The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-09-20
BIG c. 0. P. ROW.
Paterson Republicans Have
a aFierce Fight Over Can
didate for Sheriff.
THE LIE PASSED
Congressional Nominations In
Various Districts by
Both Parties.

Especial to 1.-THE Jersey City. News.,')
PATTERSON, Sept. 20, 1900.-The greatest
convention in the history of Passaic Coun-
ty closed for a recess of two days at 4
o'clock yesterday morning at Apollo Hall,
when the Republican county convention in
deadlock over the nomination of Sheriff
decided to take an adjournment until this
afternoon at O'Clock. The convention
opened at noon Tuesday for the purpose
of nominating for Passaic county. Repub-
lican candidates for Senator, Surrogate,
Sheriff and four Assemblymen Wood Nc
Kee was named for Senator Charles M
King for Surrogate with opposition, but
when the nomination of Sheriff was
reached there was a tie up that furnished
the widest kind of excitement until
O'Clock yesterday morning, during which
S19 ballots were taken without choice
The candidates are former Assembly,
man John w. Sturr and John Wright of
Paterson. and it was thought that which
ever one of them could capture the twenty
votes OF Passaic City would also capture
the convention. But when the Passaic
men arrived on the spot and saw that
they held the balance of power, they de-
cided to take hand in the fight, and for
mally entered for the nomination John J.
Slater, Treasurer of Passaic, and one of
her leading citizens. One township voted
with Passaic, thus giving the Passaic man
twenty-five votes, while Sturr polled fifty
and John Wright got fifty-six.
1t will take sixty-six votes for a choice,
but none Of the men were able to get that
number. There were wild scenes in the
convention during the early morning, at
times the cheering being so loud as to al
most shake the building, and then becom-
ing tired of voting the delegates would
break into song. Others went in turns on
the chairs, while in other places delegates
could be seen having their meals in the
hail.
All were waiting for Passaic to give in,
but at midnight William F. CASTOR, the
leader of their forces, said that Passaic
would never surrender, no matter how
long the convention continued. Congress-
man John DaiZell of Pittsburg was to
hove addressed meeting in the hall last
night, but the delegates would not allow
him to go on and the meeting had to be
postponed. The fight for the nomination
is the bitterest in the history of the
county.
When Chairman John L. Conklin of the
County Committee called the convention
to order, contesting delegations from five
Paterson wards were ready to make
things interesting. Chairman Conklin had
been elected by a Wright delegation from
the Fourth ward and his recognition of
the Wright delegations in the temporary
organization was feared.
Conklin suggested that a committee of
Exra ho int 10 toy,o
roll call A howl of dissent from Sturr
supporters was overruled and John T.
Robinson, Joseph S. Lang, Robert Nc
Cord, John L. Ochs and William F. Gas
ton, were named. The first four are
Wright men. CASTOR is for Slater
Yells of rage resounded when the com
mittee was announced. and a mob of ex
cited men, led by Factory Inspector John
Hunter, surged toward the chairman.
'sRobber! Robber!" they cried, while cheer
upon cheer came from the Wright par
tisans 1t had been understood that two
men from each faction, with neutral
Passaic representative, would be named.
eYou have done this because you could
not buy US out" yelled Hunter as he
jumped upon the platform, followed by
crowd.
Its a lie!" cried Wallace King.
s'It's truep' shrieked Hunter, while
general rush began for the platform. 'The
secretary tried, to buy some of our men,
and now we get another brace game.
We won't stand for it,
Wild excitement ensued when the police
We're called to clear the platform. Hunter
began speech from the stage, which was
alternately jeered and cheered. Quiet was
restored when the credentials committee
returned, CASTOR presenting a minority
report. A combination of the Slater and
Sturr forces divided the eighteen votes of
the Third ward and seated Sturr con-
testants.
| Colonel John A. Parker, of Passaic, was
now elected chairman by vote of IA to
| 81 for former Judge Francis Scott of Pat
erson. The cheers for Passaic had hardly
died away when Chairman Parker de-
cided that new credentials committee
| must be named, and when the recess was
| ordered the clans argued two hours over
bribery and ballot box stuffing charges in
| the wine room cellar.
| During the wait John S. Gibson of New
ark and Representative Stewart calmed
| the troubled waters with campaign adj
dresses. Five votes were taken from
Sturr and added to Slater in the new ere
dentials report, and ballot by acclama-
ton for Senator nominated Wood Me-
Kee.
| Fiery speeches nominated the Shrievalty
nominees, while the hall rocked with
cheers. Two hundred ballots had been
taken at 10 o'clock, sixty votes being nec-
essary for a choice. Wright led with 81,
| Sturr had 40 and Slater 25.