The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-05-04
WOOL|NC W0OLEY
Tribune" Clamors For His
Retirement From
the G. 0. P.
ACCUSED OF BULtD0zING
Used His Power To Punish
Opponents and Bungled
Two Campaigns.
MACHINE GAG RULE
County Committee Constitu-
ton Juggled--Woolley De-
termined to Stick.
MACHINE GAG RULE

[From Today's New York Tribune"
The Republicans who are striving for
reorganization of the party in Hudson
county demand the retirement of Chair
man Woolley of the County Committee,
on the ground that he is largely respon-
sible for the chaos which now exists.
They charge that when Mr. Woolley was
defeated in the Republican County Con-
vention for the nomination for County
Clerk in 1894 by John g. Fisher, who was
afterward elected, he made an open de-
clara tion that ne would be avenged on
the men who opposed mis- nomination IN
the convention. It is said that ne has
carried out his threat, and has never iost
an opportunity 70 revenge himself on the
men whom he regarded as responsible
for his defeat.
Such Republicans as Colonel John j.
Toffey, Aaron S. Baldwin, ex-Commis-
sioner Richard Brown and other we'll
known Republicans who had vigorously
opposed Woolley's nomination for Coun-
ty Clerk were removed from the rrinci-
pal committees in the county organiza-
tion where they had served for many
years, and were practically relegated TO
the ranks It is alleged by these Repub-
licans that Woolley used his office as
chairman of the county organization 10
infiict punishment on the men who had
opposed his nomination and for that rea-
son made himself generally disliked
Colonel Toffey was a member OF the
Republican State Committee for eighteen
years, and was always elected without
opposition until after he had opposed Mr..
ClarK
As a result, Mr.. Woolley was elected to
succeed him, and Colonel Toffey's follow
ers were disgusted at such politics. They
have entertained ill-will for Mr.. Woolley
ever since, and several years ago, when
a secret ballot was taken for the election
of a chairman of the county organization,
with Mr.. Wooley as a candidate for re-
election, they 2olled LOO votes against him
out of total of $50 votes.
THE GAG" RULE APPLIED.
The leaders, headed by Colonel Dickin-
son, supported Woolley, and believed that
he would be elected by an almost unani-
nous vote They were surprised when
the result was announced, and declared
that they would never allow another
secret ballot to be held while they con-
trelled the organization. The gag rule
was aIlerWdru ApPllSQ whenever al ciSS-
ton was held, and the leaders thus com
PEELED their followers to vote as instruct
ed.
Mr. Woolley succeeded in retaining the
Craftsmanship, Notwithstanding strong op-
position, because Colonel Dickinson and
the machine men favored his reelection.
The rank and file were not allowed any
voice in the matter, but were forced to
obey the dictates of the bosses by voting
openly for candidate for chairman.
The men who are working to retire
Woolley as the head of the organization
say that If an open ballot was held, as
the constitution of the committee re-
ouires. Mr.. Woolley would be defeated
by an overwhelming majority. 1t is also
said by these men that since Mr.. WOOL
lev has been chairman of the county or
eanization, system of bossism has been
developed, and men whom the bosses
could control have been substituted Tor
leading Republicans on the most import
ant committees. The 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 Commit
tee which was adopted on September lo'
1895 at convention of Republicans, re-
cnires that all amendments must be sub
mitted and adopted at county conven-
tfon. 1t is now alleged that many OF the
provisions of the constitution which were
aistastef,,I TO the men now in control or
the narty were ignored, and that con-
venient amendments were agreed upon by
the leaders and adopted without ever
beinr submitted to or adopted by a coun-
ty convention, as the constitution re-
olres. These Republicans say that the
obnoxious provisions of the constitution
were amended by resolution at meeting
Of the County Committee and adopted Dy
the votes of the followers of the bosses
who were in the majority.
Various other allegations are mace
against Mr.. Woolley to show tnat ne
should be retired from the present or
eanization. 1t is alleged that he grossly
mismanaged the campaign last fali ana
this spring, and Should be held response
BILE for the poor showing made by the fse-
publican candidates in these two cam
paigns.
Mr.. Woolley does not intend to retire
as Chairman of the county organization H.
He says that the charges, of having
manipulated the constitution Of the
County Committee in the interests OF the
leaders are unfounded. and that he never
gave any of the Republicans who ere
now opposing him any cause for COM
nlaint. He denies that he was vindictive
and relegated certain Republicans to the
ranks because they had opposed his nom
nation for County Clerk He says he al
wavs consulted the leaders when he ar
ranged the committees