Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-05
GROVE TOF!GHT
BOROUGH RULE
Camp Meeting Asso liaticn Pre-
pared to Confess InValidation
of Its Charter.
RESIDENTS VOTING TODAY
IN REFERENDUM ELECTION
= ---
Partisan Lines Drawn Taut by
the 600 Registered Resi-
dents of Resort.

4 ASBURY PARK, May ga refer
endum election is being held today
in the two districts of Ocean Grove
the camp-meeting centre of Methodist
activities. in accordance with the law
passed by the Legislature to deter
mine whether borough government
should supersede the administration
of Dean Grove by the Ocean Grove
Camp Meeting Association. The
campaign has been stubbornly con-
tested by partlzans and opponents of
the association.
If the vote goes against it the asso-
station will attack in the courts the
oonstitutionality of the law ordering
the election, Rev. DR. Aaron E. Bal
lard, president of the association, de-
clares.
IF in the end we die, we will die
fighting for our rights under our
charter" he said. The association
regarded the charter as an inviolable,
indestructible contract between the
State of New jersey and themselves
Thousands of contracts had been en-
tered into with individuals, under
that charter, and these individuals
could hold the association to them,
DIR. Ballard added.
= we care nothing about the cleo
ton, but the first move toward de-
priving us of any or all of our rights
will be fought. We will first attack
che constitutionality of the new law
dn certiorari proceedings.
This will bring up the question of
the right of the State to set aside
4 4 s1r.f h -
der which we. have entered into thou
sands of contracts with individuals
who can hold us to them"
The secretary of the boroughites,
Stephen d. Woolley, one of the prime
movers for borough government at
Ocean Grove, said today:
If, when the final votes are counted
tonight, the majority of voters
have decided not to incorporate as a
borough, we will bow to the wishes
Of the majority and will earnestly
and heartily wish the association and
Ocean Grove a bright and prosperous
future, Should the referendum carry,
we viii take the victory calmly and
gfavely, and with the feeling that it
is the best for Ocean Grove and it's
interests. and will hope that every
one, including the association, will
join hand in hand and heart to heart
10 make 1t little paradise by the
sea, where we can live as a con-
tented people, and surround everyone
with a pure, moral atmosphere that
will surely lead all to a higher and
nobler life"
a day of fasting and prayer was
observed yesterday by the women
here who are concerned in the pres
ervation of Ocean Grove as it is An
open meeting was held in the after-
noon in Thornley, Chapel, conducted
by Mrs. Mary Sparks Wheeler, whose
husband, Rev. DR.. Henry Wheeler,
is a member of the Campmeeting As
ISOLATION. Indications are that the
Grove will witness today the liveliest
election ever held in the place. Al
The lines between boroughite and
anti boroughite factions have been
drawn taut. Each side Is sanguine
With the highest registration of
voters in the history of Ocean Grove
a large vote is sure to be polled.
Fifteen names have been added to
the voting list by the county board
of elections, sitting at Freehold. This
brings the total up to ga That there
are more than 600 voters in the Grove
many persons are surprised to learn.