Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1898-01-26
A LETTER FROM THE
CITY BY THE SEA.
An Effort Being Made to
Defeat Mayor Stoy.
LEWIS EVANS BELIEVED IoBE The COMING AAA
SOME ms AND OUTS OF CITY POLITICS
CONCERNING THE CONTEST FOR
MAYoR-A SOMEWHAT CHANGED CON-
DITION OF FAFFAIRs-A BATTLE ENDED.

/
A strong effort is now being made
| to find some competent business
man, who is known to be reliable, tC
run against Mayor Stoy. While Oh
the surface everything seems to bt
serene it is known there is trouble
brewing for His Honor. The Mayor
has weakened his chances in the last
few weeks by his seeming haste to
get back into the fold OF the ''bosses'
who had SO nearly deserted him when
by the advice of friends, he was in
duced to call a halt.
1t is now asserted, by the men who
went to his assistance when his case
seemed hopeless, that he has deliv-
cred himself into the hands of his
enemies and has made overtures to
them to be taken into full COM
muniOn once again. They say he
has taken up other peoples fights,
and made himself obnoxious, and,
like some others of our Office-holders
has turned his back on the friends
who made him a factor in politics
and Joined the ranks of those who
have said they wanted anybody but
him. / don't vouch for the truth of
all hear, indeed for but little of it
but try to catch the run OF current
gossip as hear it retailed by citizens
who are at present navigating
around in sea of yellow mud. And
that reminds me that our City
Daddies would now be blessed in
stead of-cursed if they had followed
my advice and had our main ave-
nues well paved.
Returning to the subject of a
candidate for Mayor / hear an in
creasing amount of talk in favor OF
Lewis Evans, and the talk comes
more from the business men than it
does from the professional politicians
who started out to 'sbOOm" him
against Stoy several months ago.
People recall the excellent record he
has made in all positions OF trust
and responsibility especially as
County Clerk. 1t is not too much to
say that he was the best the county
ever had. He never bothered himself
about other peoples business; he
never growled at and threatened the
friends who made his election pos
sible because they happened to differ
with him concerning candidates for
some other Office; but he went along
attending to his official duties in a
methodical business-like manner and
gained for himself a name that may
well be envied and might profitably
be initiated. He was defeated for
denomination not because he was
not qualified or well liked, but
wholly because he had held the Office
for q long time, and from a political
standpoint it was thought best to
give others a chance. Mr.. Evans
recognized business ability, and his
unvarying courtesy has induced
many to believe that a mistake was
made in his retirement, and that he
should be summoned back to public
duty as the Mayor of greater At
lantic City, | do not know that
such will be the case, but / do know
that if Mr.. Evans would consent to
become the candidate of the business
men, and cut loose from the 'sbOsses, y
he would give Mayor Stoy plenty Of
work to do in order to beat him. A
friend of Mr.. Evans tells me that his
position was misunderstood when
he was first talked of as candidate
sometime ago. Then many people
were induced to believe that he was
to be the "ring" candidate against
StOy, because the latter had shown
some symptoms of independence, and
given the bosses to understand that
they could not always control him.
To punish him for his refusal to obey
orders, they set at work to defeat
him for denomination, and in order
to do so it was only natural-and
also good politics-that they should
bring forward an able and popular
man like Lew" Evans.
hear that Mr.. Evans would not
make enough unconditional pledges
to suit the "hOsses;' and there are
those who believe that their use OF
Mr.. Evans name was only a bluff to
| frighten the Mayor back into the
fold. 1t would be q strange
mutation of local politics If such was
the game, but strange things are
happening everywhere, all the time
and it may be possible that Atlantic
City is to be treated to an edifying
spectacle of ground and lofty
Topping. Be that as it may Mr.
StOy has sowed to the wind, and he
viii be extremely lucky If he doesn't
reap the whirlwind. Politics arenot
altogether as they used to be in this
locality, and some people who now
held office will find to their cost,
when the time comes around, that ii
don't always pay to defeat or be-
little the best workers in a party
Take the case of Samuel H. Kelley
for instance. Is it supposahle that
the wild and impotent threats made
against him will promote harmony
or strengthen the party ? Does any
one believe he can be politically
blotted Out-as some of the Bread
and Butter Brigade hope-without
somebody getting hurt in the elec-
tion returns ? Kelley is bright
business man, and he was drawn
into politics by the very men who
now want to belittle him and defeat
| his plans. If they felt sure they
could use him to further theiI
schemes they would do all in theil
power to put him ahead, but know
| ing he is q square man, they art
ready to turn him down. Surely
such shOrt-sighted politics is bound
| to return and plague the inventor
for all hands are going to be con
| frOnted with q serious situation
next November, when gathering
will be in order. Venture the pre-
| dictiOn right here that before s'Sam
Kelley is politically buried you and
will live to see a lot of the migrate
he has carried along with him fl
subjects for q berth In the HOspita
| for pecayed Politicians, Kelley ]
big hearted, generous and unsuspect
ing, but he is nObOdy's fool, He ha
caught on to the leg-pulling game !