Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-10-13
GREGORY FORGETS
OATH THAT HE TOOK
CONTINUED from First Page)

Whittier to prevent 1t. moved that the
Endorsement action be made unani-
nous. Mr.. Gregory seconded this mo-
ton and II was carried with an en-
thusiastic hurrah. Gregory and Nj
gent met. "clasped hands across the
bloody chasm' and talked as men
would talk who were united in COM
mon cause. 1t seemed to be a case
of "alPs well that ends well" by
cones" were to be "by cones" and the
dead past" was to be buried.
City Committee Meets.
Now the procession comes to another
turn in the road. On Saturday night,
in East Orange, meeting of the city
committee was held, and all sorts of
motions and moves were made. Whit
tier was the literary genius, IL not the
other kind of genius of the gathering.
He wanted an entire change of pro-
gram.
The Essex County Democratic Com
mitee and it's plan of campaign must
be ignored so far as East Orange is
concerned. This, despite the fact
that the Democratic State Committee
is working in harmony with the coun-
ty committee, the party's legally con-
stituted body; the body recognized by
law. East Orange would brook no in
reference, would figure in no meet
ings under the auspicies of the coun-
ty committee would receive no f1nan-
cial aid directly or indirectly from
the county committee. In short East
Orange would go it alone. All this
was considered by some who had in
mind that the very persons who OBJ
jectd TO outsiders participating In
East Orange affairs are advocates of
outsiders breaking in on the affairs
of Newark and other parts of Essex
county and of the State, particularly
in regard to Democratic matters. 1t
appears to them as an instance OF the
"shee" and the "fit."
The real sensation of the meeting.
however, developed when Mayor
Gregory was called upon to make a
speech. He said n lot about his long
and marvellous work as a Democrat
and of other great efforts, and sud
denly and somewhat dramatically
declared as follows:
Lest there he a mistake I want
TO say now that whoever thinks that
| am going TO vote for the assembly
of the Democratic ticket,
much less get out and work for
them. is decidedly wrong"
Not satisfied probably that his
was thoroughly understood.
Mr.. Gregory added:
Would Resign.
"If I thought for one moment that
the sentiment of the majority here
was against what l am saying. l
would resign. not only as chairman of
this committee. bus as a member or
the county committee"
It Is here described by one writer
that there was applause. It Is fact,
nevertheless, that Democrats present
were almost stunned" not at the
Of possible consequences Of
Gregory reading himself out Of the
'eular Democratic party, but at what
such a declaration. in the face of re-
,ent events, might mean to Gregory
himself.
On primary day. September %.
Mayor Gregory presented himself at
he election place in his district and
,ffered his vote. 1t was challenged on
he ground that Gregory was not en-
tiled TO vote in a Democratic box, for
he alleged reason that he had not
yoted for a majority of the Demo-
ratio assemblymen at the preceding
election. Gregory became incensed
md insisted that he had so voted.
The challenger refused to withdraw
mis- objections, so Gregory. of his own
volition and because of laws require
nents, swore in his vote.
1t was a solemn and impressive oc-
'asion; the mayor of the city of East
orange, with barred head and hand
lplifted towards his maker standing |
'efore the judge of election. Charles |
Ieuffer. also with barred head, who |
cad this oath which Gregory repeat |
d, word for word:
"You do solemnly swear or affirm. |
hat yOu are a member of the Demo- |
ratio political party; that at the |
asst election for members of the gen |
raj assembly at which you voted, |
on voted for n majority of the can
idates of said party nominated for |
atiOnal, state and county Offices, |
nd that you intend to support the |
andidates of said party at the en-
uing election"
The oath is contained in Section |
81, of the Geran Election Law,
Endorsed Candidates.
1t would seem that this oath has
ome deep, earnest, sincere and fer
rent meaning. 1t is as solemn and
Is binding morally as any oath
an be.
AT the Turnbull Hall meeting, Mr..
Gregory took the initiative in the
unanimously indorsing
very candidate on the Democratic
icket.
If Mr.. Gregory doesn't like GER
ain Democrats, it is asked by those
Who recall the recent past and are
by incidents of the immedi-
ate present; How does Gregory rec
oncile the episode of primary day
with his utterances of last Saturday
light?"
1t may be difficult to determine the
egal penalty in cases like Gregory's,
put that there is a moral consequence
would seem to be but a natural con-
clusion.
During Saturday nights meeting
Mr.. Whittier had considerable 10 say
about "mealy- mouthed and pussy
footed" things, terms which he picked
up in Newark places that he Ere
quents to discuss East Orange poll
tics and the affairs Of the universe