David Baird Jr.

David Baird Jr. was born in Camden NJ on October 18, 1881. His father, David Baird Sr., was one of Camden’s leading citizens for well over 50 years, an important man both in the business and political life of Camden, Camden County, and South Jersey.

David Baird Jr. attended the Raymond Academy at Camden and Penn Charter School in Philadelphia PA, after which he graduated from Lawrenceville NJ School in 1899 and from Princeton University in 1903.

After graduation from Princeton, David Baird Jr. returned to Camden, and went into his father’s lumber business, the David Baird Company. By 1916 he had joined his father on the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Camden. He later took his father’s place as a dominant figure in Republican party politics in Camden City and Camden County.

David Baird Jr. was a founding member of the Tavistock Country Club, and was involved in the behind the scenes tactics that led to the incorporation of Tavistock as an independent borough, despite its population of less than 20 people.

In 1924 he purchased an interest in the Camden Post-Telegram from then Congressman Francis Ford Patterson Jr. The rival Camden Courier had been running stories highly critical of the elder Baird and the Republican party, and which had contributed to the defeat of acting Mayor Frank S. Van Hart by 800 votes in 1923. David Baird Jr. was unable to maintain the fortunes of the Post-Telegram, and his father brokered a deal selling the paper to Courier owner David Stern in January of 1926. The Courier remained highly critical of Baird Jr. throughout the 1930s and 1940s, and this criticism certainly contributed but was in no way solely responsible for his political decline during those years.

In 1929 David Baird Jr. was appointed as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Walter E. Edge, and served from November 30, 1929, to December 2, 1930, when a duly elected successor qualified. He was not a candidate for election to the vacancy in 1930. At the height of his political fortunes, Baird Jr. returned to New Jersey, and ran unsuccessfully for Governor of New Jersey in 1931. After his defeat in the general election, he resumed his former business pursuits. Still the dominant force in local and county Republican party politics, he engaged in a bitter intra-party battle with Albert S. Woodruff throughout the 1930s. While his slate, co-headed by political ally Florence Baker, defeated that led by Woodruff and Elizabeth Verga in the May 1934 election, the deep divisions within the party contributed to rise of the Democratic machine headed by George Brunner that would dominate Camden after 1935.

David Baird Jr. moved out of Camden to a farm that he owned in a rural part of Delaware Township in October of 1936. His father had acquired the home at 804 Cooper Street in the 1890s, the mansion built by real estate developer Edward N. Cohn in the late 1880s.

Even though David Baird Jr. had to deal with problems with his own county organization, he still commanded considerable support. He was appointed by the Governor to the Delaware River Joint Commission (the forerunner of the Delaware River Port Authority) to fill an unexpired term in 1938. David Baird Jr. acquired an interest in the Smith-Austermuhl Insurance Company, and by 1947 was the president of that enterprise. On June 7, 1950 he announced the closing of the David Baird Company lumber business that his father had founded in the 1870s. The Baird family remained in lumber for many years, operating the Haddonfield Lumber Company. David Baird Jr. died in Camden NJ on February 28, 1955, and was interred in the family mausoleum at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden NJ.

‘Not Fitted for Job and 20 of You Admitted it’ Declares Van Meter

Collingswood Man’s Insurgency Punished

Vocational School Incident is Recalled as Democrats Join in Battle

Joseph H. Van Meter, insurgent Republican freeholder from Collingswood, today declared that David Baird Jr., Republican leader, had admitted that Theodore Kausel was “not the man for the job” to which he was appointed by the Board of Freeholders yesterday.

Baird told him, however, said Van Meter, that a promise had been made “to take care of” Kausel because of the latter’s aid to the Republican Organization at the last municipal election.

Van Meter quotes Baird as follows:

“I’ll admit that Kausel is not the man for the job. But you have to help me out because we promised to take care of Kausel when he came over to us in the city election. And it was through Kausel that we got Hitchner and a lot of his crowd.”

“We’ve got ourselves tied up with him. We’ve got to take him, and I want you to go along, and help me out.”

“I know his business record and I know his political record. I know the freeholders don’t want him and our conference don’t want him, but we’ve got to eat crow, and I want you to help me out”

Under the watchful eyes of organization leaders, Republican members of the Camden County Board of Freeholders yesterday took care of Theodore “Teddy” Kausel.

With David Baird Jr. and other chieftains of the party occupying front row seats, the board created the post of “general manager of county institutions” and promptly named Kausel for the job at an annual salary of $4,000.

Like ghosts at a feast, Baird and the other party leaders sat silently at the freeholders reorganization meeting. Like actors in a carefully pre-arranged play, a little uncertain of their cues, 20 Republican freeholders cast furtive eyes at the group of spectators.

They said no word, these freeholders. They made no reply when Joseph H. Van Meter, of Collingswood, breaking from their ranks, declared that 20 of them had told him that Kausel was unfit for the position to which he was being appointed. They listened in uncomfortable silence while Van Meter gave voice to a scathing denunciation of their “lack of backbone” and while a running fire of sarcasm from Democratic members fell upon their ears.

Scene Was Drama

The scene was drama. It might have been a revised performance of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” with 28 furtive-eyed Uncle Toms and an impregnable line of Simon Legrees, cracking invisible whips in threatening gestures.

And the scene was also comedy. For of that score of men who, according to Van Meter, had agreed that Kausel was unfit for the job but “had to be taken care of,” none arose to protest against the action. Within their Hearts the chorus of Uncle Toms may have been saying.

The county may own our bodies, but our souls belong to the Republican Organization.”

But if they thought this, they said no word.

Today it was pointed out that it will not be long before freeholders come up for renomination at the primaries. Today, it was also predicted that Van Meter has signed his political death warrant so far as the Republican organization was concerned. But at least he received the ungrudging tribute of the Democratic minority on the board, who joyfully proclaimed that they had found “at last a Republican with guts.”

Van Meter Fights Hard

Van Meter spared no words, took no half-measures. He accused his fellow Republican members of coercion, double-dealing and weakness. He fought the appointment bitterly. He raked up the vocational school matter, in which $85,000 had been paid for the school site on Kausel’s recommendation, a price later declared to be exorbitant.

Democratic members joined the Collingswood insurgent. They charged that the $4,000 appointment was the price of Kausel’s allegiance to the Republican party. They declared that he wasn’t worth it. They recalled, later, that Kausel had shifted from the Republican Organization to the Non-Partisan movement and then back again after being one of the loudest to criticize the Organization. They asserted that after his removal as chairman of the vocational school board, he had sought the appointment as city purchasing agent. They avowed that the Republican City Commissioners had “refused to handle Kausel” and had “wished him off on the county.”

The 26 other Republican freeholders — all of those present, excepting only Van Meter — continued to listen in silence. And when the vote came, every one of the 26 voted for the creation of the position of “general manager of county institutions” and for the appointment of Kausel.

A little later the reprisals upon Van Meter began. He was removed from the central plant and county farm committees of the board, shifted to the elections committee and allowed to remain on the printing and agricultural committees, regarded as unimportant groups.

Reprisals Were Threatened

“It doesn’t surprise me,” he said. “I was threatened with it. They told me they’d ruin me. But I couldn’t go back to Collingswood and ask the people to vote for me again if I hadn’t fought against this appointment.”

The defection of Van Meter came apparently as a surprise. The meeting had opened with the passage of the county budget on the first reading, the selection of Leslie H. Ewing, of Berlin, as director of the board, the calling of Frank P. Moles, of the Third Ward to be sworn in and his failure to respond or to appear for the gathering.

Minor matters had been attended to and then Fred W. George, clerk of the board, rose to his feet and began the task of reading a long list of proposed amendments to the rules. Buried far down in the list of revisions was that which, “for purposes of economy,” sought to place all county institutions under a central head to be known as general manager.

George lost his breath before he had more than half completed the list of amendments, and George Rothermel, pinch-hitting for Walter Keown as counsel for the board, took his place. Then Director Ewing called for a vote.

Schorpp Speaks

Frederick W. Schorpp, Eighth Ward Democrat, was the first to speak.

“I want to congratulate you gentlemen,” he said, “on the wonderful way you have camouflaged these changes.

“We have heard a long list of amendments to the rules read. But what the whole thing is can easily be seen. You gentlemen of the majority have a lame duck to take care of, and so you create this job. But I can’t see, really I can’t see why it is necessary to create a $4,000 plum for your lame duck and saddle it on the taxpayers.”

There was silence in the room. In the seat of the absent Freeholder William A. Robinson sat Baird. At the press table were Sheriff Walter Gross and City Commissioner William D. Sayrs, Jr. Ranged along the front row of the spectators’ section were Mayor Winfield Price and Commissioner Clay W. Reesman. They said nothing.

Louis C. Parker, Gloucester City Democrat, was next to speak.

“All these changes in the rules accomplish is to create a new job,” he declared, agreeing with Schorpp.

S. Raymond Dobbs, Fourteenth Ward Democrat, objected and moved that the resolution changing the rules be laid over until the regular January meeting. He was overruled by Director Ewing. Schorpp sought to have the rules voted upon separately, but James Davis, chairman of the committee, refused to accept the suggestion.

The roll call began. In alphabetical order the names were called and the freeholders voted. Republicans voted in favor of adoption of the changes. The three Democrats voted against the resolution. Van Meter’s name was the last to be called.

“No,” he said calmly, and there was a gasp of surprise in the room. The clerk recorded the vote on the resolution as 26 to 4 and then began reading again. This was a new resolution. It named Theodore T. Kausel to the position just created and explained that he was to report to the “Lakeland Central Committee.”

Van Meter Protests

Van Meter rose slowly. He obtained recognition from the director and began, quietly but decisively.

“Gentlemen,” he said calmly. “I have studied this proposition. I have known about it for three days and three nights. I have talked to 20 Republican members of this board and I have done all I could to get them to agree with me.

“And they did agree with me. They agreed, every one, that Kausel was not the man for this job. After what happened on the vocational school project, when Kausel was president of the school board, he is not the man. On his recommendation, the vocational school site was purchased for $85,000. And now you want to send him where he will handle about a million dollars of the taxpayers’ money.”

Van Meter’s tone was serious as he turned to his fellow members. Most of the latter sat silently in the seats. They did not glance at the Collingswood insurgent. Baird, Gross, Price, Sayrs and Reesman listened intently. A few of the freeholders craned their necks towards the windows as the Camden mummers, returning from the New Years Day parade in Philadelphia, marched past the courthouse. But Van Meter went on.

“There is not one of you that has backbone enough to come here and fight this thing.” Van Meter continued.

“I can’t see it go through. I couldn’t ask the people of Collingswood to vote for me again if I let it go through without a fight.

“You agreed with me that Kausel was not the man for the job. Haven’t you any backbone with which to fight his appointment now?”

Slowly, in complete silence that followed, he turned till he faced Horace G. Githens, the majority floor leader.

“Mr. Githens,” he said quietly and in a measured tone, “if you will throw away your messenger’s cap and wear a leader’s hat, I will follow you.”

He sat down and the silence continued.

Schorpp Lauds Van Meter

Schorpp rose again.

“I’m glad to see one Republican who has backbone,” he said. “I told you there was a lame duck in this and here is the lame duck.

“Woods (Samuel Woods, Republican freeholder from Haddonfield) and you others criticized Kausel and other members of the vocational school board for their purchasing of the land for the school, claiming that it was an exorbitant price to pay for the land.

“And now these same men who criticized Kausel are putting him in a position where he will handle millions of the taxpayers money.

Dobbs followed on the floor.

“I don’t want to stand here and talk until 10 o’clock tonight just to give you reasons why Kausel shouldn’t get the job,” he said.

“In the first place, I couldn’t give all the reasons in that time, and in the second place, they wouldn’t register with this bunch.

“This is entirely unfair. It’s too high a price to pay Kausel to come back into the Republican ranks. The Republican leaders should pay it, however, and not saddle the price on the taxpayers.

“Personally, I don’t think he’s worth much politically. We had him for awhile and have had some experience as to the value of his services. I thought he could be bought for less than $4000 anyway.”

The resolution came to a vote. The Republicans, with the exception of Van Meter, again voted solidly. Twenty-six votes were cast for the appointment of Kausel. Van Meter and the three Democrats did not vote.

Van Meter issued a statement after the meeting, explaining his stand. He said:

“The reason I opposed Kausel’s appointment is because the man is extravagant. Director Ewing was one of the 20 Republicans I talked to who were opposed to him, but were afraid on the floor. I didn’t talk to the Democrats.

“Ewing and the other Republicans said, ‘What can we do. We must take care of him. We promised to.’

Charges Unfair Tactics

“I knew when I went ahead with this that I’d be an outcast, but I was determined to do the right thing. This appointment is not the right thing.

“They told me I’d be ruined if I opposed them. Even up to the last minute before the meeting they came to my desk in the freeholder’s room and tried to throw a scare into me.

“I knew I’d be thrown out of committees and barred from the caucuses. They’ve let me remain on the printing committee. I’ve been on it a year, and it hasn’t met yet. Nevertheless, there is a $50,000 appropriation for printing.

“I’ve always tried to be on the level on this job. Why they had the workhouse slated for $120,000 but I fought and fought, and finally — well look at the budget — it’s cut down to $50,000.

“It’s not the first time I’ve saved them money. I don’t know Kausel personally, but I do know his record. It was because of his extravagance that he was fired from the Castle Kid Company.

“And when I say he is extravagant, I can prove every word of it.”

The new Lakeland central committee, authorized in the resolution appointing Kausel, was announced by Director Ewing at the close of the meeting. Ewing is to be a member, ex-officio, and Horace G. Githens becomes a member by virtue of being chairman of the finance committee.

“The chairman of the asylum committee, of the County Hospital committee, of the Almshouse committee, of the Detention Home committee, and the Tuberculosis Hospital committee all will become members.”

Name ‘Official’ Papers

An earlier vote had been taken in which the Democrats moved to designate The Evening Courier as the newspaper in which the budget was to be officially printed. The Republican majority had designated two weekly papers, the Camden Argus and the Berlin Breeze.

“It’s obvious,” said Dobbs, “why these designations have been made.”

Parker, Gloucester City Republican, agreed with this view and declared that the newspaper with the largest circulation in the county should be given the official county notices for publication as advertising.

Schorpp ironically suggested that the Christian Science Monitor be substituted for one of the two weeklies designated and the roll was called. The Argus and the Breeze were officially designated.

The appointment of Kausel brought the meeting to a conclusion. Of all the Republican freeholders, Davis was the only one to speak. He merely declared that he was not one of the 20 men who Van Meter had said agreed that Kausel was not the man for the job.

A meeting which was described today as “a gathering in honor of David S. Rhone, director of public safety,” was held last night at the Thirteenth Ward Republican Club, Haddon Avenue and Mechanic Street.

The speakers included David Baird Jr., Mayor Winfield S. Price, Commissioner Clay W. Reesman, Sheriff Walter T. Gross, Urquhart Ward, ward committeeman, Theodore Kausel and Commissioner Rhone.

A large photograph of Commissioner Rhone was presented to the club by friends of the Commissioner, and has been placed in the clubroom. A photograph of Ward was also given the club.

Arrangements were made by the club for its annual ball to be held February 21. Plans were also discussed for the remodeling of the club’s headquarters.

Candidate for Governor Speaks at Hoboken Park Dedication

By Star Correspondent

Hoboken, Oct. 12. — American business, religion and government need today a man like Christopher Columbus “who can fire the imagination of our countrymen and awaken the nation to the dangers that threaten our safety and freedom,” David Baird Jr., declared this afternoon at the dedication of Columbus Park here.

Addressing a group composed mostly of Italian-Americans, the Republican candidate for governor touched only lightly on political issues of his campaign but pleaded for “clean government” so that “the tax dollar may be honestly spent and your right to work protected.”

“We are celebrating today a great event in the history of the world,” Baird said. “We are paying tribute to the courage and the vision of one of your famous countrymen. We are recognizing in this official holiday and in this great gathering, the energy, the leadership and the contributions of the Italian people to world civilization.”

“American citizens of Italian ancestry should be proud of their heritage.”

“I am proud to salute New Jersey’s half million citizens of Italian parentage on this Columbus Day. They are among the most industrious and progressive of our population. As private citizens and in public office, they are doing their part toward the building of a greater state and in establishing the ideals of honesty and integrity in the conduct of public affairs.”

“Columbus set out to find a passage to India. He discovered a new world. He hoped for a new era of commercial expansion. He found a land of new opportunity. He sought easier communication between distant people. He blazed the trail to a western world where liberty and equality was to have its greatest experiment. The dream of something great and strong and fine must precede its realization. There must always be men like Columbus with courage to follow their dreams. There is needed today leaders in business, in religion, in government, who can fire the imagination of our common countrymen and awaken it to the dangers that threaten our own safety and freedom.”

“Every age and period brings to us as individuals and as citizens of a great state, its own problems. In the period of expansion and great prosperity through which we have been passing, we, in this state and throughout the country, have forgotten our public responsibilities in the interest of clean government. The great tragedy of American life is not prohibition, the crime wave, or the economic depression. It is the indifference of our citizenship toward their own community and state responsibility.

“Make no mistake about the seriousness of the problem that is before you. The enemies of clean government are strongly entrenched and know their power. The fight will not be won in a day. But there is no system that will withstand the power of a united people demanding the return of their government to its rightful owners.”

“The battle for clean government in New Jersey must appeal to the hearts and the traditions of the Italian people. The issues of the day are not the small advantages that are promised in an effort to draw away your attention from the sources that threaten your welfare and happiness.”

“Having once charted his course and set his compass, Columbus pushed on in spite of all opposition. Those who do him honor today will exercise that same determination and perseverance which brought him victory. The blood streams of Italy have enriched the heritage of America. New Jersey continues to be blessed by all the radiance that comes from your people and may the parks of America long know the folk song of old Italy.”

Camden County’s Republican organization mounted an extensive campaign for David Baird Jr. in his 1931 gubernatorial bid against Democratic incumbent A. Harry Moore. The following articles document his campaign efforts across New Jersey.

Lotz Addresses Meeting and Stresses Need of Backing Republican Candidate

Attack Hague Career

Candidacy of David Baird, Republican nominee for governor, typifies “a new era in public life, the very unusual case of the office seeking the man,” declared Charles A. Lotz, district state inheritance tax supervisor, in an address last night at the Haddon Township Republican clubhouse, Haddon and Glenwood avenues, Westmont.

Describing A. Harry Moore, Baird’s Democratic opponent as the “tool” of Frank Hague, “leader of the most corrupt and most ruthless political machine the country has ever known,” Lotz declared the Republican candidate should not have to ask for support of the voters. “You should clamor to give it,” he said.

“We are in the heat of a campaign which is fraught with tremendous importance and responsibilities to the people of New Jersey and of the nation,” said Lotz. “Still shaken by the collapse of the great bull market, we are witnessing a revival of radicalism in politics. The accumulated grievances of 10 or 12 years of post war inflation are emptying the vials of their wrath upon the Republican party. We are hearing the chronic hell raisers of Hudson county blaming us for everything under the sun.”

“Nevertheless, the business depression is a blight which must be exterminated and although this state or country alone can not exterminate it, we can greatly aid by a wise selection of public officials.”

“We have, in the present undertaking a choice of two men. The one, admittedly a leading member of the party he represents, David Baird; the other, a tool of Frank Hague. Now I am not one of those persons who believes that any political party is composed entirely of angels laboring only for the public weal, and the other comprising only of demons.”

“Think of it, here we have a man who has never earned a dollar in his life in a legitimate public enterprise. Who has fed at the public crib ever since he attained his majority and got his first job as constable, who has no visible means of support, except his job as mayor of Jersey City and who lives in palatial Summer homes in a New Jersey millionaire colony, and who lives in the Winter, while not in Europe, in the most luxurious apartment in Jersey City’s most expensive apartment house. Who boasts of $30,000 rugs in his home. Who has a fleet of expensive motor cars with chauffeurs in livery and who spends much time in a Florida mansion. Who has maintained suites in Atlantic City and New York’s most expensive hotels. A man whose living expenses cannot be less than $100,000 a year. A man whose highest salary has not been over $8000 a year. Who never filed an income tax report until made by the U.S. Government to do so.”

“Think of it, this man comparing himself with David Baird. What a mockery to compare himself with a man who has never made a dollar out of politics, a man with proven ability and an unblemished record in business, a man eminently successful in business. A man who contributes most of his time to the welfare of the people and the State of New Jersey. A man whose outstanding success is due only to hard work, brilliancy and fair dealing. A man who has had a remarkable public career, a faithful and loyal party worker, and a statesman who supports only legislation that makes for the good of all the people, Republican and Democratic alike.”

“Seldom is there found in one man the attributes and qualifications possessed by David Baird. His candidacy typifies a new era in public life, the very unusual case of the office seeking the man. This is the inclination of the Republican Party and the more it can accomplish this tendency the greater will be its government and the happier will be its people. George Washington, Calvin Coolidge and Dwight W. Morrow are examples of this great ambition.”

Former U.S. Senator David Baird, Jr., recovering from a recent operation, left Cooper Hospital yesterday for an indefinite rest at his Faughan River farm in Ashland, near Haddonfield.

The South Jersey Republican leader underwent an emergency operation for the removal of his appendix July 26. He was taken to the hospital from his farm.

Baird expressed appreciation to many friends in business and political circles who visited him and sent flowers during his stay at the hospital.

Former U.S. Senator Asks Election Board to Take Name Off City List

Coombs Gets Hires’ Place

Prevents Meeting and Halts Plan to Make Wood Director

Proceedings Off Till Next Monday

By A. Charles Corotis

An attempted coup by David Baird in his drive to rebuild his fallen fences for the primary election next May was frustrated yesterday by one lone freeholder, and the baby member of the board, at that.

Edmund A. Walsh, elected from Camden’s Eighth Ward to fill the unexpired term of the late Ferdinand J. Larkin, foiled Baird’s well laid plans when he refused to attend the annual organization meeting after the Republican League bloc of freeholders had been maneuvered into a position of agreeing to support James W. Wood, Baird satellite, for director.

A spokesman for the League group said the agreement was nullified, however, by yesterday’s adjournment.

Walsh’s loyalty to City Commissioner Mary W. Kobus, long-time political foe of Baird, had the effect of stalemating the 1940 organization, the last under the large board, since the Democrats, upon learning of the G.O.P. decision to support Wood, bolted the meeting room.

Walsh took the stand that to vote for Wood would be to sell out to Baird. Walsh was ready and willing to vote for any other Republican. At no time was he for a Democrat.

The 20 Republican freeholders present could have transacted business and elected Wood if they had gone into session, but Walsh’s refusal to be a party to the Baird-Wood scheme left only 19 freeholders willing to meet, and that number is one short of the quorum required by law.