autocrat,'
said Matt e. Ely, who. as chairman Of the
Convention Committee On Resolutions,
offered the resolution embodying the re-
organization plan, and some of the very
ones who suggest that explanation say
that the present County Committee OBJ
Jects to the change. That shows how in
consistent the DIRECTORS are for the pres
ent County Committee is virtually a crea-
ton of the Colonel, for he appointed al
most one-half the entire membership.
That he absolutely controls the organiza-
ton was demonstrated when more than
three-fifths OF the members, at his sug-
gestion, voted to extend their terms of
Office eight months, and they might, if
the convention had not taken action, ex-
tend their tenure for another year. AS a
matter of fact the adoption of this plan is
merely the prelude to the retirement of
Colonel Price from n Craftsmanship
OF the County Committee. He had al
ready announced his intention to retire,
because he could not attend to his duties
as chairman of the State Committee and
chairman of the County Committee at
the same time along with his other public
and private duties. Secretary j. r. Wood
ruff is, | understand, opposed TO the
change because it may mean his retire
ment. But he should not object. because
he has been constantly complaining of
being oyerworked and was addicted to
talking as if he was running the party in
city and county. l don know who was
running the committee, but they succeed
ed in plunging the organization into debt
and leaving several unpaid bills which
the new committee will have to settle.
Only recently credit for a small amount
was refused and that in itself shows the
necessity for a change. Matters in that
respect would have been worse had not
Colonel Price, on several OCCASIONS, as,
Sumed personal responsibility for ana PAID
bills that the committee should have been
in a position to liquidate.'
From other sources it was learned that
the present committee found it difficult to
pay bills and has at present many unpaid
claims outstanding. Thu legitimate ex-
penses of a county organization. in a
county like Essex, are admittedly heavy.
The outlay for printing, advertising, pro-
curing and sending out literature, rent
of halls, music, salary of secretary and
other officials amounts, 1t is estimated, to
at least $4,000 a year.
Under the Tammany County
plan, adopted in 1891, and abandoned in
1894, as well as the one which preceded
it, the members of the County Committee
money necessary to meet the legitimate
of the organization. The present
County Committee has not done so, prin-
clpally because many OF the members
are not so situated financially as 10 be
able to bear much of the expense of the
committee; There are many men in the
party ready and willing to help defray
the expenses of the organization, but
they are not willing to do so without hav-
ing a voice in shaping its affairs. One of
the objects Of the plan OF r~eorganizatlon
again. They will contribute the funds so
essential to the roper conduct of a cam
paign, and see TO it that the work of regis
lIdllOU dilQ VI dlllLdtiOil 10 PiOPCl1y at
tended to by the district leaders, who will
be elected by the voters.
The district leaders, all elective, will
the working force OF the party
organization, as the present County Com
miItee does now, and the committee will
attend to the executive work which, under
the present system, is neglected. Some
members of the present committee freely
that they did not attend to the
registration in their districts for the fall
election. They could not afford to lose
Gratis came out and registered. and they
were not in a position to see that some
one else looked after this work. In other
cases it was found that committeeman
had failed to call at headquarters for the
stationery to conduct primaries.
and in some instances no primaries would
have been held only interested voters per-
the work of the derehct commit
teemen.
Under the present system the district
committeeman designate the places for
holding primaries in their districts. Some
of those most derelict in their work are
still anxious to serve on the committee,
and if an election were held they could SO
arrange it as to secure their return. By
the new plan the two ward committee
men will arrange the place of holding
and method of conducting primaries in a
manner calculated to suit the largest
n bring out the most votes.
they will also devise a plan of district
and ward organizations in order to have a
thorough working force for the next
spring and fail campaigns of next year
About the first radical change eonten-
plated is the adoption Of the open primary
system for the selection of candidates for
Office. That of itself is put forth as a
of the assertion that the new
committee plan is a surrender to or a re-
turn of bossism.
Any Democrat may become a candidate
for any Office to which he is eligible, and
of being dependent upon the cleo
ton Of delegates. who sometimes change
their minds, his success will depend upon
the action of the voters direct. While the
County Committee may object to the
adoption of the new plan. their action
will nave no effect, for the decision of the
is final, and it's power para
mount to that of the committee. With
settled, there is much speculation as
to who will comprise the new committee.
The selections will not be made within
two weeks, and probably not before Dec.
[. 1t is known, however. that they will
be Democrats prominent in the wards
they will be selected to represent, and
,loselvsidentified with the success of the
party in recent years.
In the First Ward the selections may be
s. P. Conlon and DIR. A. G. Voight. while
County Clerk Wrightson, Michael T. Bar
rett. James N. Arbuckle and Samuel Klotz
ire also mentioned. Prosecutor Elvin
is referred to as a probability from
he Second Ward, and the Fourth Ward
several on the list of eligibles, includ-
ng John B. Dusenberry, = e. Burke, M
Ely and Alderman Thomas Smith.
Il. L.. Price will be one of the rep
of the Fifth Ward. and his
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