New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-24
NEW-JERSEY NEWS.
REPUBLICAN OPPORTUNITY
TIME RIPE FOR THE OVERTHROW OF
THE DEMOCRATIC BOSSES.
A BIr OF POLITICAL HISTORY AS A REMINDER
THAT HUDSON COUNTY is NOT HOPE
LEssLY DEMOCRATIC,


THAT HUDSON COUNTY is NOT HOPE
LEssLY DEMOCRATIC.
The political history Of Jersey City and Hud-
son County contains pertinent instruction LOT
these who are endeavoring to reorganize the
Rel ublican party in that county. 1t shows that
the citizens demand fair play. detest bossism
and will not long tolerate misrule, no matter
by whom It is exercised This history Is series
of rebukes to those who would foster corrupt
government.
The people may seem apathetic and suDmls-
slve but when they are aroused to action and
revolt they move effectively. Whenever they
have risen the ring" has gone down. All re-
form movements have had their origin in the
chief municipality of the county, Jersey CITY.
The proportion of foreign born voters Is larger
than in many other communities, ana the hatu-
raj prediction Of these voters Is for Demo
cratic administration. consequently both Jersey
City and Hudson County may be counted upon
to give Democratic maJorities under norma,
conditions. But there is love OF fair play
among both foreign-bor and native Democrats
that frequently .mpels them TO break over the
traces and reDudiate the dictation OF the
bosses" Still, IT is only fair to say that the
bossism which prevails to-day is the outcome
OF an effort TO suppress a greater. evil
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM.
In days gone by the Democrats nominated
their candidates by conventions. These grew to
be so VIGOROUSLY corrupt that they were known
as Mary Kennedy" conferences; that is to say,
they were controlled by the man who proved
himself the best engineer" He secured the
nomination, MARY Kennedy" standing for dol
! lars Just as doodle" does now. When the late
William McAvoy was elected Surrogate he be-
came disguised with the Mary Kennedy bust
ness. and resolved TO put an end to it. He
virtually assumed the ownership of the Demo-
cratic party, and insisted that the men whom he
Endorsed should be nominated. His power in
this direction finally became absolute its first
manifestation being in the nomination OF VIII
lam McAdoO for Congress. against Allan l.. Nc
Dermott although the latter believed until the
vote was actually cast that he controlled the
convention After that Mr. McAvoys leader
ship was acknowledged without question. and
Mary Kennedy" quietly laid in her grave
After Mr.. McAvoy's death another boss arose
who ruled absolutely for while and then
was deposed by some one stronger than ne
And so it has gone on, boss succeeding boss
until conventions have been forgotten
BossIsM HAS HAD ITS REvERsEs.
Occasionally the party has risen in revolt, and
while the boss" was not always dethroned, his
slate has been smashed into flinders. The first
of these uprisings occurred in 1872. when Isaac
w. Scudder. Republican, elected to Con-
gress because the people did not like the Demo-
crat who chosen by the boss ms was
followed by another revolt In 1850, when Lewis
| a. Brigham, Republican. was elccted 10 CON
gress for the same reason. Another notable up
| set of the bosses was in Jersey City In 1915
when Charles Siedler was elected Mayor, as was
| Gilbert Collins. now Supreme Court Justice,
few years later.
Close upon this discontinue came another re-
volt throughout the county and Colonel John D.
Toffey was elected Sheriff Of Hudson County for
his first term. After that the Democratic bosses
| behaved themselves tOeraby well until they
engineered the great ballotbox frauds OF 1881
which were exposed by the Republican senate
two years later This made another reVulsion
and p Farmer Wanser was elected Mayor OF
Jersey City by over five thousand majority. Inc
Republicans followed this up two years later by
electing Colonel John ]. Toffey Sheriff of Hudson
County by an overwhelming majority.
RIPE FOR REPUBLICAN VICTORY.
All these successes go to show that neither
Jersey City nor Hudson County is hopelessly
welded to Democracy. and that while both are
normally Democratic they can be kept so only
by honest dealing and good government.
There are signs that the people or Jersey City
and Hudson County not altogether satished
with the conduct of the bosses and are ripe
for another revolt in November next. This
makes il desirable that the Republicans should
so arrange their forces as to be ready 10 take
advantage of the situation. 1t Will require no
great effort Concerted action and a reorganza-
ton and enrolment that will bring out every
vote will secure the desired result