The Jersey City news., 1901-12-17
MAN OF
MYSTERY
Mayor Pagan Keeps the
Politicians Guessing
as Well as The
Dear Public.
lilo 0LhlL OliLL u DLh'n
Some Think He Knows
as Little About 1t
as Any One Else.
SAGE OR DUMMY, WHICH?
The Quick Lunch Parliament
Discusses the Mayor
elects Mental Cali
bre.
MORE APPOINTMENT TALK
Frank H. Hall on the List
for Secretary Because a
Lawyer Is Necessary.

The remarkable reticence of Mayor
elect Mark NJ. Fagan not only as 70 no"
his actions during his administration Will
be guided, but also as TO whom he VIII ap-
point to the vacancies which occur on the
first of the year, has been for some days
past the subject of general discussion
.i1roughout the city After all is said and
done there remains nothing tangible for
the anxious.
Despite all that has been printed IN potn
s.rhe News and the journal" as mat
Ter of fact there is nothing sure. The
News has printed the gossip that is on
the iips of those who keep constantly IN
touch with the politics of the city and at
Iention has been paid only to those names
that seemed to be mentioned with which
seemed most reasonable. The journal
is the organ of the incoming administra-
ton. and its editor, Elbert Rappleye, Is
member of the Board of Managers that
has been organized to guide Mr.. Pagan
through his career 1t has published names
of men who. it is itself confident, will not
oe appointed. And there is a well founded
impression that the object was to bring
to the front men who had no prospects so
that those in line for places would be
avoided. OF course after the gang gets
tbe graft the citizens can howl themselves
hoarse and welcome.
Never in the history of the city has
Mayor-elect maintained such complete
silence as has marked tMr. Fagan's career
since his entrance into public life With
just two weeks away from the beginning
of his term there are not more than ten
men in the city who know who VIII pe
appointed to office. And there is some
ground for the belief that even the Board
of Managers does not know There is a
well defined impression that none Dut
Mr. Pagan himself knows who the men
VII be. And many men hold that even
the Mayor-e,ect does not know
The Kitchen Cabinet that lunches at
Morrow & Days took up the question to-
day. what does the reticence of MI
Pagan Indicator There were in the
gathering many prominent men who think
they know a thing or two about pubic
affairs. One gentleman said
..rhe reticence of Mr.. Pagan is perhaps
the most remarkable thing that has come
to nv notice in year. Think of a young
man. with no experience in public affairs,
elected to the office of Mayor and saying
absolutely nothing, not only before cleo
tion but after as we'll Why, it is beyond
NV understanding. The old rule. Silence
is Golden was good enough in the old
davs. but there are many who have come
N think it means something not so COM
pIimentary these days. Now, to my mind,
Mr.. Fagan's silence shows that either he
Is a clever man. confident of himself and
in complete possession of all his faculties
or he is a fool, afraid to open his mouth
for fear of putting his foot in it,
..Now. Sam Dickinson doesn't say
much. and Wanser is a pretty silent lei
low. but think of a man who has no.
had their experience as campalgners say
ing no more during his campaign thar
that he was glad to see the people ane
wou1d like to be Mayor, and after MI
election absolutely nothing at all, giving
m hint as to what he intended doint
~ whom he would appint. This is
truly remarkable case.
=, snite of the silence Of the man who
ought to know, the gossips are as bus,
.s aver The attention of those who arr
arranging things without the consent o.
resistance Of the Mayor-elect has nov
+,,rrad 70 the probable secretary to Mr.
1saran because of the Mayor-elect's in
avnar;ence in public matters It is be
s,evea that he will have young lawyer
- b;s secretary so that he may keeI
legally within his rights
There was rumor TINS morning ina
the secretary would come from the law
offices of Wallis, Edwards Bumsted
There are only two young men in those
offices that could be at all available
They are Mr.. Edward Smith and Mr.