The Jersey City news., 1899-11-28

PRIMARY APPEALS
Only Four Protests Urged
Before the Democratic
County Executive
Committee.
POLICE oFFICIoUSNESS
Loefner-o'Brien Dispute in
Town Of Union Results in
a New Primary.

The Executive Committee OF the Demo-
cratic County Committee met last night in
the rooms of the Davis Association to
hear protests from the late primaries held
throughout the county. AS a remarkable
instance of the harmony existing in the
ranks, out of nearly hundred precincts
there were only four appeals for the de-
cision of the committee
The protests came from the Second and
Twelfth wards of Jersey City, and North
Bergen and Town of Union. A lively
hearing was expected in the Second ward
protest. where ex-Alderman Ambrose
Guiton and Thomas Crotty held an ex-
citing primary. ultimately resulting in
each man having separate ballot box
| for himself
When Chairman M. l. Fagen opened
the hearing and Secretary Lennon called
the Guiton-Crotty case. much to the sur
prise of all. Mr. Crotty. the appellant,
put in no appearance and therefore the
protest was thrown out A similar finish
took place with the protest from the First
precinct of the First ward from North
Bergen. where Patrick Sullivan and Pat
rick Brady had dispute over the vote.
John Zeller was there last night 10 cham
pfon Brady. but Sullivan didn't show up
and Brady will he now the committeeman
from that precinct.
In the case of the protest from the Sec
ond precinct of the Twelfth ward. where
M. n. Burckhard and Thomas WeberIy
were at loggerheads, the committee de-
cided that a new enrolment and a new
primary should take place; the former ON
December s and the latter December II.
Chairman Fagen appointed Messrs.
dominic Mahan, D. ]. Murray and A.
Capelli. members of the Executive Com
mittee, to take charge of the primary.
The star protest, last night, and over
which there was a little acrimonious testf
mony pertained to the appeal of Fred q.
Loenler, In the Second precinct Of the
Third ward, of the Town of Union, that
the election OF ]. 7. O'Brien was irregu-
lar IN that he Loe6ler was not allowed
TO be in at the count. There was q hint
too, made by one Mathew Filon, that
the police were a leetle bit too officious in
hustling Mr.. Loeffler and his friends out
Of the rail-
Mr. Loeffler charged that neither him
self nor his challengers were allowed in
side the rail and couldn't fairly see how
the count really was. Several ballots
they knew, cast for Loeffler were read or
o'Brien, and when Mr.. Loefrler remon-
strated at the unfair proceedings the DO
lice interfered.
rs it customary" asked Chairman
Fagen, for the police up there to take
part in the proeeedings?,'
This time it was" replied FiIon with
not very affectionate look at OBrien.
who sent them there?',
THE town authorities I suppose
Did the police interfere?p pursued
Chairman Fagen.
It's my honest opinion that they de-
clared the vote before the vote was
really taken,'' replied Filon
Was there any disturbance?"
None except when Loeffler wanted to
see the tickets read on
Mr.. O'Brien at this point jumped up and
asked Filon df it was not true that at the
last election he voted for a Republican.
one Ranenburg, but the chairman ruled
that the question was irrelevant.
Il only want to show" said O'Brien
warmly, what kind of a Democrat this
man is who makes charges of fraud here.
I am endeavoring to attack his credi-
bility as witness and I think that the
law allows me-
Chairman Fagen said that the rules OF
the Democratic County Committee ex-
plicitly defined what a Democrat was and
that was the subject In question.
For the defence, Mr. O'Brien said that
the primary was conducted legitimately
and there was nothing approaching un-
fairness in the proceedings. Loeffler he
said, was obstreperous and noisy and
made trouble. When the first fifty bal
lots were counted, he continued, Loeffler
grabbed them and 1t was because of that
that he, Mr.. O'Brien caused his arrest.
More testimony was adduced on both
sides and it was apparent to the COM
mittee that a new enrolment and pri-
mary were necessary and they SO ruled.
Chairman Fagen appointed J. Kenny, It.
Middan and NJ. J. Coyle, of the Executive
Committee to take charge of the primary
which will be held at No 296 Bergeline
avenue Petitions for both these primaries
must be addressed to 'aThos NJ. G. Len
non, secretary of the Executive Commit
tee of the Democratic County Comnittee
care Of Messrs. Fagen & Murphy, Weldon
Building" !" and the time for closing is five
o. clock December A. The enrolment will
take place December 6, betwene and
P. NJ, and the primaries In both cases
on December II, between the same hours
Due notices of the primaries will be |
piacarded throughout the precincts in /
which the primaries win be held.