The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-07-28
ESSEX POLITICS.
Republicans Interested in
Fight for New Position
Of Supervisor.
WESEMAN rs WORRIED
Freeholder johnson Is Max
ing a Hard Fight For
the Place.
WESEMAN rs WORRIED
Especial to "The Jersey City News."1

ISpeclal TO The jersey City News
NEWARK, July %, 190O.-A new turn
of the political wheel has given more or
less concern to the people who are back
ing Assembyman John w. Weseman for
the position of County Supervisor, under
the new Freeholder act, fathered by As
semblyman Klein, of Belleville. When
the hunt for the position began, early
in the summer, it was announced openly
that Major Carl Lentz, the chairman of
the County Republican Committee, had
espoused the cause of Assemblyman
Weseman, and that he had virtually given
the Fourth warder assurances that he
would stand by him. The Weseman peo-
pie were jubilant over the promises of
the powerful support of the chairman of
the County Committee, and many of them
regarded the nomination. as already with
in the grasp of their champion.
AT that time there was no other can
didate of any size in sight, and the as
surances of the support of the Major
seemed to settle the matter for the
Fourth ward man. But as the sum-
mer wore there appeared in the Fif-
teenth ward a new aspirant for the place
in the person of Freeholder David H.
johnson, who came heralded by an adj
vance guard of, lusty shouters.
Little sociables and outings were planned
and carried into effect under the name
of the David H. Johnson Association, and
no stone was left unturned to further the
interests of "Uncle Davey." as the tall
Freeholder has become known.
But it appears that for long time the
name of the Fifteenth ward Freehoder
49, III
Carl Lentz is supposed to jot down the
names and alleged offenses of the stiff
necked politicians who refuse to bend to
his will. AS a consequence of some official
act of the Fifteenth warder, or a refusal
to appoint some man who had the in
dorsement of the chairman of the County
Committee, Mr.. Johnson's candidacy was
not viewed by the Major with a friendly
eye.
Among the Johnson hackers is former
Sheriff Henry M. Doremus, and when it
was determined to launch the tall Free
holder for the job the former Sheriff
undertook to win the Major and enlist
him in the Johnson column. Now, Mr..
Doremus Is not only power in the Re-
publican party hereabouts, but he also
possesses considerable influence with the
Major, having served as his understudy
in the chair of the county organization
while the Lawyers Club was wrestling
with the allegations of unprofessional con-
duct which had been preferred against the
chairman.
In that and other ways the Major was
under a compliment to the former Sheriff,
and SO it happened that the committee
l,oe for hiS
the protege of the former Sheriff. Some
of the County Committeeman do not hesi-
tate to say that the Republican nominal
ton for County Supervisor will go to the
Fifteenth ward and that the nominee will
be David H. johnson.
But these announcements have not
caused an epidemic of insomnia in the
Weseman camp. The Fourth Ward AS
semblyman is in the fight to stay, al
though he insists that he is perfectly will
ing to step aside for better man. If one
can be found
.tWeseman has had his experience in
the Board of Freeholders and has been
for two years a member of the Assem-
bly," said one of his heutenants, in enum-
Grating the Fourth Warder's qualifica-
tions. He is familiar with the affairs of
the county, knows the needs Of the
various institutions and where and how
to buy supplies. His record both in the
county board and in the Assembly is
clean and the man doesn't live who can
say word against his character"
Several other men aspire to the position
of Supervisor, John Medcraft, r. w.
Booth and others, from the township, but
as it is generally admitted that the new
position must be filled by a Newark man.
the chances of the surburbanites have
not very high market value.