The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-10-18
COLD, COLD FROST
Bergen Republican Club Rat
ifies the Ticket With a
Crowd of Twenty-Five.
THREE DISTINGUISHED STRANGERS
Erwin, Basse and Brown Ap-
pear But, Alas, Are Not
Even Recognized
THREE DISTINGUISHED STRANGERS

a genuine frost was the result of an at
tempt to hold a ratification meeting IN the
rooms Of the Bergen Republican Cluo last
evening. At times so ne of the members
clustered around a cold stove which STOOD
in the centre Of the meeting room, while
others fortunate enough TO have their
coats with them turned up the collars
and paced up and down in their efforts 70
keep warm. The frost hung around the
walls in chunks Enthusiasm was con-
spicuous by its absence.
At the conclusion of the business ses-
sion, after every other member present
had expressed his disappointment at the
lack of harmony and interest shown IN
the Republican ranks, a recess was taken
with the hopes that some of the Repup-
lican sacrifices would appear and express
their opinions on the coming election. II
was at this juncture that the pictures OF
P. r. Wanser and the Hon. Thomas Nc
EVAN seemed to wink provokingly at one
another.
Thus the farce continued until half past
ten. Then a coach bearing Mr.. Edward
w. Woolley and Smiling John Weastell,
drove up to the meeting rooms. They act
ed as the heralds of the nominees who
they saidwere to appear later and do their
little act Another wait of twenty min
utes and Mr. John J. Erwin, Charles
Basse and Edward S. Brown appeared on
the scene No one recognized them at
first Even the members of the club were
at loss to account for the presence of
strangers Suddenly Mr.. Woolley espled
the gentlemen Not one cheered, not a
hand clap was heard There was no sign
of enthusiasm-none could be aroused. In
the meantime a dozen of those who had
waited a little while for the appearance
of the candidates, left for home. By
actual count, twenty-five men graced the
meeting room with their presence when
MIR. Robert Taylor called the ''ratific-
alton" meeting to order.
He began by saying that he would make
no remarks regarding the certainty of the
election of any of the Republican eandi-
dates, lest some people would think he
was 'sdopy" He also said that he would
not care to risk money on the chances of.
The Republican nominees, but hoped har-
mony would be 1nanifesed and hoped that
the members would work for the success
of the ticket.
Mr. woolley was then introduced It
was then eleven o'clock.
II had hoped to escape this ordeal"
said the speaker TT is only recently
that 1 was admitted to the galaxy of Re
publican spel-binders. The party, as 1
understand, is now harmonious
He then spoke of the plank in the
platform adopted at the recent eonven-
tion touching on the labor question and
that was all he said. Mr.. Woolley wisely
refrained from committing himself.
Mr. Erwin spoke of the big majorities,
etc, which he expected, as the Republi-
can nominee, to receive on election day,
and assured tn members that he was
very. very confident of being elected.
Mr.. Basse and Mr.. Brown also spoke
on the harmonious t?) condition of the
party and talked for success.
So much for the alleged ratification
meeting Even the members were OBJ
viously disgusted with the apathetic ma
ture of the affair and declared the Repub-
lican nominees were doomed to defeat un-
der such disheartening conditions.
The business session Of the Bergen Re-
publican Republican Club showed up a
beautiful state of affairs now existing III
that ward. 1t was found that less than
one-third of the Republicans had been
registered and every member wanted to
know why such things We're allowed
when there should be all kinds of COM
mittees to lcok after the registry end of
the campaign.
Captain Charles c. Barker, of Lafay-
ette, was called upon for a few remarks.
He said that he found some interest
manifested by the Republicans during his
travels.
--Of course, in cases of this kind" said
he, there is always a difference OF
opinion A man who hasn't his own ideas
IS either a fool or an idiot. There has
been some difference of opinion in the
past. but belive that this has been heal
ed up"
President Charles Mason, said that the
registry was very light. He wanted to
know if any committee had ben selected
to look after this matter. "There is GER
tainly lack of interest" he said, "all over
the county. ssThis matter has been men
toned several times, but nothing has been
done" Someone suggested that cards
be sent to all Republicans in the ward
asking them to come and register, but
Mr. Landrine said It would be better to
keep the money and pay for the club
house. Mr.. Louis Stubenvoll assured the
members that his ward association would
look after the registry, if the members
would please get together to consider the
matter.
President Mason deplored the fact that
the Democrats were doing the successful
{ work and were going about in the right
manner to insure success.
] r Frirgie said that there were many
deserters from the ranks of the party,
hut he failed to say for what cause these