The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-04-24
RING And THE CLUB
Decker's $ Independent Organ
ization Gets Social to
Celebrate His Re-
turn to the
Fold.
DID He SELL HIS FACTION
Eighth Ward the Victim Of
Too Strenuous an Effort
at Reform.
DID He SELL HIS FACTION


| George W. Decker, the great political
reformer in the Eighth ward, has been
making plenty of excitement these days
|. Mr.. Decker started a strenuous life some
i time ago by making vigorous remarks
about the Republican ring in Hudson
county. He backed his convictions by
organizing an alleged Independent Repub-
lican club, which bore his name. This
club made a great showing for a time.
processing to be entirely free from ring
rule.
Then Mr. Decker was appointed chair
man of the Finance Committee of the
Republican County Committee and by
virtue of that office member of the Ex-
ecutive Committee, and his tune changed.
His first official act was to try to per-
suade the Decker Association to get into
line. When the association refused he
said it shouldn't use his name and ylow
he and the. association have split. the
difference by turning the association into
a social organization which keeps Deck
err name and ring opposition in the
Eighth is at an end. Mr.. Decker is now
accused OF selling out .the faction he rep
resented to the organization
The Deckers have been approached sew
eral times by prominent leaders. They
We're induced to ratify a proposition ask
ing them to get in line and work for the
party, also to forget all differences. In
return half OF whatever patronage there
was would be given to them
The Deckers kicked over the traces last
night at a meeting held in the new club
house, and the standard bearer spent an
hour in trying to make them recede from
the position they had taken, antagonistic
70 the ring. With view to perfecting
harmony, the Deckers selected a commit
tee a week ago to consider the question
of going over to the ring This commit
tee reported adversely last night. The
members were in favor of continuing the
Decker Club and working independent Of
the ring.
Then Mr.. Decker spoke He intimated
that the club would not be allowed to
use his name when it reorganized next
Week. # the members did not consent
TO join forces with the machine. He said
that the members should live up to their
agreement and do the right thing. <he also
said that the best plan would be to JON
the machine i'll harmony, for he under
stood that If they did not the constitution
of the NCounty Committee would be so
changed next year as to wipe out all ward
association. The Deckers control the ward
association and it is at this the leaders
are aiming. The machine wants that ward
association and the Decker crowd is be-
ing urged to join the machine iii a har-
monlous plan of campaign.
Another committee was appointed last
night to consider the matter again and to
report next week. Mr. Decker says if the
constitution is changed to make the club
social one, Decker's name may be used,
but if it continues political and opposed
to the ring, Decker will refuse the use
of his name. He said he wanted the club
to live up to it's agreement made to the
machine.
The members reasoned that they were
getting all the worst of the matter. About
seventy-five per cent. of them will not go
over to the machine. If Decker refuses
the use of his name, another independent
club will be formed and he will be frozen
out Then the members who hold control
of the Ward Association will continue
their club independent of Decker. They
realize that it is shrewd trick to give
over control to the machine and that
Decker is being used to manipulate the
scheme. They will not go in the new
Eighth Ward Club, organized to meet on
Virginia avenue.
The question of joining the Eighth
Ward Club was not voted on last night,
but the sentiment expressed shows how
sore the anti-ring men are. Mr.. Decker
said this morning that he was anxious
for harmony and would do all he could
to bring about a settlement The mem
bers are wild over what they term rank
treachery.