The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-02-15
M'EWAN' S THREATS
Monkey and Parrot Time
in the Republican
County Committee.
BRUTE FORCE WINS THE DAY
Dickinson Faction Amends the
Constitution and Wipes Out
the Congressman.
FIERCE DENOMINATIONS
Very Significant Talk of Pos
sible Appeal to the
FIERCE DETERMINATIONS

d
at the meeting of the Hudson County
Republican Committee last night in Ber-
gen Hall. Hard names We're called, the
McBwanites and the Woolleyites vieing
with each other in their charges OF 1rauo
and misrepresentation.
CONGRESSMAN McEwan was on the floor
during the greater part of the meeting
fighting, as he said. ''for the secret BAL
lot'' He was there for the avowed pur-
pose of defeating certain amendments TO
the constitution OF the County Committee,
which were to be passed. and which ne
alleged would deprive the members OF
their rights and place too much power
in the hands of one man, that man being,
of course, the Congressman's. foe, Ed
ward w. Woolley. What McEwan's con-
do last night were fully set forth in an
exclusive article in THE News or yes
terday.
There were about 200 members of the
committee present when the session
opened shortly before nine o'clock
Secretary John ]. Erwin read num-
ber of communications. including three
designations, and notice that the Sec
ond Ward Committee of Jersey City had
endorsed the candidacy of ex-Assembiy-
man Robert D. Urquhart for factory IN
spector of the Seventh District and ask
ing the County Committee to sanction
their action.
A motion to refer the latter matter to
the Patronage Committee Wnen appoiin5d- psill5
ed was quickly put and declared earned.
Joseph Guisto called the chairman's s
attention to the fact that similar en-
dorsement of ex-AssembIyman Dodo LOT
the same position had been re1erreo 10
the Patronage Committee.
There was ominous silence When
Chairman Woolley said:-.H there is
nothing further amendments to the con-
stitution will now be taken up. AS each
member has a printed copy, do not
think it will be necessary to read
been made is on page four, section two;
article four which refers to the Board
of Trustees in which the printer acci.
dentally left out tne wore appoiar5seof ppei5 tho
chairman of the committee which had
prepared the revised constitution 10 reao
those sections which had been amend
ed and the COMMITTEES, would act on eacn
separately, he said.
Frank ]. Higgins the chairman Of
that committee, read the preampie ana
first section when McEwan arose ana,
addressing the chair, made some remark
in which he used the word gag.
Ex-Assemblyman Urquhart was on ms
feet in an instant LAS a member of this
committee he said, Il demand that the
Congressman publicly apologize to the
1t is an insult which we will not tolerate.
Mr. McEwan quietly arose and ex-
planned that he had made no such refer
ence.
was read the Congressman wanted to
know what precedent there was for
doing away with the election by ballot.
Chairman Woolley replied that they
had 4 nrecedent in the election of a
United States Senator by the Legislature
in that manner.
Il move that the section be amended
by striking out the words or otherwise
as the committee may determine, = said
McEWan.
This section refers to the manner of
holding elections which under the old
constitution, was by ballot only.
Mr.. Guisto tried to explain that the
change was for the purpose of simplify
ing matters where there was but one
candidate.
Il differ with the gentleman said the
Congressman. THE reason which 1 would
assume the change is made for is that if
we are asked to vote openly by voice, we
are then under espionage and many of us,
perhaps, could not then do what we other
wise would. We should not be placed un-
der duress. That is why we have secret
ballot. l do not believe that two-thirds
of the members of this committee will IA
vor placing themselves under watch as 10
Counselor Frambach said the object of
the change was to save time, and that 1t
still left the manner of voting optional,
Congressman, 81 will say that time
can be saved by departing from the
secret ballot 1t will take just as long
to call the roll Again it might be de-
cided under this rule to allow the chair
man of each delegation to cast the vote
for his desegation and we know how
sent the wishes and intentions of the
members. What we want is to main
tain the secret ballot, otherwise / main.
tain we will be under durress. Only in
this way can we preserve the sanctity
and secrecy of the ballot. | am pleading
only fo- that American institution-the
secret BALLOT
Counselor Leonard thought there was
no danger of coming under "a boss like
Bob Davis if the amendment was adopt
ed. No man who has not the moral cour-
age of his convictions has place in the
Republican party and, therefore, there is
no need of secret ballot he exclaimed
dramatically.
ExAssemblyman Urquhart again Sc
cured the floor and began a TRADE of
abuse against McEwan. He denounced
the Congressman as IAN migrate who had
repudiated his party and now tries to
disband and disrupt its organization.
The chairman tried hard using his cane
as a gavel to subdue the flood of oratory
and vituperation, but Urquhart refused
to stop.
Hugh Logan rose to a point of order,
that the speaker was not confining him
self to the question
Kindly Withdraw your objection" said
as well as the sanctity of the ballot
Urquardt-I repeat what l have said.
That man (pointing to McEwan) after all
the power he has received, has attacked
the leaders of the Republican party which
honored him."
Some one moved that the section under
discussion be changed to provide that all
proceedings be by ballot except on appli-
cation of ten members, but this was
quickly voted down.
The chairman finally restored order
sufficiently to put MeEwan's amendment
and quickly declared it lost.
McEwan was on his feet in an instant
and asked for a roll call.
The Chairman was plainly ratified, and
was relieved by Mr.. Guisto's suggestion
that as the chair had decided the question
the only thing which could now be done
was to appeal from the decision of the
chair.
''Take any steps you please Now we
are a corporation, and I propose that
we shall proceed according to- parliament
tary law said McEwan. threateningly
Il assure you, Mr., Congressman, that
no one here is afraid Of your threats, .
replied Woolley, ironically.
mo, / suppose not; but they may be-"
retorted the Congressman.
McEwan moved another amendment
and Freeholder Stuhr moved to lay it on
4 the table The chairman quickly put the