The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-09-20

he expected the workers in the several
counties to do their very best. senti-
ment that met the hearty approval of
the delegates
Colonel Pfeiffer's nomination came in
one of those unexpected turns for which
Democratic cnventions are noted. Tues
day night the Camden men heard some
rumor yesterday morning expressly to
stop it, He told the Camden delegates
that he positively would not accept the
nomination under any consideration.
Inc Camden men therefore decided to
support former Prosecutor Joseph Sickle,
OF Gloucester County. Much to Camden's
amazement, however, Gloucester County
declined to support Sickler but express
ed its determination of not only present.
ing Pfeiffers name but forcing him to
accept the nomination.
Cumberland County got in to a little
wrangle in caucus, and by an overwhelm-
ing vote refused to indorse the candidacy
Of Arthur Russell. of vineland, who had
little boom some weeks ago Salem and
Cape May decided to stand by Gloucester
Tor Pfeltfner, because all agreed that now
was the chance to force the Democrats of
the most populous county to make bet
ter showing at the polls Still, Pfeiffer
had resisted all efforts to induce him to
accept the nomination, and by the time
the delegates got together it looked as
though Sickler would be the man. Leader
William ]. Thompson left on the noon
train feeling that it was thus settled, and
but for kink in the allotment of dele
gates the programme would have gone
through, and that's where the Pfeiffer
men got on top.
The convention was one of the liveliest,
yet happiest and most enthusiastic, that
the Democrats of the district have held
in a couple dozen years. Samuel Iredell,
who was nominated in spite of himself,
f. Burke, of Camden and Henry B. Ware,
of Salem, were chosen secretaries. These
officers were afterward made permanent.
There was some confusion over the allot-
ment of delegates, because of differences
in the call for the several counties. Cam
den had chosen delegates by election di-
visions, which gave it 282 votes, while the
other counties had chosen on the basis
of the vote. 1t was finally decided to re-
fer the matter to the Committee on Rules.
When that committee submitted its report
it provided for, the retention or all dele
gates then forming the convention, but
that all future Congressional conventions
should be composed of five delegates each
from the wards, townships and boroughs.
The report was adopted and that's how
the slip came in the programme.
When the roll of counties was called
former Collector of the Port David B.
Peterson, chairman of the Camden dele
CATION, presented the name of Mr.. Sick
Ter in an earnest, eulogistic speech. In
Gloucesters turn, however, former
Judge Bowman Cox. in very earnest
way, said it was up to Camden County
to do something for the Democratic
party. He declared that the leaders
there had 'laid down. for years and
permitted the Republicans to roll up big
majorities He said the other counties
proposed to put Camden to the test, and
he nominated Colonel George Pfeiffer for
that purpose.
Amid the hearty applause that fol
lowed Colonel Pfeiffer, smiling, made
his way to the platform and declined the
honor. He said he wanted to remain
as chairman of the County Committee
Camden, where the Republicans have
placed 5000 fraudulent names on the
registry list and he wanted to remain
at the work there and clear them off
This was followed by an informal de-
clination from Mr. Sckel Also but
despite these declinations the convention
proceeded to vote. Then there came
more confusion over the allotment of dele
gates, and when it was partly straight
ened out Camden was allowed only 81
votes, while the smaller county of Cum
berland had 80.
In the vote as thus cast Sickler got only
Camden's 50, Cape Mays AZ and of
Gloucester's a total of 1873, while Pfeiffer
got Cumberlands SO, Salems 54 and 81
from Gloucester, a total of 204. Had Cam
den voted according to the report of the
Committee on Rules Sickler would have
been the nominee
Amid deal of cheering Chairman Ire
dell declared Colonel Pfeiffer the nominee,
and as a committee took him to the plat
form and he decided to accept there was
mighty cheer.
The resolutions adopted in the conven-
ton are devoted almost entirely to a con-
demnation of Congressman Loudenslager,
whose attitude in Congress upon many
questions is called to account, particularly
the deepening of the Delaware River
channel, which is deemed detrimental to
the small waterways of his district.
George Gluyas Mercer of Philadelphia
made stirring speech, f1aying the i'm
perialist policy of the Administration.
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