The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-20
Colonel Dickinson,s Alleged Plans

IT has been rumored ever since the re-
suits of last Election Day were known,
that the Republican majority IN the
Legislature would use their power next
year to reverse the results of the peoples
vote in Jersey City. Now the story comes
to the front again in the columns of the
Newark advertiser" and, this time, it
is definite and circumstantial.
Colonel Samuel ID. Dickinson, of this
city, is made the prime mover in the
Advertisers" story, n the scheme is
said to contemplate a series of bills re-
modelling the various branches of Jersey
City's government, especially the Police
and Fire Departments. in such a manner
as to keep them under Republican control
for an indefinite time. The Advertiser
says:-
Before the Legislature convenes the
plans of the Hudson Republicans VIII pc
aai6 before the Essex members. Tnls IS
made necessary, not alone because HUG
son is without a Republican Assembly,
man, but for the reason that all laws
enacted for Jersey City must, under the
classification act. apply to Newark. The
proposed changes In Jersey City's charter
will be made to conform with existing
conditions in Newark. or it may be that
the Republicans of both cities will agree
upon a new set of laws.
Colonel Dickinson thinks that the police
and fire boards should be bipartisan. He
Il. not in favor, however, of leaving the
appointing power with the Mayor. His
plan is to have the respective city COM
1nittees tell the Mayor who he should
name as commissioners If a measure of
this kind does not meet with favor the
Colonel has another one to suggest. 1t is
that each party name in convention two
candidates for each of the two boards and
have them voted for at the approaching
spring election. 1t would make no differ
ence how many votes each received, all
wouid be elected.
The Hudson Republicans expect that
IN Governor voorhees, they viii md a
strong friend. While the county did not
do as well as was expected at the recent
election, it is known that the Governor
has e warm spot IN his heart for Colonel
the fact that the Hudson leader was one
of the first to advocate his nomination
and stood by him at the critical moment
aside.
Judging from some previous exploits of
Colonel Dickinson and Major Carl Lentz.
we grant that the conception of the
scheme as outlined is quite within the
bounds of possibility. But it seems
strange IL sober second thought will not
cause them to pause and abandon their
designs. They had one experience with
office snatching, two years ago, which
ought to last them a lifetime. If, how
ever. they insist upon satiating their greed
and that of their party associates. we do
not know that Democrats need complain.
Perhaps nothing could be thought Of to
more certainly disgust the people with
Republican rule, and cause them to turn
their backs upon that party.
Nothing can be more certain than that
this city Is Democratic. In seven con-
secutive elections, it has cast a Demo-
cratic majority. 1t has persistently de-
feated every Republican candidate for
municipal Office who has been nominated.
II this is not a declaration of the will Of
the people, what is it?
If this declaration is to be negatived by
the brute force of hostile party strength
in other sections of the State. home rule
is a farce and popular government Is d
humbugs We believe the people of other
sections viii see this as clearly as those
Of Hudson. and II Colonel Dickinson's
alleged programme is carried out, 1t may
stir up even out and .out Republican
counties to revolt against the rule Of
grab