Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-10-18
LIAR HESHOUTS
At ROW IN CHURCH:
Kearny MayoraIty Candidate
Applies Epithet to Civic
Alliance Official.

/
Merton c. Leonard. secretary of the
Kearny Civic Alliance. In the First
M. e. Church. Arlington, last night.
1t was just after the Law and Order
League of Kearny and Arlington had
been formed.
For a few minutes it looked as If
blows would be struck. Jumping to
his feet Rev. Robert Aylsworth, pas
tor of the church, begged the men
not to forget they were in the house
of God. Town Clerk William b.
Ross took hand in the fray against
Leonard. and several others also at
tempted to express their opinions of
the alliance official
The gavel of the chairman, an
nouncing adjournment, had just
dropped when Leonard and Torrance
locked horns. The latter demanded
to know what Leonard meant by
certain charges made by him in let
ters written to newspapers. Leonard
said he based his charges on state
ments made by another mayoralty
candidate He admitted, however, he
did not investigate the statements as
made by Mr.. Torrance's opponent
You have always been trying to
keep the officials of this town in hot
water. You refer to a political ma
chine, but there Is none to my knowl-
edge. The time is coming when you
will not get a man to run for office
In the town. Your letters to the
papers contain nothing but deliberate
lies and you're liar and you know
it." shouted Torrance. Leonard made
no reply.
Ross Enters Fray.
Town Clerk Ross, who claims he
has been antagoniZed by the alliance,
was the next to take a fall out of
Leonard. Ross demanded to know
what Leonard meant by writing such
letters as those in question. "Mr.
Leonard, you are a coward and you
are a sneak" Ross raised his voice
as he spoke these words Continuing
Ross said: you write these letters
to the press and you know they are
not true. You don't even investigate.
This you admit" Ross was cheered
The town clerk then recited the
facts in the fight made by the alli-
ance some time ago to have him re-
store to the town moneys received
for making tax searches Mr. Ross
declared the municipal clerks who
preceded him always received the
fees and he felt he was acting
honestly when he followed the GUS
TOM
At this juncture, Leonard, address,
Ing Ross, said: 1T like you, Mr..
Ross, and as a man I admire you"
IF you do" shot back Ross, why
did you file a judgment for $1,000
against me-" Leonard did mot reply.
Rev. J. Franklin Shindell, pastor
of the First Baptist Church. Airing
ton, conferred a few minutes with
Leonard and it was announced Leon
ard would endeavor to have the judg-
ment nullified j. Kilpack Smith,
who was present, declared a sub
scription should be taken up in town
to meet the judgment in case the
court forbids its withdrawal.
Alfred L. Moorshead, president of
the Kearny Democratic Association,
who was also present attempted to
interrupt Mr.. Ross when the latter
was arguing with Leonard, Ross
looked daggers at Moorshead and
said: "I'll take care of you later, Mr..
Moorshead." A few minutes later
Moorshead was not to be found.
| Several of the clergymen present
expressed confidence in both Mr.. Tor
rance and Mr.. Ross and promised to
do all in their power to help them.
| Councilman William r. Davis tried
several times. to take up the cudgels
| in defense of Mr.. Ross and Mr. Tor
rance. Each time he was prevented
from taking hand in. the squabble.
Demand for blue Laws.
The league was formed with the
avowed intention of enforcing the
| blue laws on Sundays. There were
about 1855 persons present, most of
them church-goers. About sew
enty-five of those present went
to the platform and signed their
names to the roster. Officers were
elected and committee appointed to
confer with the members of the Town
Council and other town officials on
the best means of not only closing
saloons, but of putting down all noisy
practices.
This resolution was passed by the
meeting:
Whereas, There Is a growing dis
regard for the sanctity of the Amer
lean Sabbath by the conducting of
open stores, public sports and excise
violations, threatening the moral at
mosphere of our home and our grow
ing youth and our civic and religious
life;
Resolved, That we, the citizens Of
the town Of Kearny, pledge to the
said towns administration our hearty
cooperation in endeavoring to en-
force the law
Upon the platform while the Law
and Order League was being or
ganized were Rev. Robert Aylsworth
and Rev. w. A. MCGOWAN, the lat
ter pastor of Grace Methodist Epis-
copal Church. Both made speeches.
Mr.. Aylsworth said:
IT was recently approached on the
street by a man / do not know, who
told me that while he was once
heavy drinker he has reformed. He
told me that the excise law is being
regularly violated IN this town. l
believe that should be stopped.
81 also believe the saw, hammer
and lawnmower nuisances on the
Sabbath ought to be stopped. We
want to have enforced the Sabbath
law as it appears on the statute
books"
To the dominie's cry of "Do we
need a law and order league in this
town." there was a chorus Of Yes"
Resolutions were then passed to or
ganize a league. Clifton Presby, John
T. Sproul, William Van Meater and
Rev. j. Franklin Shindell, the latter
the pastor of the First Baptist
Church, were made the nominating
committee.
The following officers were elected:
George w. Durham, president; Albert
l.. Belden, first vice-president; Will
lam Waid, second vice-president;
Truman r. Cornwall, third vice-presi-
dent; Jacob HUT, fourth vice-presi-
dent; w. S. Newton, secretary and