Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-05-03
4EXEMPTS" PLAN
TO BATTLE ON
STATE COUNSEL
Opposition to William A. Cotter
Develops at Harrison
Meeting.
MANY SPEAKERS VOICE
VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT
All Indications Point to a Hot
Old Time at Firemen's An
nuaI Convention.

William A. Cotter a former New
York attorney, but who is now said
to reside in this city and who has
been counsel for the New Jersey
State Firemen's Association for over
fifteen years, will not be reappointed
to that office at the annual conVen-
ton of the association to be held In
Atlantic City in September if the ex-
empt firemen of the State can pre-
vent it. This fact was made known
by State President John Kennel, of
the eXempts, at a meeting of the
Hudson County League of Exempt
Firemen held yesterday in the Town
Hall, Harrison.
The way to accomplish the defeat
Of Cotter, as outlined yesterday, is
for the eXempts to fight for men to
serve on the executive committee of
the State organization who will
pledge themselves as favorable to
some lawyer for counsel other than
Cotter. That the exempt firemen do
not believe they have received a fair
deal at the hands of Mr.. Cotter was
inttmated yesterday. 1t was declared
by one speaker that General Bird w.
Spencer, head of the State association
of firemen, had been misled.
Mr.. Kennel went into detail re
garding the fight he has waged
against the appointment of Mr. Cot
ter, but told of the uselessness of
such a fight because of the fact the
matter was in the hands of a COM
mite which favored Cotter. "I have
done my utmost to have a Jersey
lawyer get the berth" said Mr.. Ken
nell. "It is very strange if we can't
get lawyer in this State who can
handle our work. The claim is made
now that Mr.. Cotter is a Jersey voter
Says cotter Is Not Voter.
Il have the facts here to prove diff
ferent,' said Mr.. Kennel, as he pro-
duced a letter from a New York vot-
ing district. The letter certified that
Mr.. Cotter had voted in the district
| on November 4, 1918. How can he
be Jersey voter when our election
was held less than a year after the
New York election or, to be precise
! on November 2 last? Our election
laws provide man must reside in the
| State for at least q year before ht
can vote therein. Those who ar,
! favorable to Mr.. Cotter are not en-
deavoring to answer me, although
have propounded the question t.
| them,' said Mr. Kennel.
The speaker went on to tell of the
legislative work affecting exempt fire
men, and which had been handled a.
Trenton during the past session of the
Legislature. He explained how some
bills had been defeated and blamed
members of paid fire departments for
| the defeat of some of the measures.
| Although admitting there were
times when exempt firemen of the
| State were opposed to General Bird
| w. Spencer for president of the State
| organization, Mr.. Kennel declared
| this is the year of all years, when
the exempts would rally to the sup
port of the general and firse the rest
OF the bunch
To Fight Jersey City Firemcn.
| ] Mr.. Kennel referred to the trouble
! in Jersey City over the refusal of the
| paid firemen to give funds to the wild
| ows and orphans of exempt firemen
| CONTINUED on Page II. Column ~