Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-04-13

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resolutions right now and in the same
way the Wilson Endorsement by a
handful Of committeeman was put
through"
Former Police Commissioner William
C. Farmer also insisted on a vote being
taken at once. Former Sheriff James
]. Kelly, who told Hague he was with
him in the fight against Wilson,
thought it would be in the interest of
harmony If the resolutions were al
lowed to lie over for a week.
The anti ilsonites, who, it looked.
outnumbered the Wilsonites 2 to 1,
would not listen to this proposition.
I'VE want to vote now" they shout
ed. Kelly said hat he did not want
to see the party broken up.
Clements Assnils wittpenn.
"There are two men trying to break
1t up" said Alexander Clements, and
thew are Governor Wilson and Mayor
wittpenn. and, I might add, the chair
maj of this meeting"
Kelly went to the defense of Chair
man Hennessey, but had no word of
comfort for Wilson or Wittpenn. Form
err commissioner Farmer and Kelly had
a tilt that livened up things, but at
the close Of the meeting they snooK
hands and made up.
Finally when there was a semoiance
of order Chairman Hennessey an
ounce that the roll of membership
vas not available. He said 1t was In
his office in the City Hall and that ne
would go after IT.
st will be back In ten minutes ne
said, as he put on his hat and overcoat.
This started another row. Commits
one Hague said It was a subterfuge
to get out of putting the resolutions 70
a vote. He mounted the platform and
assumed charge of the meeting amid
cheers.
President George Witt, of the Board
of Police Commissioners, threatened to
go for the police. He was given to
understand that because he was a po-
lice commissioner he could not ride
roughshod over the members of the
committee.
I'VE are able to get along without
police interference" he was told, and
If you bring them here there will be
trouble. You can't use the police to
help you out"
Commissioner Witt got red in the
face and sat down. Hague "a about
to put the resolutions to a vote when
Chairman Hennessey returned. His
face was as white as a sheet. He
could hardly talk.
what is the matter, Jim, you seem
nervous?" someone remarked. Hennes-
sey made his way to the platform.
Hague gave way to him. With trem-
bling voice Hennessey announced that
on his way from the City Hall to the
meeting-room, a block distant, he vas
held up and robbed of the membership
roll. There was a laugh of derision.
you can't play such a game on us"
shouted someone; another suggested 1t
do, Jim?" asked a committeeman;
you haven't brains enough yourself to
concoct such a story"
Hennessey insisted that the hold
up" story was true, and in the excite
ment he declared the meeting adj
journed. The anti Wilsonites were
ready to the meeting, but
they said that in view of all the cir
cumstances they had practically accom-
plished their purpose in showing VIII
son is not the choice of Hudson's
Democracy, and they let it go at that.
Chairman Hvnnessey, who is one of,
Mayor W~ittpenn's tax commissioners,
was surrounded by friends and foes.
Police Commissioner Witt said he
would put the entire police force on
the case and would capture the rob
bers'' If 1t took the department a year
to dc 1t. 1t was suggested that United
States secret service men be put on
the job also.
Hennessey's Story Doubted.
Hennessey went away with a few
friends. There was a red mark on his
wrist showing hat one of the rob
bers" had slapped him there. The
"holdup" was not reported to the po-
lice by Hennessey, and two friends
whom the chairman said witnessed the
attack upon him said Hennessey must
have been dreaming, They did not see
anything of the kind.
"There might have been a hOldup,"
said Frank Hague, "but IL there WA
L guess Hennessey did not offer much
resistance. He probably handed the
membership roll over without protest.
L do not believe he wanted to produce
IT..
That the Wilson forces knew early
in the night that they would not have
a chance of defeating the plans of their
opponents was evident when Commits
sioner Hague asked former Sheriff
Kelly, chairman of the executive COM
mittee, to call a meeting of thai body.
Kelly refused.
II don't a you to think I am
against you, Frank, for l am not" said
Kelly. II feel about this matter the
same az you do, and I will back you up.
but I can't call a meeting on such short
notice."
There were eighteen executive com
mitteemen present. and of these four
teen gave their consent to the resolu-
lions which Hague afterwards intro
duced.
The next meeting will be Friday night
of next week..
Neither Mayor Wittpenn or Sheriff
Wedin were at the meeting. Several
of the Mayors friends. including Fire
Commissioner Donnelly, charged Com
Hague with deserving the
who made him.
II guess Wittpenn owes more to me