Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-06-10
WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 10, 1914.
LESSONS OF JERSEY CITY's ELECTION.
JAMES SMITH, JR.
FOUNDED MARCH l. 1882.

That partisan politics is not, nor probably never
will be- eliminated Jersey City elections, or cleo
tions in other municipalities, for that matter Walsh
act or no Walsh act is unmstakably shown in the fig
ures by the work of the election in the big town
east of the Hackensaek yesterday
Henry Byrne was the successful candidate in the
contest TO fill the vacancy in the city commission
caused by the resignation of James J. Ferris HIS
nearest competitor was James F. OMeaa, about 1000
votes behind with Thomas J. Stewart coming next
1000 votes short of OMealias score Nine other can
dfdates traed hopelessly in the of Stewart
Partisanship and personal ill feeling high
1t was bitter battle for supremacy of party factions
and individuals
Byrne was championed by the organization Demo-
Gratis OMeaIia was the choice of the Wittpenn wing
of the Democratic party and his advocated
by George L. Record. O'Mealia pleased to style
himself an Independent Democratic candidate. Stew
art was supported outright by the Republican party
organization and it the boast that he would poll
the full strength of the Republican vote.
This was the situation in reality despite the fact
that each candidate INDUCED in the gallery play that
he was "a candidate of the people, etc.
Stewards chances, predicted in the Evening
Star went a-glimmering because of apprehension on
the part of the liquor interests what his attitude
might in regard to the Interpretation and appca-
ton of the excise laws. He is reputed to be very
strict church man. yet he adroitly avoided declara
ton of intentions the excise question. Had he
expressed himself entertaining liberal sentiments
it is freely admitted that his vote would have been
much bigger one large enough in all probability 20
return him a winner for a mere favorable statement
his part would be treated bond, his word being
a sufficient guarantee of good faith.
OMealia weakened himself by his too frequent
protestations as reformer and Wittpenns influence
failed the acid Records backing also proved
to be the severe handicap that the support of this
political acrobat invariably is.
1t was recalled during the campaign that o Mealia
had been a habtual beneficiary of the kindnesses OF
the late Robert Davis, and only launched out as
reforIner after the death of the Democratic party
leader Daviss friends naturally voted against
oMeaia.
Byrne and his followers took the bull by the horns
and openly dealt the Hennessy preferential voting law
heavy and telling blows. 1t 'tomfoo act they
declared inane and ridiculous The slogan of the
Byrneites
Vote only first choice Steer clear of any other
choices They have no comlh on-sense meaning. Treat
them as if they did not exist. Vote first choice
only
This policy was adhered with and the wis
of the is emphasized in the returns Byrne
received many second-choce votes as it was.
That the voters of Jersey City Disguised with
commission rule was demonstrated by the lack of
trihe more than one-haf the normal of the city
was poled and it was only by the hardest and most
persistent efforts part of the election workers
that voters induced to visit the polling places.
From registry of AZ 900 % ,891 votes cast
The certainty of a high tax rate and the almost
certainty higher figures to come have drenched
the ardor of Jersey City's taxpayers
In all truth the Jersey City election teaches several
important lessons.