The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-16
DICKINSON ON M'EWAN.
[From tha Evening Journal of Yestel
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81 see that Mr.. McEwan recently sent
| p letter to the Journal in which he
makes several remarkable statements.
What he says about machine politics is
interesting because he was my instruc-
tor in party politics. When 1 first began
taking part in politics in my district
hustled around and got the votes with
out any particular organization. McEwan
used to say TO me- Refer this to the
committee. and after good deal OF
talk this was done on all political mat
tiers. His pretensions of high moral rec
titude and independence of party organ
ization are amusing at this time.
"dcEwan's opposition to Mayor Wanser
came about in this way:-His Honor had
decided to appoint John E. Macarthur as
Street and Water Commissioner, and 1
urged him 20 appoint McEwan. who was
then member of the Assembly, to the
Office of Tax Commissioner. Mayor Wan
ser consented TO do this after some per-
suason, but McEwan, who was then in
Trenton attending the Legislature, saw
fit to oppose a measure giving the Mayor
the power TO appoint to all offices with
out confirmation by the Board of FL
nance After this Mayor Wanser deeid-
ed not to appoint McEwan to any posi-
tion. and as he was always spokesman
he became an enemy to the Mayor.
Take the inside history of the Free
holder deal and that will show how hot
the Congressman is after the fruits Of
victory After the election, when it was
thought there was "a Republican major
pointed by the County Committee to
consult with the Republican members of
the Board and see what they were going
to do. Accordingly Mr.. McEwan, Mr.. n.
Schultz, Jr., and myself met with the
Republican members at Freeholder
Stuhr's place in North Hudson, and Con-
gressman McEwan, as the orator of the
committee, was spokesman. He said
something like this, with that howery
and persuasive style of his
Now. gentlemen, you all expect to be
candidates for reelection two years from
now, and you can prepare for that by
having well drilled army back of you.
What better can you do than to have
man in each voting precinct and to give
US one appointment for each OF the l42
precincts In the county. That Will leave
each OF you about four appointments.
'@rh@ Freeholders present were ap-
parentIf aghast at this unheard-of prop
osition and did not appear anxious TO
have anything further to do with US. /
nearly fell off my chair with amazement
as neither Mr. Schultz nor myself knew
he was going to make such a proposi-
tion.
Mr. McEHan finds fault with the ma
chine which consists of about 344 men
In the County Committee, and is selected
on the basis of the Republican vote all
over the county. He is the only original
Simon pure machine politician. Each
man In the County Committee has an
eanal say with every other mani The
Executive Committee consists of about
twentyseven men, Of whom Mr.. McEwan
is one.
'Mr. McEwan has a record as a per
.s3ssent bone hunter, botn for himself
sEd his friends, which is not equaled by
anyone else In the county. He was ap-
cointsd assessor In the old Fourth ward, \
or Hudson City section. Through my in
auence after that he was appointed Unit
cd States Supervisor of Elections In the
E1hEEiSoH oQtlitSiioE rstipIi. III my dCfnlllS-
tra.ion as Postmaster he was a most per-
sistent seeker after patronage foe the
psepie up his way. He was a candidate
fer the Assembly once and was beaten.
He was 8 candidate again and was
elected.
when Wanser was elected, McDwan
Immediately became candidate for
Corporation Attorney and for Tax Com
missioner, of which I spoke before. He
was a candidate for delegate to the Ma
t,cnal Convention which nominated Har-
yison. and for delegate to the last Ma
tionai Convention. He was candidate
for Congress twice. and all this time beg
ging tho influence Of these horrible ma
chine leaders. In the County Convention
which selected the delegates to ths ST.
Louis Convention. last; year, received 81
out of 81 votes. McEwan and Toffey had
a fight for second place. and gave near