The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-25

and the outlook is that he win bs re-
There are. not few Democrats who ara
looking with covetous eyes upon the office
Of William Fl. Tuttle Mr.. Tuttls was
originally appointed secretary ia Coliep-
tor o 'Neill He has been aseessxnHpt
clerk under Mr.. Smith. While applica-
Tuttle's place. it looks as though hs
would stay where he is.
Mr.. Davis declined to say this morn.
ing who would be dismissed or appointed
outside of AIyles MeCartfn.
Mr.. Davis VIII take office orsefTednes-
day next He will doubtless fiAd 4t neo-
essary to abandon business that day In
friends -
The appointment of Mr.. DAVIS ssHs~uoe
and will not occasion rn1rch surprise
among am pohtlcians II Is st4gulaHa fact,
put true one, that Robert Dav5s Ct no
time made application for the odfee.sor
even announced himself as a candidate.
he did not know, nor did any outsider,
tna5 ne was TO be City Collector. It was
made known in the Mayors office today,
however, that Mr.. Davis appointment
was written out by Mayor Hoos himself
last March. His appointment was rhe
very nrSt one the Mayor decided he would
make. A month ago Mayor Hoos Intended
giving Mr.. Davis his commission but he
reIralned from doing so because the ap-
pointment might appear premature. City
and to some it appeared that he might
hold on unless Mr.. Davis came out boldly
ana announced himself a candidate Mr.
Smiths boom was exploded two weakN
ago, When Mayor HoOs, to prevent far
ther speculation in that direction, an
nounced that he would perhaps give Mr..
smiths reappointment consideration he
did not belong to the opposite political
party. Then there were few who
thought Street and Water Commissioner
Ferdinand Heintze might land He was a
candidate and his Masonic connections
with the Mayor were frequently spoken Of.
His association with the Mayor in German
societies would also prove a prominent
factor it was thought. Six weeks ago, It
is now known Commissioner Heintze was
informed by the Mayor that he might
just as we'll retire from the race. Mr..
Heintze did as the Mayor advised him.
He was disappointed but not displeased
particularly. as 1t was given him in con-
fidence that Mr.. Davis was slated for the
office.
There would probably have been A dcz-
en- candidates for the office had the Mayor
shown any disposition to listen TO appsals.
He had cut out the office for Mr.. Davis,
however, on his own hook, and nothing or
no one could cause him to change his
mind
The appointment of the party leader af-
ter he and the Mayor are supposed to
have split over the spring appointments,
has, of course, given rise to the belief that
Mayor Hoos is paving his way for renen-
ination. Mayor Hoos, however, says the
appointment possesses no p0lltlcE1 S1EHl-
fieance Mr. Davis backs up what the
Mayor says, but the wise ones wink ard
say
nee of the Democratic party for Mayor"
The appointment of Mr. Davis will. It Ia
said by politicians, efface whatever feel
Mayor for his appointment last spring.
Three months ago the Mayor, in an in-
terview with a News reporter said
The office of City Collector will go to tho
aIlI7 b0 Naca arlTGc 7 t h.1Tr 10
my mind to that. The programme will
not be changed"
The Mayor recalled that Statement. this
morning and said: MIR. Davis has been
my candidate for the office all the time
The office has gone to a man who de-
served it. I think all Democrats viii
agree to that / am pleased that Mr.
Davis has accepted I know he will make
as good Collector as could be desired"
Robert Davis was born in Ireland.
March 6. 1S4S His parents came TO Jer-
sey City while the future Democratic
leader was still in his infancy.
He was educated in Public School No. 3
and in St. Peters parochial school At
the age of eighteen he secured po-
siticn as collector for the Jersey City
Gas Company and also got an insight
| into the plumbing business. He became
a member of the volunteer fire depart
ment ard gradually drifted into politics.
The Democratic County Committee in
those days was the harbor for nearly all
the politicians of any prorninenee, and
ber of it from the old First district,
which then comprised the old Paulus
Hook section and included what is now
the First and part of the Fourth wards.
AS Democratic committeeman DAVIS
speedily put into play his executive aFll-
ity and his capacity as leader. He
came to be recognized as the leader OF
his district. In 1885 Davis was elected q
member of the Board of Aldermen and
had among his associates Patrick H.
O'Neill, who also subsequently became
- - Fr,.0 4a4
of Aldermen in 1895. 1886 and 1887.
In the fall of 1887 Davis influence had
assumed such proportions that he entered
the field as candidate for the Demo-
cratic Shrievalty nomination. the outgo-
ing Sheriff being the present Street ana
Water Commissioner Ferdinand Heintze-
The Democratic County Convention was
held October Is, 1887. in Roche's Hail.
now the Third National Bank building.
and the proceedings were marked by
much excitement.
to get the nomination and the roll call
was characterized by some left-handed
compliments all around.
Davis heutenants kept the conven-
ton we'll in hand, despite the howls Of
the opposition. which was speedily van
quished. and Davis was named for the
Shrievalty amid much enthusiasm Davis
received 50 votes and Cullen had the votes
of q delegates. Simon Kelly and the late
Edward F. Mcdonald. who had also been
named. withdrew as candidates for tha
nomination.
The campaign which followed was a
red hot one. and it soon became evi>
dent that Davis would have no walk
over.
The labor party nominated Richard Js
Allen for Sheriff. Jefrersonian Democrats
named Cornelius ]. Cronan, and the out
and out Republicans placed David W.
Lawrence in the race.
After an exciting campaign, during tho
larger part of which Davis was confined
to his home on Bright street by illness,
to be as folows;-Davis, IL, 100; Cronan.
1852; Allen. 6.s1s: Lawrence, 1891. Davis
over Cronan, 4157.
The result of that election paved the
way for Davis rise to the position of
county leader.
When Ithree-year term as SherifE
expired in 1890, Davis was able to dictate
the nomination of his successor. He
named John j. McPhillips who had been
Davis Under Sheriff.
Ex-Mayor Wanser was pitted against
McPhillips. The powerful machine Davis
had built up brought out a vote of 203 3lS
for McPhillips. Wanser's vote was Is. 445-
During McPhillips' term of office Davis
power continued to grow. In 1891 Covers
nor Albeit appointed Davis a Police JUS
tice. In the following year he resigned
that Office to become Hudson County
Jailer holding that office until 1894 when
he was succeeded by John Mitchell whom
Sheriff Toffey appointed.
Since vacating the jailership he has heEd
no public office. Thomas higgins, the new
deputy collector. was assistant post
master until July l when he had to make
room for e. w. Woiley. Mr.. higgins is
Dircctor-at-Large of the Board of Edu-
cation. having been appointed to that