The Jersey City news., 1904-03-19


the question under consideration.
'When Mr.. Albeit wished 10 retire for
rest or refreshment, the floor would be
taken at once By Mr. Abbettss young and
sprightly FIRST lieutenant, Deios q. Culver
another member from Hudson County,
who would follow in the steps Of his pre-
deeessor. and if he could NOT vie with ABB
bett in lung power, he could kill time
quite as effectually. 1t wearied The mem
bers, aud motion to adjourn being al
ways in order, was put to a vote, and
when made by Mr.. Albeit, or one Of his
followers, was always declared carried
by the obliging man who was acting as
presiding officer. In his mind. twenty
nine beat thirty every time.
An appeal from his decision was de-
clared out Of order and could not be en-
tertained, as there was no rule, and there
could be no rule, providing for an appeal,
as the House was not organized and
could not make such regulation. For
the same reason vote by yeas and nays
was denied The Assembly met and adj
journel for Eve or six weeks, unable to
do anything but listen to Mr. Albeit
and his echoes.
In the meantime, while this out
rageous farce was being enacted ady
after day in the House, and while the
Boss and his followers gave no reason
for their conduct, it was an open secret
that they feared that if they allowed
the election of speaker to get before
the House, some one or more of their
men, who were old-tim personal and
political friends of Mr.. Crowell, might
quietly cast ballot for him, and thus
put an end to the weary struggle and de-
feat their cherished schemes.
The Democrats appointed commit
tee to confer with like committee from
the other side to consider the subject.
Mr.. Albeit, was of course, chairman of
the Democratic committee. The writer
was member Of the committee from
the other side, and, Of course, had knowl-
edge of what was done. The Republican
committee proposed that, as the House
was a tie, it would be fair and proper to
divide the offices equally between the
two parties. This was at once met with
the question: Whom do you propose for
speaker
Upon being told that Mr.. Crowell was
the candidate, Mr. Albeit said that there
was no use in talking about him. for the
Democrats would never permit him to
boone speaker, even if the House should
otherwise remain unorganized all winter.
"The Republicans replied that Mr..
Crowell had been fairly and honorably
nominated in their CAUCUS, and that it
was impossible to throw him overheard.
That he was man of unblemished char
acter, honorable, capable and eminently
qualified by experience was also urged.
Numerous conferences were held for four
or Ave weeks. At length the Republican
and war Democrats determined to bring
the travesty to an end. They, therefore,
| in caucus directed their conference com
mittee formally that the thirty members
who were opposed TO any further delay
would return to Trenton on the following
week prepared to go into an election for
speaker, but that they would make the
effort in good faith. If they were unable
to do 50, they said, they would go to their
homes and stay there.
This notice was duly served upon the
Democratic conference committee. and
was sneered and laughed at. The mem
bers thought that they had the Repnbli-
can committee in a tight place. and said
that they would not let it out. until Gro
well was dropped However, --..r. ABB
bett took occasion to ask the writer sew
eral times if the opposition were in earn
est and really meant to do what they
said, and was invariably told that they
did, and that he and his friends might
depend upon it.
In the remaining day or two Of that
week the telegraph wires began to grow
hot. Messages were sent to leaders Of
both parties in many parts of the State,
and thse soon appeared in Trenton.
What the Democrats were instructed to
do was only known to outsiders by the
outcome of the struggle. Republican
leaders, SO called, urged their party mem
bers and their associates, the war Dem
ocrats, to go slow, to do nothing rashly,
and above all, not to carry out their
schme of staying at home They were
informed that the Republicans had gone
slow, and had borne all they intended
to bear Of the Tom-foolery.' It was