The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-03-04
SECESSION DEFENDED.
Mayor Edward KennyW rites
To Explain Why He Fa-
vors Essex Annexation.

To the Editor Of 1.-THE Jersey City News
Dear Strip here in these West Hud-
son towns We seldom or never see a
Jersey City Newspaper, because the Jer-
sey City newspapers possess no interest
for us, while the Newark newspapers do.
But Yesterday the Newark evening
News" reprinted an article from your
paper in reference to the intended an
nexation of these West Hudson towns to
Essex and | am tempted to reply to it
in the interest of fairness and justice
according to our view of the matter.
Like all other articles that l have
reference to this section, your article is
full of sneers and reproaches in reference
to this section, which are altogether I'M
deserved, n which if they really reflect
in themselves sufficient Justification for
the universal desire of our people to get
away from you.
For instance our article brands the
desire for annexation to Essex as a
'schme of the band of tax-dongers and
d~isgruntled office seekers Permit me to
say, aside from this question, that the
greatest tax-dodgers in the county are in
Jersey City and that there are none here,
and l am willing if Jersey City is will
ing, to Ave the decision of the question
to any unprecedented set of men, say for
instance to the State Tax Board.
"As for d~isgruntled office seekers, I
know of none and l nave lived here for
thirty years, and l know the people pretty
well.
Now why cannot your people be fair?
These East Newark towns are really
separate from Hudson. We have nothing
whatever in common with the rest of
Hudson you have nothing in common
with us and you recognize la fact con-
tinlally in your utteranceS and your
actions.
"Ail our connections are with Essex.
all our affiliations and friendships are
with Essex and in Essex, all our business
is with Newark. and all our growth
comes from Newark. We ought to be
part of the county whence our growth
comes and with which our affiliations are
and to the growth and prosperity of
which We contribute. None of our growth
comes or ever will come or ever can come
from Jersey City.
Nov, why can't o be fair. This pro-
ject of annexation is not a steal as it
has been characterized by Jersey City
papers. The bill now before the Legisla-
ture amply and properly provides for
a matter of office seeking nor office hold
ing.
ark, and if we had properly shared the
growth of Newark we would have d popu-
lation of 81, COO, instead of 0,000. But be-
ing in HUDSON we cannot share the
in SO much do we lose by our connection
with Hudson.
Connection with Hudson is a detri-
u PAOopClity IA Jul PiO6IcSS,
and We must get into Essex, where we
naturally belong, and purely and only for
business reasons.
II am in a position to know the senti-
ments of our people. and with all due def
erence you are not. And when / say that
all the people of Harrison, Kearny and
East Newark, except a few who have
vested interests in Jersey City politics, de-
sire annexation to Essex, | speak the ex-
act truth.
Now do give up your mysteries on this
1,,a n and brent nc foirIx a Nd c,ona1x ~
us decently and not with c~ontumely. We
nave lone a great deal for Hudson county
in our fifty-nine years connection with it,
and we deserve decent treatment and a
respectful hearing.
"But the abuse of the Jersey City pa
pers, and the hostile and antagonistic ac-
ions Of county officials towards our towns
and our people, only tend to emphasize
the feelings of enmity and contempt which
you appear to have for us. and make US
more thaneever desire to get away from
a connection that is every day shown to
be more distasteful and disagreeable to us,
and which is growing more and more