The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-10-25
LAFAYETTE AFIRE.
Democratic Enthusiasm at
Palmetto Hall Spreads
All Over the Bail
iWick.
"A TRADE IN GOVERNoRsHIPs''
Some of Major zebina Pang-
born's Old Curses Coming
Home to Roost.
4 TRADE IN GOVERHoRSHIPS'

Shipman's Palmetto Hall, Lafayette and
Pine streets, was not large enough TO ac-
commodate the Lafayette Democrats VINO
turned out last night to attend the mass
meeting of the Sixth Ward Democratic
Association. The hall was crowded to the
doors and many were forced to stand
throughout the meeting. The enthusiasm
was great, not man left the meeting
until the last speaker had been heard.
Fire Commissioner John Erickson was
chairman. In his opening address ne
briefly reviewed the issues before the
people and urged on those present the
necessity of working hard until the elec-
ton is over. He predicted an over
whelming majority for the Democratic
ticket Lafayette, he said, would DO her
share towards piling up the majority lie
introduced as the first speaker A. NJ
Grey. of San Antonio Texas, who spoke
on national issues.
Former Assemblyman John Wahl Queen
was the next speaker. He was greeted
with long continued applause. He said
TT is not my happy forte to be able 10
enthuse my audiences with campaign
stories or play upon the passions OF my
hearers. but l do intend to tell in few
simple words why vote the Democratic
ticket and why every good citizen should
vote for the Democratic candidates on
election day. This is a campaign IN when
individual candidates are not the issue
If we were going to carry on the cam
paign in that manner we would go pe1ore
the people believing our own candidates
superior to those of the Republican
party. The issue of this campaign is not
candidates alone, it is in the old form OF
the classes against the masses. Inc
Republican party has put up as It's stand
ard bearer, the former Acting Governor
Foster NJ VOORHEES,. He is man against
whom, except in some instances where ne
opposed the interests of the laboring peo-
pie / have nothing to say. He IS man
against whom have nothing to say per-
sonally Mr.. Voorhees, is going about TINS
county tonight, telling the people why
he should be elected He has been SO
busy campaigning that he hardy had time
to resign as Acting Governor OF this
state. We have had three Governors OF
this State in one year. The only reason
can see for it is that the Republicans
are Jealous of the Democrats who had
nine Governors in twenty-seven years
Mr. Queen reviewed the history Of Gov
ernor Griggs' resignation and that OF
VOORHEES, at the opening Of the campaign,
and continuing said:--
ANY man who has not time to serve
out his term of office is not fit to serve
the people. We charge the Republican
party with trading in Governorships. We
think that the Republicans have treated
the high office of Governor in an undigni-
fed manner. When Elvin w. Crane is
inaugurated he will be there in person to
receive the great seal of the State. He
will not go to Washington to help out the
Administration, he will remain in the
place where the people want him. have
attended great many meetings during
this campaign, and have tried to find out
what the Republicans are talking about.
find that they are assuming to place the
credit for all the good work which has
been done, and all the good bills which
have been passed, to the credit of the
Republican party, and blame the Demo-
Gratis for all bad legislation and mistakes.
They say that all the laws taxing railroad
property were passed by the Republicans.
The equal taxation bill, which was passed
in 1884, was signed by the greatest Gov
ernor the State has had in thirty years
Leon Albeit. The settlement of the equal
taxation problem will not be by the Re-
publican party"
Mr. Queen reviewed the equal taxation
fight of 1888 and 1884, and showed how,
unable to get what was wanted by the
people in the way of equal taxation,
Governor Albeit compromised on a bill
which provided for a State tax of one
half of one per cent. on the one hundred
feet of property actually used by the
tracks, and half of one per cent. to
the State and one per cent. to the locality
on railroad property outside of that. The
speaker showed how grossly unfair it was
that the large railroad corporations
should pay but SIS on 1000, while the in
dividual must pay $2s. He showed how,
in the Legislature of 1896, when the equal
taxation fight was renewed, the Republic
cans blocked the bill which was intro
duced to equalize the taxation of property
SO as to benefit the localities through
which the railroads pass. He then got
down to the appointment of the equal
taxation commission by Governor Griggs,
and said
THE Commission did conscientious
work. The subject was ably handled by
senator lIUWdrQS OIL lHlS city. Ine COM
mission, up a certain point, was in fa-
vor of reporting to the next Legislature
an equal taxation bill. But then the men,
bers had a conference with the Republi-
can leaders and Governor Griggs, and
split resulted. The result was that Chas.
c. Black was the only man who stood to
the last for equal taxation"
Expressing his view of what equal tax
alton should be like, Mr.. Queen said: :--sI
want the railroads TO pay not one cent
less or one cent more than you and pay.
If there IS difference in the standard OF
valuation as the railroads allege, I am
willing that the State Assessors should
accept the valuation placed by the local
assessors Z
The popularity Of Mark FaIlon, nominee
for Freeholder from the Sixth ward was
demons trated by the rousing reception
given him when he was introduced as the
next speaker He thanked his neighbors
for their kind applause, and held their
attention for short time with brief
but comprehensive review Of the issues.
dwelling particularly on the problems
which must be dealt with BY the Board
Of Freeholders. \ won't tell you, he
said. that if elected will feed the pris-
/ n1,ers with Injuries or hliild< houses