The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-05-02
BOUND TO win
Mrs. Whitney Says New
Park Shall Be Named
in Honor Of Mrs.
Benson.
BOARD TO Be PETITlONED
"They Are Going to Repent
and We Will Forgive,
Says the Chairman.

when a woman will she WILL" and
she knows 1t, too. The club woman wills
tnat Little Italy shall not be City Park
it shall be Mary Benson Park, and she
intends to have her way. To say that she
is indignant that anybody should think Of
calling it anything else does not half ex-
press it. She is thoroughly stirred up over
the matter and the indignant, disdainful,
sarcastic snap with which she brings out
"City Park whenever the matter is
mentioned surely ought to awe the Street
and Water Board into submission to her
will.
Mrs. Franklin Whitney, Chairman of
the Town Improvement, when seen this
morning by News representative was
IN the midst of huge sheets of foolscap so
piled up all around her as to hide the
head bowed low over the library desk.
She was hard at work framing petition
TO come before the Weman's Club at Its
regular club meeting this afternoon.
Good morning." said she, rising and
extending her hand. Then glancing apol-
ogetically at the desk. 81 was just pre-
pairing petition for the club this after
noon. We want that park called Mary
Benson Park, and we are going to have
it. I'm going to make out seven or eight
of these handing over the draft, "and
get the names of all the club members to-
day. We are going to get up big pc
tltion, just the same as we did for the
Park. and send it down to City Hall as
soon as possible. Here is the draft. l
think that covers the ground. You see
l didn't want to make it too long. What
do you think of it?'
The petition reads:-
Water Commissioners of jersey City,
Gentlemen-This is to certify that it
is the heartfelt desire of the Jersey
City Woman's Club and the public at
large TO have the new marx at Fifth
and Merseles streets called the Mary
DenSOn fafk in honor OF Mrs. hua-
Speth-BenSon, who was the promoter
and who has worked so energetically
for the accomplishment of this great
project.
You see" continued Mrs. Whitney, ST
have been with Mrs. Benson for the past
two years in a great deal of her work
and know that she has not spared herself
in the interest of this project. She has
never allowed herself to become at all
discouraged and her efforts have been
unceasing. She deserves the honor of the
park being named for her and she shall
have it,"
What do you think about the way the
Board has acted?'' was asked.
Mrs Whitney thought minute.
ssWell,' said she, I'm not going to say
anything about that. If they did decide
to call it City Park they are going to re-
pent and we are going to forgive. ] GER
tainly was never more surprised than
when I heard the Board of Works had
decided to call it City Park When saw
that bulletin yesterday-well, don't
know how I looked. Mrs. Benson said
looked like fight, but never saw her
laugh so much in my life. City Park
what does it mean? Nothing, 1t should
be named for Mrs. Benson and called the
Mary Benson Park, which means so
much. The park never would have been
heard of but for her. 1t was her own
idea, and now through her earnest efforts
with the assistance of the Board
of Works it has become a reality.
But 1 know enough about the courtesy
of the Board to feel that If it realized
how the hearts of the club women were
set upon having it called Mary Benson
Park, it would decide in our favor with
out delay. That is why got out this
petition.
"Oh, it will be the Mary Benson Park
yet. We are bound to win. Good morn
ing" and Mrs. Whitney went back to
her foolscap and petitions happy in the
4 conviction of success.