Perhaps the “most exciting political contest ever waged in Hoboken” was waged 90 years ago today in 1919 — at least, according to the politicians quoted in that day’s New York Times.
Ninety years ago today, Mayor Patrick R. Griffin, running for re-election, was arrested because he attempted to catch large groups of “repeaters” whom he suspected were coming in from Newark on the train to vote repeatedly for his Republican opponents.
Griffin observed large groups of men coming through the “tubes” and told his police detectives to arrest them, but in turn, Judge Richard Doughtery ordered Griffin arrested for false imprisonment. Griffin then “attempted to retaliate” by having the judge arrested too.
By the end of the day, 120 men, “some in the uniforms of soldiers or sailors, a few with wound stripes,” had been arrested. There was apparently a loophole in Hoboken law that allowed soldiers and sailors to vote in Hoboken without having lived there a year.
Will current mayoral candidates Peter Cammarano and Dawn Zimmer, who plan to face each other in a runoff this June 9, make the Hoboken election just as exciting? Perhaps. They’re both Democrats, though, so partisan politics will be cast aside. No other promises this time.
If you desire, read about the historic election here.
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