Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-09-04
WHITTIER LOSES
PETITION S|GNERS
Verbal Row With AssembIyman
Lawrence McCabe Follows at
East Orange City Hall.

The East Orange City Hall last
night was the scene of political ac-
tivity for at least four hours, imme-
diately following the filing of petit
tons by Assemblyman Lawrence Nc
Cabe, jr., and Edmond A. Whittier,
who has been. selected by Mayor
Gregorys machine to conduct Mayor
Gregory's campaign for State COM
mitteeman. There seems to have been
a reason for the ruction.
Two well-known gentlemen, whose
names are withheld at their request,
called on City Clerk Rowley about
8 o'clock and made formal request to
have their names stricken from Mr..
Whittier's petition, claiming that Mr..
Whittier had twisted material facts
in regard to certain matters.
The same gentlemen informed a
representative of the Evening Star
that they had practically been
pressed to sign petitions. Regardless
of the apparent influential presence
of big officeholder and of a recent
appointee of Mayor Gregorys, the
gentlemen signed the petition on the
strength of the candidate represent
ing himself as a Democrat of the old
school.
Upon investigation the two gentle
men made very hurried call on City
Clerk Rowley had demanded the
erasure of their signatures to the
Whittier petition. A Progressive Re-
publican who happened in the city
clerks office when the gentlemen
called and who is also assisting the
so-called Progressive politics that
now lamely exist in East Orange, i'm
mediately telephoned for Mr.. Whit
tier to come to the City Hall. Upon
Mr.. Whittier's arrival he found that
three other gentlemen had called and
had demanded their names also be
stricken from the Whittier petition,
on the claim of Misrepresentation.
Towards midnight another gentle
man, very popular business man of
East Orange. called and had his name
also taken off the petition. When Mr..
Whittier saw the last named gentle
man make the request he became
somewhat uneasy and, addressing the
gentleman, said:
Mr.. / represent the
Wilson and Gregory element of poll
tics in East Orange, while" and be-
fore he could finish his plea the
signer who desired his name taken off
replied: IT want my name off your
petition, sir"
Is Start of Good Battle. .
Last nights play in the political
fight in East Orange seems to be the
beginning of good battle in this
well-known suburban city. Many
citizens already have denounced the
methods employed during the past
three weeks by the Gregory machine,
in especially that point where almost
all the city employees, it is claimed,
are devoting their city paid time in
coercing citizens to think their way.
Much comment is especially made re-
garding the political activity of a
federal off1ce-holder. The recent ac-
tons by this political management
has made many enemies in that
a Star representative other irregular
tiles in an effort to regain a lost
cause will be disclosed.
ASSemblyman Lawrence McCabe
and Whittier had a hot session when
they met in Clark Rowley's office.
Both are candidates for the Office of
county committeeman from the
second district of the Third ward
Mr.. Whittier had presented his
petition signed by fifteen names.
Afterward Assemblyman McCabe and
five signers of the Whittier petition
arrived The five signers declared
that they had reconsidered their ac-i
ton in signing the petition and
wished their names removed This
was done.
Assemblyman McCabe then re-
marked that perhaps some of the
other names signed to the petition
were void, and the matter was in
vestigated by Clerk Rowley. Two
names were found to be void and
were removed, thereby leaving eight
needing two more to be
legal.
BY this time Mr.. Whittier had
grown hot under the collar and en-
tered into an argument with Assem-
blyman McCabe. The two candidates
were finally ouieted down by the city
clerk.
After questioning the legality OF the
rest of the names on Mr.. Whittier's
an automobile was hired and
Mr.. Whittier visited the owners of
the eight signatures on the petition
to ascertain if everything was right
and in doing so got three other men
to sign his petition. The petition was
finally filed, but Assemblyman Nc,
I I.