Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-10-28
Nobody Is Hurt, but There Was
Plenty of Excitement
for a Time.
PARISH PRIEST RISES
TO DEFEND HIS FAITH
Imported Speaker Talked Poll
tics of an Unexpected Brand,
Then Trouble Started.

meeting of the Third Ward Re-
publican Club, an italian organization.
in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Hall. Hurl-
but street, Orange. last night ended
in disorder that was close to riot. Just
what started the tumult is not entirely
clear, and nobody would stop to make
it clearer. 1t ended with iusty cries Of
"Abassa fiori," which is italian for
Down with everything In sight
The band played 1.-The Star-Spangled
Banner" to soothe the feelings of the
crowd. When that failed, the band IT
self Joined in the revolt. The drummer
whacked his drum, and several of the
musicians blared their instruments in
magnificent discord. Then the whole
assembly jumped up at once and left
the hall, headed by the band, which
led the way down the street playing
LIE Marsellaise."
Before this scene was actually COM
pleted somebody switched off the lights,
leaving Thomas p. Alworth, candidate
for register, and Frederick L. Baldwin,
candidate for county supervisor, both
| with unspoken speeches on their
chests, sitting on the stage wondering
what was going to happen next
! The hall had been secured from the
parish priest of the Orange Italian
church. One of the orators, said to be
| from New York. paid too much atten-
tion to recent events in Portugal to
| suit everybody. He was fiery and inn
passioned. After giving way to As
semblyman Minard he left the hall for
few minutes When Minard had de-
| parted the priest asked the chairman
to be allowed to say few words. L.p-
| parently he objected to having the hall
| put TO other uses than campaign
meeting. While the Clergyman was
| talking the irnpassioned orator came
back and advanced toward the stage
with gesture of objection. There was
tense moment, then the explosion.
the drum beating. the switching of the
lights, the scramble.
They Didn't Speak.
| With the revolution over the lights
were turned on. Alworth and Baldwin
were still sitting on the stage, safe.
with policeman. telling of their ex-
periences. No arrests were made.
Father John ]. Rongetti, pastor Of
the church. and who mas charge of the
hall, today gave the following formal
| statement of the disturbance.
IT was there rs citizen, but when
Frank Bruncelli denounced religion,
thought 1t my duty as q Catholic priest
to defend religion. During this mans
speech my assistant priest made ef-
forts to stop the speaker, but the chair
man. Joseph Federico, refused to allow
the curate to talk. This influenced me
in the idea that the affair was ar
ranged before hand.
Thinks Speech Was Prepared.
This man didn't have the intelli-
gence to get UP and give a connected
talk and the speech he delivered, l be-
/ lieve, was prepared for him. I asked
permission from the chairman as a
Catholic to defend my religion and l
had uttered but four words when the
crowd hooted and jeered and the band
played as loud as 1t could. | have
! never talked politics and had but
passive interest In political affairs.
After last night 1 am satisfied the
Republican party In this city is no
good Why, the idea of insulting our
city executive in the way the speakers
did | consider an outrage. intend
to make this disgraceful meeting
topic for my Sunday sermon"
Freeholder Charles w. Romine today
called on Father Rongetti and put the
blame for the fiery speaker on the
County Republican Committee. who, in
turn, asked the State committee for an
orator Mr.. Romine said he was to
have been notified in advance at noon
Yesterday of the selection the commit
tee was to make. but got no word until
late in the afternoon. He did not know
the man sent up ana merely gave his
pame to the chairman when he entered
the hall. Mr.. Romine offered his re-
grets in that such an occurrence had
marred a Republican meeting.