The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-14
DEMOCRATS HOPEFUL
Result of Township Elec-
ton Shows the Peoples
Dissatisfaction With
Republicans.
STATE PRISON SHAKE UP
Two Women officials Discharged
for Violating R~ules-Guber.
Material Gossip.
STATE PRISON SHAKE UP

~ > sAei- - 1Sc - 49, y
suits of the township elections last Tues
day the Democratic leaders find enough
evidence of dissatisfaction with Republi-
can rule in several localities to encourage
the belief thai when the votes are cast
and counted next fall there will be a
comfortable majority on the Democratic
side of the contest. 1t is pointed out by
them that the party shows the greatest
gain in those localities where Republic
cans are supposed to be firmly en-
t%renched, which fact is taken as an in
dication that the political tide is once
more turning in the direction of the
party that ruled the affairs of the State
for so many years.
The Republican leaders say that the
result of the township elections Is worth
nothing as an index to the outcome of
the -Gubernatorial battle next fall, be-
cause they were not fought on political
lines. But it is a fact, nevertheless, that
the returns nave been gone over very
carefully, and the Democrats feel a
good deal encouraged. That means that
they will go into the hight with stronger
hearts that were beating in their breasts
two weeks ago. The turnover in Cam
den hes buoyed up reformers all over
the State, and the two old parties in
Trenton may find a citizens ticket In
the field next month to annoy them and
make the outcome of the contest prob
lematical.
There is but little chance of the Demo-
Gratis getting control of this city at the
election to be held in April, but they will
undoubtedly makes ONE gains, and to pre-
vent that the Republicans are straining
every nerve. The borough of Wilbur has
been annexed to the city with the purpose
OF strengthening the forces of the Repub-
leans. The annexation adds a new ward
to the city and since Wilbur has been Re-
publican by a safe majority in the past
it is reasonable to suppose that the work
ers there will do all they can to keep the
new ward in line with the administra-
ton. While the Republicans can afford
to lose two or three wards in the city,
they will not do It IL they can prevent II,
because they realize that success in any
degree by the Democrats this spring
would encourage them to make an un-
usually strong dash for victory next fall,
a time when the Republicans will want
to elect three Assemblymen and a Sen
ator.
Among the political storm cloud rising
in various parts OF the State, one is notic-
ed coming into view in the Fourth Con-
gressional district. There is trouble
ahead for the man who undertakes to so
to Congress from this district on me he
publican ticket. 1t is not likely that
Congressman Pitney will decide TO sue
coed himself; but that will depend some
what on the way to influences that are
shaping the s-Gubernatorial nomination
drift. 1t may be that the young man VIII
be called upon to carry the STANDARD OF
the party at the head of the light next
fall. He is very popular with the leaders
and is willing to undertake the task II
they say the word. This they haven't
lone yet, of course, and will not hx up
the slate definitely for some time to come
Mr.. Pitney came into the mi OF sue
cessfui Congressional candidates during
the Republican landslide of 1894. He was
not expected to come out q me ser,m m
b fMo 1Saas ts.er T Ths KepabiicSss Leaders
have settled down 10 the idea tnaL ne y
can go into a campaign in the Fourth dis.
trict with anything like assurance OF
election, and for that reason he IS APT 70
be strongly urged to once more stand TOT
The Democratic leaders in the district
think that it will be an easy matter 70
defeat Pitney if ne is a candidate again.
He has made himself unpopular win a
certain class of voters III Warren ana
nunterdon counties by using his inf!aenee
when Federal appointments were 70 pc
made in these sections, in the interest or
the aristocracy. They say that when
there was = gublie of bs ne - pc 9 rlled rela m
tives of the wealthy families there 70 ses
the plum. This action, it is said, has
turned fuI 81 a P g40a m again st tnb nIm w ana I il IS
thought that there are enough OF tnem
to defeat him if he comes up for re-elec-
Although the members of the Board, of
Prison Inspectors are keeping very close
mouths over the discoveries they recently
made when, a few no days fsma ag0 d sney mant
Of the State Prison. more of facts re-
garding the complication are gradually
coming to light. Run neaa 81 se m'so9 ~ ana "a
around Trenton for a long time, put an
Investigation was not asked for by the
Republicans because it was feared that
The revelations might hurt the admins
ration: but it is said that Governor
Voorhees,, who is taking an unusual in.
terest in the public institutions OF the
state. Insisted that if all he had heard
about the goings on at the State Prison
was true there should be a change made
in the working force calculated to correct
the evil. Prison Keeper Moore is from
Elizabeth and he owes his position 70 the
friendship of Governor Voorhees,, there
fore the Governor feels that he IS in a
large degree responsible for Mr.. Moore's
administration.
Trouble between the women employees
of the prison appears to have been brew
ing ever since Mr.. Moore took charge.
He installed at matron Mrs. Eianor
Leeds, his daughter. She had as her as
Of Ex-Governor Newell. and who had been
assistant matron five years wnen the
Moore administration began When Mrs.
1 Leeds established new rules governing
the conduct of the female prisoners, which
Mrs. Newell thought were not in line
with the strict discipline that mad been
enforced in the past, she demonstrated
with the new matron, who resented the
I action, and from that time there was
/ f,saftNr,
The climax came four days ago. when
it developed tina charges of transferring
letters from parties outside the prison to
female eonvicts had been made against
Mrs. Newell. She was promptly sus-
pended. pending an investigation. she
denied the charges, and told a story of
Matron Leeds conduct, that could not be
overlooked by the inspectors, SO they dis
missed her. and now are looking around
for proof of the truth of the stories.
Mrs. Leeds and Mrs. Newell arel both
suffering from nervous prostration as a
fuses to talk. but the latter say that she
will he able to set herself straight with
fhe inspectors when she gets their ear,
and she will ask to be reinstated.
When the inspectors began nosing
around the prison they found that intox-
icating LIQUOR had found its way into the
Women's wing several times when there
appeared to be no need for it for medi-
cinal purposes. They also discovered that
the women in charge had shown a. warm
or regard for some of the convicts than
for Others, with the result that the favor
ed ones had liberties that were not ac-
corded to all. 1t is charged that the rule
which forbids visiting OF the female con-
i victs by male prisoners had been violated
on more than one occasion. and as a re-
suit tho situation is likely to become
embarrassing
garding the charges made against his
| daughter, Mrs. Leeds, but he says that
| the in relation to Mrs.
Newelrs discharge are substantially cor
rect. He insists that she is guilty of