New-York tribune., 1902-05-04
M0RRISTOWN'S ELECTION
CONTEST TO CONE OFF TO-
MORROW.
CONDITIONS IN CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR
Atty - SEWER QUESTION
INVOLVED.
INVOLVED.


resting from the labors of arduous campaign
before to-morrows battle of ballots in the biennial
charter election. The campaign has been one TO
be remembered for many reasons not the least sig
nihcant which IS the fact that the candidates Of
both parties are men of irreproachable character
and that the issues OF the contest are almost wholly
political There is no important question involved
which public sentiment IS sharply divided, and
the contest has been pre-emnently amicable. The
strength Of the parties IS normally so evenly
matched that a plurality of a hundred either way
IS about all that be expected. or the $500
voters in the city there perhaps $50 indepen-
dents who. for Of the most trivial charac-
ter, often disappoint the hopes of politicians and
turn what appears to be assured victory for
of the parties into defeat. Each Of the candi-
dates for Mayor in the present contest expects TO
receive this vote and the friends of each
nortally afraid the other viii get II.
To understand the situation clearly It IS neces-
sary TO review the history OF the municipality dur
ing and since the campaign OF two years ago. Then
the candidates for Mayor were the Rev. Dr. Nor
man Fox retired Baptist minister. on the Re
publican ticket and Harrie a. Freeman. formerly
the chief engineer of the volunteer fire department,
the Democratic. DR.. Fox elected by un-
usually large majority for Morristown The de-
1eated politicians in analyzing the of their
undoing afterward. decided that IT largely due
a faction of the four hundred hremen. who did
not like Mr.. Freemans management Of the depart
5nent while at its head and TO the way he spelled
his first name They also reached the conclusion,
however reluctantly that considerable number
OF their voters had been Influenced by the liberal
spirit Of the Republican candidate a commits
sioner of excise for several years preceding his
candidacy for Mayor. He had voted in favor of
granting all the liquor selling licenses issued dur
ing his incumbency, and had opposed only such
had been refused by the Board of Excise Commits
sioners. The Democrats said this Unexpectedly
broad spirit IN a dominic him the votes of
dozens of their party
DR.. Fox's administration as Mayor has been emf
neutly satisfactory 10 che people Of MorTstown in
most particulars. About the middle OF his term.
however. he instituted crusade for close Sun
day. This did not affect the saloons they
slways closed on Sundays. but It directed
against the newsdealers and cigar stores. The
movement was unpopular, and after short time
the business OF selling newspapers and cigars
Sundays was allowed TO proceed as before. The
ultra church people regarded the relaxation OF
vigilance in this respect with disfavor and the
ultra liberal element looked with disapproval upon
the severity Of the restrictions while they lasted.
These dissatisfied elements not large but.
only fraction Of a hundred votes IS necessary
change the result of election, the Democrats
count upon them to decide the coming election.
They believe the dealers affected will support their
candidate general principles. and they think they
will catch the ultra church by a little
political trick The present Democratic candidate
FOR Mayor is Charlton A. Reed. enterprisng
young lawyer, who is the superintendent of the
Sunday school of DIT. Fox's church. The Republi-
cans however declare that the scheme is trans
parent that II will fail.
The Republicans. inasmuch as Dr. Fox as the
Mayor in city with Board OF Aldermen equally
divided between the two parties, permitted the
present City Clerk, Charles Stiweu, r., Demo
crat, TO hold over, considered the Mayor rather
independent than Republican. and did not tender
him denomination this year. Instead they chose
DR.. Planet c. Barker. a retired physician with
banking interests, whom they had been endeavor-
ing for six years TO induce TO accept nomination.
Dr. Barker was the Recorder Of Morristown from
1885 1883 and distinguished himself during his
two terms. which also made him offcio mem
Der of the Council. by exacting from the gas and
water companies contracts more advantageous TO
the city than formerly. He expects 10 be antago-
nized by these corporations, but says he believes
he will gain two votes from the citizens for every
one the corporate interests Of the companies
can win from his support. DR.. Barker led the op
position four years ago TO bill In the Legislature
creating a commission establish a sewage precip-
itation plant in Morristown. The bill passed both
houses Of the legislature, but the Governor largely
upon the strength OF the arguments of DR.. Barker
that the measure was attempt TO force upon
Morristown system Of sewage disposal which
impracticable and had failed wherever tried con-
tinuousy for five years vetoed the bill DR.. Barker
IN talking Of his fight against that measure said
The Tribune reporter:
''Morristown cannot much longer depend upon
cesspools for drainage. part OF the city is
underlaid with loose sand and gravel depth of
about ninety feet and there, with proper pro-
visions against the stopping of percolation down
ward by kitchen grease. the cesspool drains are
not a menace TO the public health In the parts Of
the city. however not situated this stratum
the need for Is already urgcn-. Ny opposi-
ton to the measure Of four years ago due to
the fact that the system of sewage precipitation
for which the bill provided is inefficient. as has
been repeatedly demonstrated. The bill sub
Etantiaily attempt to compel city TO adopt
without limitations Of cost sewer plan that the
experience of hydraulic engineers and health
authorities in other places has proved to be worse
than worthless. It a plan that would not dis
pose of the sewage effectively. and which would
cost more than the system that experience has
shown to be the only successful and healthful
method for dsposing of the drainage of a city-its
conveyance to a body of sufficient In volume
TO carry away diluted form everything offensive.
That meaEs for Morristown participation in the
plan for great State main sewer leading to tide
water. described and illustrated in The Tribune
last Sunday The cost Morristown Of participa-
tion In this giant undertaking will be greater
than that OF the sewage precipitation within the
city limits proposed four years ago. and il will be
permanent and relieve the streams of a burden of
filth that endangers every community through
which they flow. l committed to that plan for
the reason II is the only rational and efficient
way OF getting entirely rid all time OF the sew
age Of our city without dumping IL upon own
territory or that of other communities to tester
and breed disease"
Mr. Reed the Democratic candidate assumed
attitude this question. The Democrats, how
Favor OF the state sewer, are endeavoring In
general way 10 frighten the voters into believing
town. They talk OF The cost IN the round feures
OF the general estimate in such TO keep in
and municipalities between Morris Plains and the
sea are TO hear their proDortion OF the eXDenee
leaving only small part OF Il TO be borne by the
city in which they live. The Express. Demo-
cratic newspaper OF Morristown, voiced the atti-
tpde OF the Democratic politicians this question
in its issue Of Saturday April Z6, in the following
reference 20 what DR.. Barker wrote in an intro
ductoTy paragraph to an article opposing the