Trouble Among Republicans

New York, 1895

Boss Youngs Comes to Town and They Grow Indignant.

The Boss of the Republican party in this county is W. J. Youngs of Oyster Bay. He wants to boss Jamaica. He and sub-Boss Wallace have been here. They hid themselves in the Standard office and sent for the faithful to call. Some called, others refused to call. Those who staid away said they would not recognize a boss.

The Boss has ordered that B. Frank Wood, late of Atlanta, lawyer, now of Jamaica, editor, be nominated for Justice of the Peace. Mr. Wood does the clerical work of the Republican county committee without pay, and he must be given an office so that he can live, his hired newspaper being unprofitable. So the taxpayers of Jamaica have got to support him, the Boss says.

Town Clerk McCook was called in and put on the rack by the Boss and his sub. He was bidden to give all public printing to the Standard, because the Standard must be kept alive for the benefit of the party. No matter if the Town Boaad did want to do work by contract, and cut down expenses, the Clerk must do as he was told and give the Standard the patronage or he would not be elected again if the Boss could help it.

A number of Republicans have heard about these things and they are mad. They say that if the convention submits to the rule of Boss Youngs and sub-Boss Wallace, they will put an independent Republican ticket in the field. They want no Boss, and will wear no collar.

William J. Broedel of Woodhaven wants the Democratic nomination for Excise Commissioner.

Judge Lester has not said yet that he will be a candidate for re-election. The pressure upon him, however, is pretty strong, and comes from all over the town, and from all the parties.

If the bill now before the Legislature becomes a law the pay of assessors will be advanced to $1,000 a year. Candidates haven't thought about this. It will be an office worth having.

The Prohibitionists are lying low. If the Republicans nominate for excise commissioner a man who will promise to grant only a few licenses, or none at all, as Mr. Clayton did, the Prohibitionists will indorse him. If such a man should be elected there would be a merry time in this town. The Democrats should nominate a proper man for this office.

The Republicans of the town of Jamaica have called their primaries to be held on the 23rd. They will hold their convention on the 26th inst.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 15, 1895, p. 1.