The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-03-13
SAM W0OS ESSEX
Colonel Dickinson Journeys
to Newark for Help for
His BIZ Partisan Bill.
FLAYEL MGEE, SUBMITS A BRIEF
It Claims That Democrats Use
the Police Force to Count
Out Republicans.
Isneela1 70 .rbe Jersey city News..l

with an unmistakable military bearing,
the other not SO tall. rotund and wearing
a self satisfied expression attracted con-
siderable attention on Market street FRI
day night. was not so much their APP
pearance as their conversation that caused
pedestrians to stop and wonder who they
were. 1--WE must capture the Essex dele
gation,' one of the military looking -rlo
constantly repeated, land once that IS
done we will do the rest"
Surmising that some awful crime was
contemplated, an observant citizen toi-
lowed the trio from the Market Street
Depot. where they had alighted from q
westbound train, as far as the corner OF
Market and Broad street, where he m
formed a policeman of whath he had heard.
Sc Ssh, cautioned the bluecoat lest the
trio might overhear him, That's Colonel
sam Dickinson, the Republican boss OF
Hudson county, who wants the Essex As
semblymen to help pass a bill that will re-
neal the act removing our department
from nartisan control and enable him TO
anpoint a new police force down in Jersey
civ. Sam amt much of a talker, they
saw and he has Colonel Fuller and Flavel
MCGEE with him to do the persuasive act,
guess, just WHICH LIN
aon,t 90 to the County Republican mead
quarters"
That was their destination, and they
found six of the Essex Assemolymen-
Messrs. Guenther, Jones, Weseman, hleii'
Deleot and Dexheimer-engaged IN the ais-
cussion Of pending legislation. TO these
conferences the public is invited, ana
Chairman Guenther and his colleagues as-
sured the visitors from Jersey CITY they
were pleased to meet them ana Wouiu
cheerfully accord them a hearing on the
West Hudson Annexation bill or any otner
act affecting Hudson county now pend-
ing in the Legislature.
..Oh. bother West Hudson and all other
pending bills" said Colonel DICKINSON
1--WE are here to consult you in reference
to a matter of vital Importance to the
Republican party in Hudson county, anu
we want to do SO privately
81 don't know about that, rephed
Chairman Guenther; "all our conferences
have been open to the public and we
would hardly be justified in making a de-
parture from that rule unless for an ex-
traordinary emergency"
..WeIl. lean assure you that your de-
parture will be justified in this instance,
remarked Flavel MCGEE, and when Colonel
Fuller reinforced the assertion MI. Guen-
Their and his colleagues decided to give
their visitors a private audience, and they
did SO. A private room in the Indian
League headquarters was selected and TO
that the conferees repaired.
snow. gentlemen" began Colonel Dick
inson. as soon as the door was closed, ac-
cording to the story told, 1--WE want your
support for an act to reorganize the police
departments of the State, and we must
have it, no matter what it costs"
as that intended as a suggestion OF
bribery?' aueried Mr.. Jones, with a show
of indignation.
mo. nor responded Colonel Dickinson.
ST was speaking fguratively and had IN
mind simply what we would be willing to
do by way of returning the favor. To be
plain with you, we want this bill passed,
Notwithstanding the objections of Cover
nor Voorhees,, who dom understand the
game of politics, anyhow, and / am go
ing to tell you the reason why. In order
that no misunderstanding may exist We
have prepared our ease in the form of a
brief and will read it for your enlignt-
ment."
The brief was read, and here it Isl
'.This bill affects Jersey City, Newark,
Hoboken and Trenton, four cities. The
last three named have boards consisting
of four persons, and Jersey City a board
of three. All the commissioners are at
present selected by the Mayors. Three of
the Mayors are Democrats, and the Re
publicans they select are under Obligations
to meet the Mayors demands; the selee-
lions are usually made to insure such a
condition.
1.-THE police department in these cities
perform various duties connected with
elections; under Democratic regime, have
dominated the polling place, terrorized the
voters, and dubbed the Republican chal-
lengers and workers at the polls, SO that
majorities favorable to the Democratic
ticket have been manipulated to the OK
tent of reversing the result of an cleo
tion,' for Governor in the notable instance
when Frederic A. Potts ran for Governor,
and also when George F. Perkins ran
for Mayor Of Jersey City. They were both
elected, but by the aid of partisan police
service the returns finally ~canvassed
showed their defeat.
sPeter F. Wanser, candidate for Surro-
gate in 1896 in Hudson County was count
ed out by the same process, although
elected by over 1000 majority.
sThe remedy proposed in this bill, is
to remove the police department in these
| cities from political control giving each
| of the two principal political parties equal
| representation on the boards of Police
| Commissioners, and requiring three votes
| to transact any business. 1t does not give
us any advantage over the Democrats,
but it gives us an even chance.
THE power of appointment is taken
| from the Mayor and the power to'nomi-
| nate and elect Is placed in the hands Of
| the people; the same convention that
| nominates the Mayor, Street and Water
Commissioners, Alderman-at-Large and
| other city officials will, under this bill,
| nominate Police Commissioners. No party
| or set of petitioners to nominate more
| han two, Inc the fou receiving the
| highest number of votes to be elected.
Hudson County Republicans are
imous in favor of this plan as being in the
| interest of fair play, honest elections and
representative government
ssThe present system makes it utterly
| impossible for the 5000 Republican voters
| in Hudson County to have any confidence
| that their votes will be recorded as cast,
| and therefore they become discouraged
| and disheartened, they conclude, many OF
| them that it is no use to vote and stay
away from the polls.
$50 III M Zxxx1 nj State EnInafinrc ~