The Spring Campaign

New York, 1895

THE DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE TO BE REORGANIZED. Prominent Men and Tax-payers of Both Parties Urging Justice Lester to Stand for Re-election — The Republicans Will Nominate a Boodle Hunter.

The Democrats seem to be getting together for the Spring campaign. The County Committee has ordained that Town Committees shall consist of one delegate from each election district instead of three as heretofore.

It is almost a certainty that the Republican caucus lately held, and to which we referred last week, has decided upon their candidate for Justice of the Peace, relying more upon the ground swell of last Fall to elect him rather than upon any qualifications of his own. The man has been in town just about long enough to have required the right to vote, and he insists that he must have an office because he is giving his time and substance to the work of upbuilding the Republican party.

The welfare of the town demands that a man shall be elected who not alone has the qualifications to fill the office satisfactorily, but besides has a substantial property interest in the town which will warrant a personal as well as a public interest in an economical and faithful administration of public affairs. The next three years will be fraught with matters of great import to this town. We refer especially to the "Greater New York," the carrying into effect of which involves many questions of vital interest to us.

In the present incumbent of the justice's office, George Lester, the town has the services of a man of sound business judgment, strong individuality, at all times rising above any petty party advantage, courteous alike to all, and who through the years he has sat in the town board has voted steadily for and championed everything that has made for the improvement of the town for residential purposes and the enhancement of its value, notably the improvement of the Town Hall, the extension of the water system, the establishment of lighting districts, the fund to provide a site for the normal school the acquisition of the land to protect and enlarge the Town Hall, the reclaiming of the town burying ground, and in fact all necessary and desirable improvements in all sections of the town. Mr. Lester has acted as secretary to the macadam road commission (all of them serving without pay), a position of very considerable labor. He is an open and pronounced advocate of making a city of Jamaica.

Justice Lester has never used his office to enrich himself. His bills against the town have never exceeded $150 for a whole year's services. He could have made the office pay him $1,200 or $1,500 a year, if he had been so disposed. The man who has been picked out by the Republicans to run for Justice wants the office for the boodle he can get out of it, and for no other reason, and such a man the public should take pains to avoid.

A number of the largest tax-payers, and some of the most prominent citizens in the town, Republicans and Democrats, have asked Judge Lester to consent to run again, but he is rather reluctant about acceding to these requests. In the interest of the whole town, and all the people, it is hoped that the citizens will prevail upon Mr. Lester to allow his name to go before the voters and then to see that for the valuable services already rendered, he is honored with a hearty re-election. His record entitles him to it.


Become a Professional Accountant

Supervisor Theodore Koehler of Long Island City has severed his connection with the East River Gas Company and begun business on his own account as a professional accountant. He is a most accomplished and skillful man in this line of business, and THE FARMER can recommend him to persons or corporations needing first rate ability. Mr. Koehler has also opened a school for pupils in bookkeeping, and pupils will receive his personal attention. He may be addressed at Long Island City.


The New Keeper's Home

The supervisors' committee and the superintendents of the poor met at Barnum Island on Thursday and selected a site for the new residence for the keeper. It was decided to erect a building 35 by 42 feet, two and a half stories high.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 1, 1895, p. 1.