New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-04
NEW JERSEY NEWS.
OPPOSITION TO WOOLLEY.
REASONS URGED FOR HIS RETIRE
MENT.
1T Is CHARGED THAT HE USED HTS POWER AS
COUNTY CHAIRMAN TO PUNISH HIS oPPo-
NENTs AND MIsMANAoED THE LAST
TWO CAMPAIGNS

The Republicans who are striving for a reorgan-
ization OF the party in Hudson County demand the
letHement or Chairman Woolley OF the County
committee. on the ground that ne In largely re-
sponsioie FOR the chaos WHICH now exists. They
charge that when Mr.. Woolley defeated Il. the
Republican County Convention for the noulina ton
Tor County Clerk in 1894 by John G. Fisher. who
was cfterward elected he made an open decara ton
that he would be avenged on the men who opposed
MS nomination in the convention. At is said that
Tie mas carried out his threat and has lost
opportunity to revenge himself on the men whom
ne regarded as responsible for his defeat
such Republicans Colonel John J. Tofey,
Aaron Baldwin. ex- Commissioner Richard Brown
ana other well-known Republicans who had vIgor-
ously opposed Woolley's nomination for County
clerk were removed from the principal committees
IN the county organization where they had served
Tor many years and we're practically reiegated to-
the ranks 1t is alleged by these Republicans that
Wooley used his office as chairman of the county
organization to inAict punishment on the men who
mad opposed his nomination. and for that
made himself generally disliked
colonel Tofey was member Of the Republican
state Committee for eighteen years and was al
ways elected without opposition until after he had
opposed Mr.. woolleys nomination for County
Clerk. AS a result. Mr.. Wooley was elected to
coed him. and Colonel Toffeys followers dis
gusted at such politics. They have entertained Ill
VIII for Mr. Woolley eyer since; and several years
ton ton OF Chairman of the county organization.
they poled 100 votes against him out OF total OF
25O votes.
THE GAG" RULE APPLIED.
The leaders. headed by Colonel Dickinson. sup
ported Woolley and believed that he would be
elected by almost unanimous vote. They were
surprised when the result was announced. and de-
ballot to be held while they controlled the organ
ization The gag rule was afterward applied applied
thus compelled their followers to vote as instructed
nir. Woolley succeeded in retaining the chairman
Colonel Dickinson and the machine men favored
his reelection The rank and file were not allowed
any voice in the matter. but were forced 10 obey
the dictates OF the bosses by voting openly for
candidate for chairman.
the head Of the organization say that II an open
ballot held as the constitution Of the commit,
en that SINCE NJ Wooey has S Of
been ee deVeioped and men whom the bosses could
control have been substituted for leading kepro-
bosses, 1t is said controlled the primaries and
elected their own delegates to the state and county
conventions.
THE CONSTITUTION TAMPERED WITH.
The constitution Of the County Committee. which
was adopted on September 10, 1895. at convention
of Republicans requires that all amendments must
be submitted and adopted at. "A county convention.
II is now alleged that OF the provisions OF the
constitution which distasteful TO the men no"
in control Of the party were ignored, and that con-
venient amendments were agreed upon by me iead-
and adopted without ever being SUBMITTED 10 or
adonted by a county convention as the constitu-
ton requires These Republicans say that the 90,
noxous provisions Of the constitution were amenueu
by resolution at a meeting of the County Commit
tee and adopted by the OF the followers OF the
posses" who were in the majority ~ a.,
Various other allegations are made against Mr,
Woolley to show that he should be retired IRON me
present organization. 1t is alleged that he grossly
mismanaged the campaign last fall and TINS spring
and should be held responsible for the poor showing
campaigns. ,, 4. ..,.o - chairman
~. " cnun,v oreanization He says that the
charges of having manipulated the constitution OF
tbe Tountv Committee in the interests or the eao-
os re unfounded and that he never gave any OF
the Republicans who are now opposing him an, any
dse,Iva and relegated certain Republicans TO the
ranks because they had opposed his tS os
co,,ntv Clerk He says he always consulted the
leaders when he arranged the committees