The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-04-03

The Democratic County Committee held
q spirited meeting in Fischers Hall last
night. The attendance was large and the,
greatest enthusiasm prevailed. a rigid
plan was decided upon to square accounts
with some Republicans. 1t is to secure
the indictment of and to prosecute all
those election officers who failed to per-
form their duties on March 49, the sec
end day of registration.
While the term extender' was pend
ing. the County Board of Elections fixed
March 16 and % as days of registration
City Clerk NJ. ]. O'Donnell made all the
necessary arrangements, and the first
days work passed off as smoothly as
could be desired, all the officers, Demo-
cratic and Republican, putting in appear
ance. The night before the second day of
registration, the term extender passed.
and before noon of the following day
Governor Griggs affixed his signature
to it. " ". ..srsAs
The registration boards had been noti-
fed to report for duty in the original
notice at one o'clock and to remain un-
til nine o'clock in the evening. AS soon
as it became known that the term ex-
tender had passed. certain Republicans
that he postpone the registration. He
refused point blank, declaring that the
power to stop a registration was exclu-
sively vested in the County Board of
Elections That body was appealed to,
but NJ j. Coyle, the secretary, announc-
ed that inasmuch as a certified copy of
the new law had not been served on the
Board he had no power to interfere.
Consequently no official order was given
to check the registration. The Demo-
cratic election officers to man appeared
at their respective places and prepared
to receive the names of voters. In some
instances one of the two Republican Off
GERS appeared on the scene, while in
others both remained away. 1t was sub
seauent1y learned that they remained
away by instructions from the Republi-
can leaders, who, it is said, hoped to
invalidate the second registration and in
that way create a point on which they
snight appeal to the courts to set aside
eny election which might be held. There
were instances where the Republicans, in
remaining away, kept the registration
books making it necessary for the Demo-
cratic officers to receive the names of
voters, enter them on slips of paper, GER
tify to their correctness and forward
them to the County Board of Elections,
SO that they might enter the names on
the lists.
Under the general law, an officer who
remains away without just or legal cause
is liable to indictment and prosecution.
AS those who remained away did so, it is
ccntended, to attempt to prevent an cleo
ton, it is held that they are liable
Consequently the several precinct COM
n7itteenen were directed to furnish the
Secretary with the names and addresses
of those officers who failed to report and
perform their duties on March %. The
Secretary is to communicate with the
County Board of Elections and that body
is to present the case to the Grand Jury.
The committeeman have lots of evidence
against the offending election officers,
and it is believed generally that the Off
GERS, who number fifty. will be speedily
indicted The new move has alarmed not
only the Republicans but the offending
election officers who did the bidding of
i the bosses of their party.
4 Leader Davis suggested that it would
be we'll for the committeeman of Hobo
ken and Bayonne to cut away at once
from independent candidates.
Regular Democrats have been put in
the field,'' he said .sand the gentlemen
who opposed those nominees at the polls
would do well to get into line and sup
port the regular nominees with the same
vigor they did the independents. 1t is a
poor way to harmonize by having mem
8 bers of this or any other regular body
going about assisting Independents when
there are straight Democrats in the
field.,,
Michael J. Covle of Hoboken replied
that there had been tussle in Hoboken.
but announced that all differences had
been buried and that Democrats were
doing their utmost to elect the regular
ticket.
II made a fight and was beaten said
Mr.. Coyle, t'andaI have taken my medicine
like man and / am prepared to make
a red hot fight for the straight ticket.
Frank La Point called attention to the
fact that City Committeeman Culmacher
of the Fifth precinct of the Third ward,
Hoboken, is going about supporting an
Independent candidate of the ward, who
has been endorsed by Republicans and in
dependent Democrats
Mr.. La Point Is to prefer charges
against the offending committeeman and
he will doubtless be bounced.
close watch Is also to be kept on
committeeman of Hoboken who are, it
is believed, favorable to independent or
Republican nominees as against the regu-
lar party candidates.
Immediately after the County Commit
tee adjourned, the City Committee met
Arrangements were practically completed
for the election of April 1S Robert Davis.
Chairman IF the Nominating Committee,