The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-16
The ~ssJonrnaiss,. Crusade and ITS
Wherefore.

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The eJournaf.s., Crusade and It's
Wherefore.
Just a week ago today the Evening
Journal printed the first of a remarkable
series of articles relating to the prevail
ence of certain forms of gambling in TINS
county and its alleged connection with
politics. These articles had been an
nounced beforehand in u terms as TO
create the inference that they were TO Do
in the nature of a campaign attack upon
the Democratic party. The fact rhaE NOM
nations were just being made for the fan
election gave color to this idea. but IN
view of the second-rate importance OF the
contest, there was some wonder that the
journal" should throw IFS ammunition
away at this time.
1t is putting it mildly to say that the
wonder was doubled when the articles ap-
peared. In fact. it grew to establishment.
The politicians were dazed. and the only
question they have been asking since is
sWhat does it all mean?"
This is the question that everyone IS
ASKING. They want to know whether it is
all a stupendous biunder, or whether there
is a motive behind IT, and II so, what
motive.
The reason for the wonder. 1t is need
less to say. is that the articles have al
most totally neglected the Democratic ofa-
Gals OF the county. No charges v
hear made against them; no evidence Of
fered of any wrong doing on their part.
The journal" has hardly even fingered
to call them names.
But 1t has scourged the leaders OF the
Republican party with whips of scorpions
1t has laid bare the secrets of that party,
and exposed to public execration as foul a
nest of corruption as Recorder Golf re-
vealed when he drove his scaipel into the
Tammany ulcer. 1t has shown the party
allied with crime and professional gam
bling through its leaders. 1t has SHOWN
some of these leaders bartering and dick
ering in jobs to be paid for with public
money, in order to provide workers Tor
the machine. 1t has shown systematic
blackmaiI levied upon the police and fire.
men to furnish the party leaders with a
corruption FUND.
Much of this it has started on its own
the testimony of -unimpeachable witnesses.
the party leaders themselves. .
What, then. is the motive?
ssThe News can only contribute a
speculation. 1t will be remembered that
about two years ago Colonel Sheffield
Phelps, in buying the journal" resolved
to take charge, through it's agency. of the
Republican party in Hudson. 1t was an
nounced on the authority of his closest
friends that he had political ambitions
and thai he was going to use the Jour
nar' as the lever by which they were to
be realized.
Ii will be remembered that when these
ambitious purposes became bruited among
Republican politicians, they excited a
vast amount of bitter laughter. The gem
tlemen who run the machine did not re-
ceive the Colonel with the cordiality
him to take a seat away up above their
heads. The did not ask his instructions
or even his advice. They gave him the
marble heart, and it took him less than
six months TO realize that SO far as poll
tical prospects were concerned, ne was a
far more promising bud in Teamed than
he had any chance of becoming In Hud-
con in a decade.
1t was when he made this discovery
that the Colonel abandoned the manage
ment of his paper to Mr.. "Joe" Dear. and
a year while he did the Childe Harold
act. After long reflection. however. the
Colonel realized that If the journal
was not a stepping stone to political SUI
premacy, it was at least an instrument of
revenge. BY means of it, if he could not
rule the party, he could ruin 1t. To be
sure, ne might Vii LIE o"aip' us
but what matter? Revenge is cheap at
any price, and the Colonel was SO blessed
with a father that a trifie of a quarter OF
a million need hardly be missed by him.
OF course. This may not be the explana-
ton of the situation. we may be all wrong,
But it is as good a guess as any other,
and n may he right
WHEN the journal" some days ago in
timated that the g. o. P. machine was
fed on policy blackmail. Mr.. ED Wool
ley and Mr.. Michael J. Schultz. the Chair
man and Treasurer. respectively, Of the
organization. mad fits over it.