New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-22
THOROUGH PARTY PURGING
HUDSON COUNTY REPUBLICANS INSIST
ON NEW CONSTITUTION.
PRESENT LEADERS DISTORTED THE OLD ONE
WITHOUT LICENSE IN ORDER TO KEEP
THEIR HOLD on POWER

THEIR HOLD on POWER.
Many Republicans in Hudson County who favor
a reorganization of the party are Of the opinion
that reorganization can be successful unless
constitutional convention is called and an entire
now constitution is adopted. The constitution
under which the present County Committee II
working was adopted by a convention in 1881, ana
II has been so manipulated from time 10 time by
the leaders OF the machine thatNthey are In abso-
lutte control OF party affairs. Under the provisions
OF the constitution the party management was
placed in the hands OF the County Committee. IL
was stipulated that the constitution could b
amended only by two-thirds vote OF the members
present and voting at any regular meeting OF the
County Committee, and notice in writing OF tho
proposed amendment was to be sent by mall 10
every member Of the committee four days prior TO
stlpuated that amendments adopted by the County
Committee should be submitted TO the next succeed
ing county convention for approval, ana ,na'
majority vote OF the convention would be nnaL
ALL But THE LEADERS WERE SATISFIED
Nine-tenths of the Republicans in Hudson County
were satisfied with the constitution OF 1871 ana
for time It worked satisfactorily to all The
fairs were among the first who found its provisions
obnoxious They realized that, uhIess II, 80
amended. they would be unable TO controi ING
machine any longer without being supservlent 10
the County Committee, which was not atrasS ~
TO them for they knew that many members OF mo
committee would not sanction their po;iucs mem ,,
DDS. They accordingly decided that ne &C, ME-
deTe WIN and changed il from time TO
time In such a manner that only small par. ot
its original provisions remains. no daun amer,.
which the leaders proposed had been submitted to
a county convention for approval AZ tne yoe ss.
70 a bitter controversy When the leaders wanted
TO amend the constitution they pr9posSS' ~, s
adnnted by the County Committee. when they
could. without ever so much as th ni p enub
cans who have always taken an active interest," III
affairs and who held no seats d te no onpor
tunity TO make protest against amenonI eons,d
were proposed or 10 na Convention met and they
were compelled to accept without ques"o" INC no.
OF the bosses.
THEIR OWN CONSTITUTION MAKERS.
Furthermore, IT is charged by many kepuohcans
that the leaders also changed the constitution IN
MANY instances without consulting the county
Committee. II Is charged that when they rouno
that thew could not secure enough votes to have
their plans adopted. such amendments as they
wanted boldly inserted IN the c9nsut ~ tS
County COMMITTEE In substantiation OF these
charges IT pointed out that the Grssn eecteS ae
the nrst meeting in January of each year by ballot
The as IL n9T s re @esne in January Of
each year by ballot or otherwise as the eo'ii''e
Nobody seems 10 know how the clause "or other:
wise as the committee shall then determine founa
its way in into the said yeseTday that
such clause never had been onered as an ainenu
When Chairman woolley was candidate for
csn bs was opposed by Congressman McEwan
The leaders who supported him thought ne "1 QUO
cenroed the votes Of majority OF the County
Committeeman. The election was by ballot.
WooILEY's WEAKNESS SURPRISE.
when the result was announced Woolley had
defeated McEwan by 80 majority out OF total OK
80 votes polled The leaders did not anticipate that
Nc would
The large vote he received alarmed them. and they
f SGonSb treachery Many Of the
whom the leaders counted upon TO- vote tor WooI,ey
took advantage OF the secret oailot ana 'o'eu luz
The leaders then feared that unless other tactics
were adopted" the Republican continued they
would be defeated when subsequent elections were
held As result they y G a,SsrT SO as the commit
tee shall then determine Nobody besides them
the constitution The clause what the leaders
wanted. however and now no secret DalI9 e,, an
no taken without their consent Wnen elections
are held the is by entire delegations the chair-
man of each ward and township ahnouncns n ,nS
cast his vote in opposition to the others In tho
delegation TO which he belongs, but the leaders keep
attempt to vote against their candidate he Is
naase1 for him that he soon feels that his
funess on the committee Is at an snd. -, ...r..
ballot as the original constitution specified has
been ignored by the leaders, and such methods OK
force and no could stop II.
LEADERS AFRAID OF FAIR PLAY
The leaders knew that II secret ballots for the
election of officers were taken. Chairman Wooley
could not be reelected. and new men would be APP
pointed on the committees. The leaders themselves
would lose their places forthwith. and that. OF
course is why they were so anxious that the cleo
lions should be held the committee shall then
determine The defeat Of their candidate for chair
man Of the County Committee would mean their
so manipulated that the election OF their candidate
for chairman IL assured.
Article VI Section S. Of the constitution reads:
THE Patronage Committee shall consist OF fifteen
members whose duty II shall be 10 look into the
merits OF applicants for political positions, and 20
report the County Committee Its recommended
tOns upon appointments"
Many Republicans charge that the Patronage
Committee which IL controlled by Colonel Dckin-
SON has never reported It's recommendations upon
Appointments. the constitution requires. IL IN
claimed that many OF the appointments which were
Endorsed by the Patronage Committee would have
been rejected II they submitted TO the County
Committee for approval. Such strong demand
has been made for constitutional convention 10
adopt a constitution that It is thought that
the Organization Committee will report in favor OF
issuing a call for convention 70 satisfy the Repub
licans who are outside OF the organization and
who steadtastly refuse 10 take any active Interest
in it's affairs until radical changes are made In
49,. lad