The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-07-31

CAPSULE NO. XVIII.

CAPSULE NJ WILL.
A N EXCITING bit of the political history of this early nineteenth century
time will serve to further bolster u p the assertion hat there is nothing
new under the sn 1t will also correct the Misrepresentation of SOM who arc
prone to regard protested elections and resulting demands for recounts as an
unsavOry fruit of modern times. AT the beginning IF the year 1907 in which
this episode is recorded, Essex county included all of he territory embraced
by Newark and Enzabethtown. There had always been a feeling of rivalry be-
tween the towns, which h proceedings at "Ddvtaent HIP to fix the
boundary line had only served to strengthen. The Court House i'd Jail in
Newark were getting unseaworthy when Newark asked for money for re-
pairs or new buildings from the Board of Chosen Freeholders. Enzabethown
cav a opportunity for beingt HI countys seat ITSELF
A mutual feeling of very bitter dislike, which merged on hatred, sprung up
his friends very much IS though he bout to attend balloon ascension
for the first time. >They admired his nerve, but considered that he was taking
Unnecessary risks Finally authority was obtained by : special act IF the Iegis-
lature to submit the burning question Of the location of the lew Court House
and Jail to popular vote The preparations or this onest were elaborate and
thorough. Neither municipality left a sone unturned or a voter uncanvassed.
Just to make it harder all single women and widows we're given the right of
suffrage for this occasion. Why the married women were barred does not
appear in the records
The election vas scheduled to u three days. Seven sites in Newark,
Enzabehtown nd Days HILL a added sarter-to be a dark horse-were
selected to be voted for 1t "a to start February TO- 1907. On the frs. day the
election a to he held a Days Hill; Erzabethtown vas to be the sceneo of it
the second day and Newarks election day was the third and lat in the series.
AS it turned u this arrangement "a Newark h POLE The banotns at
Days Hill val very nice and reguar-for a while during h morning md then
it sumped-from a moral and good government enthusiastically 1t a
not nice and regular even early in the morning in Enzabethtown the next day.
and beforet the day IA over such scenes were being enacted at the polls a $
tins to be started.
Election day, February H. 1907 broke clear and mild in Newark. and it is
Just as we'll 1t did as there "a UGH work. to be done From the moment h
polls were opened in the early morning until they closed in he late afternoon
not a btw raj overlooked. Painstaking historians of the period admitted they
wrote that particular chapter With averted heads. Married women hd been
barred, but the injunction did lot take and all who had anything % weary voted.
Two young ladies are said to Ia cast n less h IAN six totes apiece nd thu
young men, after voting once, appeared again at the polls dressed In thir sis
|tms and their mothers" clothes. The votea the end of the baroang stood
Newark 1866 and Days Hill e1sl. Ehzabethtown had swung ali hers support to
the smaller place. Three years later the population Of Newark vas but 5000.
Naturally a great celebration followed n Newark, like unto that which was
later to attend the installation of flaming arcs, only much more general The
result was bitterly contested n the Legislature finally set it aside as illegal
and corrupt Had it one the other way there would nav been omu reason
for setting it aside 1t "a not until five years slater, when Judge nningto
presented the town with a site for a court GUS and jail that those buildings
|weref finally erected here