Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-03-18
Battle Royal Over Election
of Trustees for Union
Chapel.
MOST EVENTFUL NIGHT in
WEST CALDWELL'S HISTORY
Personalities Exchanged and
One Man Was Almost Thrown
Bodily from 'Meeting-House.'

West Caldwell is wrought up today
over the sulph1rous church election
that took place Saturday night In
Union Chapel.
1t was a night to be remembered
yes, indeed. Belligerent men and
women waged battle royal in the quiel
old westinghouse. Superheated sar.
casms were tossed back and forth by
Caldwell notables. At one point a
trustee was all but bodily thrown from
the chapel. And it will be many
months before the echoes die away.
The congregation was all there
many more than on any Sunday in the
history of Union Chapel Everyone
was bent on making it interesting.
After fight about whether the meet
ing was legal or not had been vigor-
ously started, and personal pleasantrios
were beginning to circulate with
breezy briskness. Recorder Kirkpat-
rick put an end to it by ruling every
body out of> order and calling for
nominations for the chair.
Mayor Wins Championship.
Former Assemblyman Harry F.
Backus was defeated by Mayor Caleh
A. Harrison by vote of two for chair
man. 1t is understood that the next
time the assemblyman wishes excite
ment he will try something a trifie less
strenuous, such as refereeing a prize
fght.l
Nominations for the board of chapel
trustees were then in order-fve OF
them. Peter Blauvelt, Mrs. George e.
Best, Horace B. Welshman, Joel Harrf-
son and Caleb A. Harrison were up for
reelection. Somebody made a motion
that the nominations be closed. Some
one seconded the irea with stentorian
emphasis But Chairman Harrison. In
noeent in the ways of church meetings,
inquired for some more nominations.
Willing to oblige the congregation OF
the chapel suggested names-names
galore, multifarious, manifold. many
and numerous.
Chairman Harrison gasped beneath
the deluge. Someone on the outskirts
of the congregation, which filled the
meeting house from desk to vestibuie
piped out motion to close the noml-
nations After it was all over AS
semblyman Harrison gravely an
nounced that H. F. Backus. James
Henderson Cadmus, Josiah Blauvelt,
Joseph Thorne and Mrs. Ash were also
nominees No one asked him how he
knew
Two-Year-OId Tot Nominated.
Campaigning then began in ear..est-
Marked ballots were distributed. The
good standing" of various nominees
was questioned in loud tones by op-
posing partisans. Their personal
character was dissected and displayed
In cutting phrases.
The husband of one Of the nominees
gave Mrs. Phebe Steelerman a ballot.
She tore it up.
Il want one written by an honest
mani" she exclaimed.
The name of 2-year- old Ruth Barton
was placed on one ballot in some in
explicable way. Mrs. Charles Conklin
was on her feet in an instant with a
challenge on her lips.
YOU'D better not" warned Josiah
Blauvelt. "The baby has more sense
than some OF the grownups here!"
So the battle was fought until it
was finally announced that Mr.. Welsh
man and Mrs. Best had been defeated
for reelection by Mrs. Ash and Simon
VanNess.
Wanted Man Thrown Out.
Mr.. vanNess arose and gravely an
nounced his intention to make a
speech.
II want to say that Welshman," he
asserted, has always Dragged that he
could make his point in spite of every
thing. But he didn't do 1t this timeH'
Then it was that pandemonium let
loose.
"Put him outl Throw him out!" was
roared on all sides.
Assemblyman Harrison, like an old
war horse in caucus fight, begged
the boys" to remember where they
We're.
When it was all over many a mem
ber of the congregation remarked that
he wouldn't have missed the fun for
$10," and that ut was better than a
circus"
The social circles of the borough
have been so shaken to the depths that
it will be long before the stormy meet
ing is forgotten.