The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-11-23
DECKERS OUT FOR WAR.
They Give Fair Warning
That They Will Make
a Fight.

There is trouble ahead for the Republi-
can machine leaders in the Eighth Ward.
The anti-ringsters have issued their
ultimatum and there is blood in their
eyes. The determined stand taken by
the Deckerites was occasioned principally
by the treatment accorded them by the
ring men, who now hold the upper hand.
One more objectionable offense was COM
mitted at the last meeting of the Ward
Association by the ward leaders. John H.
Weastell called for an adjournment of the
meeting Immediately after the secretary
had finished reading the miutes of pre-
vious session and calling the roll. Even
Mr.. WeastelPs own followers voted
against him on this question.
The real trouble came when one of the
committeeman who is in sympathy with
the Decker following, asked for a copy
of the recent enrolment of the Third
Precinct. The secretary informed him
that the books were not in his possession.
This member had his s. ready to pay for
the copy.
1t is known that the machine people
held the enrolment books and will keep
them for their own use the night of the
primaries, December 8. 1t was moved
that the custodian of the books turn them
over to the secretary of the association.
The secretary is Mr. George w. Robert
son, who is also secretary of the Decker
Association. The motion was put and lost
This, however, is in direct violation of the
constitution of the association, for the
books should be in the hands of the secre-
tary and any member who desires a copy
shall receive it upon payment of the re-
quisite s..
Mr.. Decker then moved that a meeting
be held Wednesday, November %, to ar
range for the allotment of committeeman
for the ward. In making the motion Mr.
Decker said
'The reason why I made this motion,
was to give the Republicans of this ward
who are opposed to the way the leaders
are running things ample time to make up
an opposition ticket against the machines S
ticket at the primaries to be held Decem-
out here tonight and tell you up and
above board that we are going to give you
opposition in this ward.
During the last campaign we worked
in harmony and got a full Republican vote
in this ward. The returns show that very
few candidates were scratched, but the
two previous municipal elections this
ward has gone Democratic where it ought
to have given over 400 majority. 1t is
unjust and unfair for two members of
this association to say who shall go on
the ticket as committeeman and whether
or not we shall have separate or joint
primaries.
Mr.. Weastell moved to amend Mr..
Decker's motion as to the date of the next
meeting and asked that it be left to the
call of the chair. Mr.. Weasel won again.
Under the nresent conditions the ward
leaders can call a meeting the night be-
fore the primaries to freeze out the op-
position, not giving them time to prepare
an opposing ticket. The leaders refuse to
tell them how the committeeman are to be
apportioned and as a result the Decker
ties are pretty much at sea. However,
they are determined to make a strong
fight for some of the fourteen committee
men.
1t is now rumored that Mr. Edward w.
Woolley is not to run again for COM
mitteeman from the Third Precinct of the
Eighth Ward. Mr.. Woolley conveniently
appointed himself trustee of the County
Committee for term of five years about
one year ago, and he will still be a men,
ber of the governing body even though
he does not run for a committeemanship
The Decker faction is out for a good
stiff fight next week and make no bones
about their intentions. They believe that
the people want new leaders and they are
going to begin reform movement that
may carry some weight with it. A hard
fight will be made to land MFR. Decker al
chairman of the County Committee for
1901