The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-12-07
TR|CEERY CHARGED.
Woolley's Gang Accused Of
Ringing In a Fake Book
In the Eighth.


There was a fight in the Eighth ward
last night over the County Committee
men. Irregular methods were charged 10
the ring, and one anti-ring follower went
so far as to state that ring forces 'rung
i'm padded primary book. The ring
people used carriages to go ABOUT ana
bring out their followers. They succeeded
in swamping the followers of Thomas
McEwan two to one.
1t became manifest only a few days ago
that trouble was expected This circular
was then widely distributed
Enclosed please find ticket for the
Eighth ward primary, TO be held al
No. 151 Monticello avenue, on Decem-
With righteous indignation we an
nounce that the pot-h0use politicians
dominating the Republican party IN
the Eighth ward have resorted to aD-
horrent and despicable tactics.
The primary of the Sixth and other
precincts, which for years have been
held within their respective precinct
lines. have now been forced into what
is called Joint primary compelling
the Republican voters to travel in
some instances several miles TO par
ticipate in the doings of his favored
political party.
Please come out and vote enclosed
ticket. bearing the names of citizens
future insure against any unfair treat
EIGHTH WARD LINCOLN So
CIETY.
To insure the election of the ring men,
the Joint primary game was worked
on the anti-ring followers. The First,
Second Third, Fourth, Sixth and Seventh
precincts were merged into one for the
occasion. This is always resorted to
when the ring is in danger. To provide
more sure means of gaining victory,
the milk depot of John H. Weastell, the
defeated Street and Water Board aspir-
ant, at No 151 Monticello avenue, was
selected for the fight.
Twelve committeeman were to be
chosen in this one voting place Ring
election officers controlled the situation
and Mr.. Edward w. Woolley stood by
and acted as legal adviser to the ring
sters. Twelve anti-ring men were re-
fused permission to cast ballots for their
choice. One committeeman, George Will
Jams, was told that he had not enrolled,
and therefore could not vote. Words fol-
lowed on several occasions.
From the very start there was a rum
pus. Men wishing to cast ballots were
button-holed by followers of both sides.
Tickets of each faction were thrust at
the voter. The bits Of paper closely re-
sembled each other. In fact, the average
voter could not tell which was which,
unless he carefully scrutinized the list Of
names.
Weastell, Woolley and John Fichtl look
ed after the rings interests, and Abra-
ham Wilson, John Atkinson and Edward
Co1,1 oia +a1.. +,a AT. -
the ring forces and peddled ballots for
their own men.
The room was packed to the doors.
The air was sitting with tobacco smoke.
It was with considerable difficulty that
some voters could reach the box. 1t was
when the twelve anti-ring men were re-
fused vote that the opposition forces
howled that a padded and irregular book
had been ''rung in" In which the names
of many Of their men had been purposely
left off. This claim bears much weight
in view of the fact that many promi-
nent anti-ring men were disqualified
During the two hours and half of vot-
ing time, three horses and carriages were
kept on the go, bringing men from their
homes to vote the ring ticket. At least a
score of voters were brought to the poll
ing places in this manner. All voted the
ring ticket. Not one ring ticket was re-
fused all the evening. The anti-ring peo-
pie protested, but their kicks went for
naught. They were simply frozen out and
they got no show whatever They were
beaten two to one on every one of their
men. The ring with it's tricks and ir-
regular methods had won hands down,
thus preventing the opposition forces
from gaining a man or voice in the selec-
tion Of a chairman for the next County
Committee. Naturally the ringsters ex-
ulted IN their Algotten victory and ex-
pressed themselves as being more than
pleased at the manner in which "the
people showed their choice"
Not an anti-ring man can be found, who
does not denounce the infamous tactics
employed by the ring. Everyone speaks In
harsh terms Of the fake book used for
the occasion which shut cut their men
from voting.
Mr.. Atkinson was simply frantic with
rage at this piece of trickery. Again and
again he denounced the ringsters, charg-
ing them with having resorted to un-
far means to win.
One hundred and sixteen votes were cast
for this ticket. prepared by the ring
Walter K. Birdsaii, Frank Meyer, Charles
A. Roe, John H weastell. Charles H.
Richardson, Douglas D. T. Storey, Robert
Carey John Bumsted. George N. F1aacke,
Jr.. Frank E. Price, Charles M. Fichtl and
James D. Blair.
The opposition ticket read as follows
and received but fifty-nine votes:-Phillip
MA1TEfs or BACx