David Baird Jr.
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.
David Baird Jr. Gives Reception
Philadelphia Inquirer —
•• David Baird, Jr., gave a reception to the members of the Young Men’s Republican League, at his home on Cooper street, on Tuesday night.
First National Bank of Camden
Bank Directory – March–
First National Bank |
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DAVID BAIRD, President Directors: |
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| David Baird | Frank L. Starr |
| Alfred W. Clement | Walter J. Staats |
| Frank C. Somers | David Baird Jr. |
| J. J. Albertson | Joseph W. Graham |
| Albert C. Middleton | Lawrence M. Verga |
| Ferdinand A. Loeb | Melbourne F. Middleton Jr. |
| William T. Read | |
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Philadelphia Office, 246 Market Street |
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Cooper Street
Top: 804 Cooper Street — Baird Family home from the 1890s until October 1936. Bottom: 800 Block of Cooper Street, 1893.
Blue Jackets Fight Flames in Lumber Yard
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Fully Equipped They Push Off From Cruiser Etruria to the Jersey Shore
Battled With Blaze in Their Bare Feet
Mayor Sends Letter to Commander David—Baird’s Big Plant Scene of Disastrous Conflagration
One hundred sailors from the Italian cruiser Etruria, now lying in the Delaware river, off Race street, materially assisted the Camden firemen yesterday afternoon in preventing a fire from destroying the plant of David Baird & Co., foot of Pearl street. While the flames did damage to the extent of $50,000, there would have been a much heavier loss but for the excellent work of the bluejackets.
It was shortly after 1 o’clock when the flames were discovered in the engine room by Howard Mulford. His efforts to extinguish the tiny blaze proved futile. In a few minutes the fire had eaten its way through the inflammable wooden structure and the long, red tongues had communicated with the spar shed. From this they leaped about twenty feet into the saw and planing mill. All these structures were blazing fiercely when the Camden firemen responded to a general alarm.
Italian Jackies Busy
It was at this juncture that a hundred white-capped sailors in command of Lieutenant Alyigina Guardsumarsina made their landing at the Pearl street wharf in Camden. They were assembled by a bugler and with hand axes, hose and other apparatus they sallied forth to combat the flames which were fast eating their way through the extensive yard of the plant.
Many of the bluejackets were barefooted, but none of these stopped when burning timbers were encountered. They rushed through flame and smoke with all the vim and ardor that characterize the sailor when in action.
Attacked Blazing Planks
There was a huge lumber pile that stood near a shed that contained several hundred thousand feet of valuable timber. When the flames communicated with this the sailors, summoned by the bugler, made an attack on the great long blazing planks. Like veritable trojans they worked, running up to the flames with their axes and knocking the timbers in all directions.
The smoke was dense enough to make even the professional fire fighters seek cover, but the men from the Etruria stood their ground and managed to save much of the timber.
Hands and Feet Scorched
For over two hours they continued in service. Surgeon De Silvestor, with an assistant, had a busy time attending the burned feet and hands and scorched faces of his compatriots. They had a typical Red Cross outfit with them and when they had ended their work there was little left of the tape and liniments.
It was only after the fire was practically extinguished that Lieutenant Guardsumarsina gathered his men about him and returned to the Etruria. There were several thousand persons on the surrounding wharves and buildings and these gave three lusty cheers when the valiant sons of Italy left for the cruiser.
Fire a Scorcher
The fire was an extremely fierce one, fed as it was by thousands of feet of choice timber. Firemen Harry Green and Rollo Jones, of No. 1 Truck Company, were overcome by the intense heat, but they were quickly revived, the former by the Italian surgeon. Fireman John Lutz and Policeman George Kappel had severely burned hands treated by Surgeon De Silvestor also.
David Baird, Jr., a member of the firm, said he approximated the damage done at about $50,000. All the buildings and machinery were insured. The structures burned included a spar shed, 60 by 100 feet; planing mill, 40x100 feet, and a large lumber shed. About 4,000,000 feet of timber was in the yard, but much of this was saved through the good work of the sailors and the Camden firemen.
The Philadelphia tugboat Stokley also rendered excellent service when the fire was at its height.
It is not definitely known how the fire originated, but it is believed to have been caused by a spark generated by the engine.
Mayor Charles H. Ellis and many city and county officials were interested witnesses of the fire and the manner in which the Italian sailors and the firemen fought the flames. Mayor Ellis said the bluejackets were deserving of much praise for their aid, which came unsolicited but nevertheless at an opportune moment.
Mayor Thanks Sailors
Directly after the fire Mayor Ellis sent the following letter of appreciation to Captain Pericoli, of the Etruria:
Mayor’s Office,
Camden, N. J., June 17, 1907.
Captain Riccard Pericoli,
Commander Italian Cruiser Etruria,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Dear Sir: On behalf of the people of Camden I express to you my hearty and sincere thanks for the efficient and heroic service rendered today by members of your crew at the disastrous fire on the river front of Camden.
I was on the scene within a few minutes after the alarm was sounded and personally observed the splendid work performed by your men. Although from a faraway country and total strangers to the city their show of bravery and zeal was equally as commendatory as that exhibited by those whose duty it is to protect life and property, and I was thrilled by their fearlessness and daring.
The thousands of people attracted to the scene of the fire was a unit in their praise for the assistance rendered by your crew, and I request that you convey to the brave boys of the Etruria my sincere appreciation and thanks for their magnificent work.
Very respectfully, CHARLES H. ELLIS, Mayor.
“That’s My Place”
While the fire was at its height a ferryboat was making its way to Philadelphia. Both the forward and stern rails were crowded with passengers watching the flames, which made a brilliant picture, mirrored as they were in the water.
“I wonder whose place is burning?” remarked a man in the crowd, addressing the man standing by his side.
“That’s my place” was the quiet rejoinder of the person asked, as he walked away. That man was David Baird, the owner of the saw mill in which the fire started.
Kausel Is Given $4000 Job Over Hot Protest by ‘Rebel’ in G.O.P.
Camden Courier-Post —
‘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.
13th Ward G.O.P. Club Pays Tribute to Rhone
Camden Courier-Post —
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.
Italians of Jersey Lauded by Baird
Camden Courier-Post —
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.”
Quintet in Crash Near Hightstown Dodge Serious Hurt
Camden Courier-Post —
A caravan of 25 automobiles followed the buses to Sea Girt. Five Camden motorcycle policemen cleared the way to the county line in Pennsauken township, then returned.
Anxiety over the accident to the car of Robert Brice, which overturned two miles from Freehold on the Hightstown-Freehold road, was relieved when word was received from the Freehold hospital that none of the five persons injured, four of them relatives of David Baird, Jr., was critically hurt.
Brice has been driving trucks for the fire department for many years. He told Congressman Charles A. Wolverton that it was his first serious accident.
Mr. and Mrs. Wolverton showed rare presence of mind when they went to the aid of the victims. They lost no time in removing them to the hospital, four in Mr. Wolverton’s car and one in the automobile of Surrogate Donahue, of Monmouth county.
Mrs. Wolverton, a graduate of Women’s Medical College, Philadelphia, helped Dr. Reynolds, of the Freehold hospital, dress the wounds of the injured.
The four Baird relatives, were Mrs. Mary Kane, 42, of 411 Chambers avenue, cuts on the left hand; Robert B. Brice, 211 Elm street, driver of the car, injuries to the legs and body; Mrs. Alice Peak, 804 Cooper street, eleven stitches in arm, and injuries to body and face, and Mrs. Mary Brice, wife of Robert, slight hands and neck cuts. The fifth victim was Mrs. Emma Miles, Forty-fourth street and Westfield avenue, recording clerk in the office of the Camden county clerk, who is believed to have been injured internally.
Mrs. Peak and Mrs. Miles were taken last night to the Baird home. Mrs. Miles had improved enough today, however, to go to her own home.
David Baird Company
Camden Courier-Post —
David Baird Company
Wholesale LUMBER Retail
Distinguished Service to the Trade Since 1904
Delaware Ave. & Pearl St., Camden, N.J.
Baird to Attend Rally for Morrow in Trenton
Camden Courier-Post —
Trenton, June 4. — Senators Kean and Baird and Governor Larson are expected here tonight to take part in a big Republican rally to be addressed by Dwight W. Morrow, senatorial candidate, in the new Crescent Temple.
Morrow, with Mayor Douglas G. Thomson, of Englewood, his campaign manager, and Daniel F. Pomeroy, Republican national committeeman, is touring Mercer county today.
Other speakers at the rally tonight will be former Governor Edward C. Stokes, John Grier Hibben, president of Princeton University; Harry F. Hilfers, Trenton labor leader, and Colonel Edward C. Rose. Colonel Rose will preside.
1931 Gubernatorial Campaign
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.
Office Seeks Man, Baird Speaker Says in Westmont Rally
Camden Courier-Post —
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.”
Haines and Reinert Head G.O.P.; Madden To Lead Democrats
Camden Courier-Post —
JOSHUA C. HAINES
Baird and Mrs. Verga Decline Posts During Spirited Committee Session
Joshua C. Haines, Camden county register of deeds, was elected chairman of the Camden County Republican Committee at its reorganization last night in one of the most spirited contests held within the Organization in a decade.
Mrs. Isabella C. Reinert, of Collingswood, nominee for Assembly, was elected vice chairman.
Haines succeeds Walter S. Keown and Mrs. Reinert takes the post held by Mrs. Elizabeth C. Verga.
Their election came at 11.30 p. m., after more than three hours of heated argument behind closed doors, and after former U. S. Senator David Baird and Mrs. Verga had declined to accept the offices.
Keown, Hanna Mentioned
Others nominated were Keown and Camden City Commissioner Frank B. Hanna, for chairman, and Mrs. Etta C. Pfrommer, of the Eleventh Ward. Mrs. Pfrommer twice declined.
In previous years reorganization of the county committee had been effected without dispute, and with unanimous action by the members. Last night, however, the discussion waged long and loud.
Though newspapermen were excluded from the meeting, the voices of the debating members coming through the locked doors left no doubt as to the progress of the election.
Other officers were re-elected as follows: Howard B. Dyer, secretary; William D. Sayrs, Jr., treasurer, and Mrs. Lottie B. Stinson, assistant secretary. Mrs. Anna G. Holl, of Collingswood, was elected assistant treasurer to succeed Mrs. Reinert.
Keown opened the meeting and then Baird spoke.
The former Senator presented the recommendation of the Republican executive conference committee that the members elect Haines and Mrs. Reinert in view of the fact that Keown and Mrs. Verga had resisted all requests to continue.
Then Mrs. Margaret Wermuth, of Delaware township, and Carlton M. “Cy” Harris, of the Twelfth Ward, presented a petition signed by virtually all the committee, asking Baird and Mrs. Verga to accept the chairmanship and vice chairmanship.
Baird Declines
Baird then declared that he was unable to take over any additional work.
“I must not be chosen, but must work with and for you, and I ask that you respect my wishes.”
He then proposed that Haines and Mrs. Reinert be chosen unanimously.
Despite his proposal, Mrs. Wermuth moved the election of Baird and Mrs. Verga. The vote was virtually unanimous. Immediately J. C. Remington, Jr., of Haddonfield, moved to adjourn. The chair refused to recognize the motion.
Several members threatened to resign from the committee unless Baird and Mrs. Verga accepted. To this Baird answered:
“I’m still fighting for the party, no matter who quits. If you quit, you’re not worthy to be members.” His remarks were greeted with applause.
In announcing her decision not to accept renomination Mrs. Verga said her duties as state vice chairman, taking her into all the 21 counties, made it impossible for her to continue to devote the time to the county committee which it deserved. She explained that her term as state vice chairman still has two years to run.
Haines Finally Elected
Then Baird announced his resignation from the chairmanship and Mrs. Verga from the vice chairmanship.
Keown was nominated for re-election and Haines and Hanna for election. Baird was renominated by Remington. Keown reiterated his insistence, announced several weeks ago, not to stand for re-election. Baird again declined.
Then Keown moved the election of Haines and Mrs. Reinert. The discussion which followed continued for three hours. Finally the vote was taken at 11.30 and Haines and Mrs. Reinert were declared elected.
Mrs. Reinert, however, declined the office, stating her candidacy for assembly would consume all her time. Then Mrs. Pfrommer was nominated, but she turned it down twice. After much persuasion Mrs. Reinert agreed to accept with the provision that she serve through the summer and that she be permitted to resign later, if she wished.
In a telegram to the committee, Congressman Charles A. Wolverton urged the election of Baird and Mrs. Verga.
The committee elected the following solicitors: Carl Kisselman, Edward R. Deibert, L. Scott Cherchesky, William E. A. King, J. Claud Simon, T. Philips Brown, J. H. Reiners, Jr., Rocco Palese and Morris Praissman.
The conference committee, which suggested Haines and Mrs. Reinert, comprises Baird, Keown, George R. Pelouze, Albert S. Woodruff, Mrs. Verga, Remington, Commissioners Hanna and Clay W. Reesman, Sayrs, William Wimer, Horace G. Githens, J. Wesley Sell and A. C. Middleton.
Members of the Republican County Committee, which organized last night, follow:
Camden City
(*-Indicates New Member)
First Ward—Robert Brennan and Marie Mackintosh.
Second—*William H. Heiser and Mary McCready.
Third—James Corea and *Susie Marchiano.
Fourth—James E. Tatem and *Mary A. Ivins.
Fifth—*Martin A. McNulty and Madeline Salvatore.
Sixth—Howard B. Dyer and Mary S. Hartung.
Seventh—Edward A. Kemble and Mary D. Guthridge.
Eighth—*Edmund A. Walsh and Mamie F. Piraine.
Ninth—Edward Holloway and Deborah Schuck.
Tenth—*Henry I. Haines and Lillian M. Walker.
Eleventh—Horace B. Beideman and Etta C. Pfrommer.
Twelfth—Carlton M. Harris and Mary E. Hamel.
Thirteenth—*Henry Knauer and Louella I. Whaland.
Fourteenth—*Jesse M. Donaghy and Lottie B. Stinson.
Gloucester City
First Ward—Walter H. Craig and E. C. Moffet.
Second—James A. Lewis and *Nellie Keebler.
Third—*James M. Officer and *Margaret P. Powell.
Suburban Districts
Audubon—*Marshall N. Hammon, Jr., and Laura Williams.
Barrington—Harry J. Stone and Margaret Taylor.
Bellmawr—*William C. Stillwill and Katherine Dyer.
Berlin Borough—Leslie M. Ewing and Esther B. Jaggard.
Berlin Township—Frank M. Tyson and Lydia M. Eckstein.
Brooklawn—Morton S. Broomall and C. Mae Marsh.
Chesilhurst—*William Wiegand, Sr., and Mary L. Lyons.
Clementon—J. Palmer Earl and Mabel Rogers.
Collingswood—Edward B. Rogers and Isabella C. Reinert.
Delaware Township—Leonard Hoffman, Sr., and Margaret E. Wermuth.
Gibbsboro—*P. Richard Cummings and *Ethel H. Bone.
Gloucester Township—*William E. Cozens and Mary W. Frazer.
Haddon Township—*Milton E. Hanson and *Eve W. Hannum.
Haddonfield—J. C. Remington, Jr., and Anna G. Holl.
Haddon Heights—Robert E. Bromley and Mary H. Tegge.
Hi-Nella—Samuel D. Mansfield and Elsie H. Castor.
Laurel Springs—Charles V. Osborne and Anna M. Hess.
Lawnside—Horace J. Bryant and Maidie M. Gibson.
Lindenwold—George T. Neely and Irene A. Haney.
Magnolia—*Charles T. Wood and *Lillian Shoemaker.
Merchantville—E. Durell Parker and Ruth K. Yarnall.
Mt. Ephraim—Harvey L. Jacoby and *Theresa Osler.
Oaklyn—John Beasley and *Mae Walker.
Pennsauken Township—*Andrew Stewart and Catherine Brooks.
Pine Hill—*Conrad Schmidt and Mary J. Smith.
Pine Valley—Clinton L. Bardo and Anna E. Howe.
Runnemede—*John S. Adams and *Mrs. John Gaunt.
Somerdale—Edward Arentzen and Louise Brusius.
Stratford—John T. Matthews and L. Mae Titus.
Voorhees Township—*George Ziesch and *Elizabeth Ebert.
Waterford Township—Thomas A. Fanelli and Catherine Zoppel.
Tavistock—Frank B. Middleton, Jr., and no committeewoman.
Winslow Township—Samuel Withers and Kathryn Wuertz.
Woodlynne—Thomas W. Leeson and Edna M. Fritsche.
Young G.O.P. to Dine County Party Chiefs
Camden Courier-Post —
County Republican leaders will be guests of the Young Republicans of Camden county at a dinner July 14 at the Lotus Restaurant, 517 Market street, celebrating completion of the Young Republicans’ membership drive. Plans for the dinner were made last night at a meeting in Republican Headquarters, Broadway and Stevens street.
Guests will include David Baird, Joshua C. Haines, chairman of the Camden County Republican Committee; Mrs. Isabella C. Reinert, vice chairman and nominee for Assembly; Walter S. Keown, former chairman; Mrs. Elizabeth C. Verga, former vice chairman; Representative Charles A. Wolverton, George R. Pelouze, nominee for sheriff; Albert S. Woodruff, nominee for state senate; and F. Stanley Bleakly and Frank M. Travaline, Jr., nominees for assembly. Raymond J. Jubanyik is chairman of the executive committee of the Young Republicans.
First Camden National Bank & Trust Co. (advertisement)
Camden Courier-Post —
The Directors
A. D. Ambruster
S. C. Childs
Edward B. Humphreys
Edward E. Shumaker
F. Morse Archer
Elias Davis
Henry H. Lippincott
Frank C. Somers
David Baird, Jr.
Burleigh B. Draper
Albert C. Middleton
Frank L. Starr
Ralph D. Baker
Isaac Ferris
William T. Read
J. B. Van Sciver, Jr.
Killam E. Bennett
Le Roy A. Goodwin
Wm. W. Robinson
Lawrence M. Verga
Rudolph W. Birdsell
Eugene F. Haines
Charles W. Russ
Oliver C. Willits
William T. Boyle
William D. Sherrerd
Charles A. Wolverton
The Officers
F. MORSE ARCHER
President
BURLEIGH B. DRAPER
Vice-President
ISAAC FERRIS
Vice-President
A. D. AMBRUSTER
Vice-President & Trust Officer
JAY KNOX
Asst. Trust Officer
S. C. KIMBLE
Cashier
THEO. THOMPSON
Assistant Cashier
ORLANDO M. BOWEN
Assistant Cashier
Wm. K. COOK
Assistant Cashier
JULIAN K. POTTER
Assistant Cashier
FIRST
CAMDEN NATIONAL BANK & TRUST CO.
Founded 1812. Oldest in South Jersey
Downtown Office
Broadway & Sycamore
Main Office
Broadway & Cooper
Philadelphia Office
223 Market Street
Baird, Stokes Lash Richards Ambitions And ‘Horse Trading’
Camden Courier-Post —
Dinner to Reesman and Mrs. Verga Packs Whitman; Local Delegates Get High Praise
Ex-Governor Denounces Roosevelt Program, Hits Inflation
By Ransloe Boone
Bitter criticism of the “horse trading” of the Legislature and the gubernatorial aspirations of Senate President Emerson L. Richards, were coupled with appeals for party loyalty and praise for Camden county’s leaders at a dinner of the Camden County Republican Committee in Hotel Walt Whitman last night.
The dinner, one of the largest ever held in the hotel, was in honor of City Commissioner Clay W. Reesman, new chairman of the county committee, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Verga, vice-chairman of the county and state committees; Joshua C. Haines, former chairman, and Mrs. Isabella C. Reinert, assemblywoman and former vice chairman.
Tribute was paid them by a distinguished gathering of more than 500 national, state and county leaders. So great was the crowd that the capacity of the main ball room was taxed and the junior ballroom was utilized also.
The attacks on “horse trading” and Richards were made by former Governor Edward C. Stokes and former United States Senator David Baird, Jr. Baird did not mention Richards by name.
Proud of Own Legislators
“We Republicans in Camden County have a faculty for victory,” Baird said, “but we can and will help to defeat selfish aspirants to office if they don’t play straight with the Republican party.”
“I am proud of the record of Senator Albert S. Woodruff and our Assembly members, Mrs. Isabella C. Reinert, F. Stanley Bleakly and Frank M. Travaline, Jr. They didn’t take any part in the trading of judges, highway commissioners and prosecutors.
“Camden County has been accused of not wanting civil service. When it came time to vote on the question Camden County stood by civil service as it always has, and beat the ripper.”
“Only when you play the game and stand four-square for the ideals of the party can you expect the people of the state to trust you.”
“Whose Legislature?” Stokes declared:
“We won a great victory in New Jersey in the last presidential election. We did it by remaining loyal and not by trading with the Democrats.
“We thought we elected a Republican legislature. John Milton, Hudson County Democratic leader, however, says we elected a Republican legislature but the Democrats are putting on the show. But in that very paternal letter he wrote me not long ago, telling me what I should do and why I should not ‘interfere’ with the Legislature, Senator Richards assured me the Republicans controlled the Legislature. I’m glad to know that for, of course, Richards is always right.”
Stokes predicted history would repeat itself and the Republican party soon would come back into its own.
“The party that stands by its principles despite defeat always comes back.”
The former governor proposed two means of lowering the present high taxes and heavy expenditures.
“I wish this county committee and all those throughout the state would insist on legislation to prohibit municipalities from spending more than they have and from floating bond issues and I wish you would support legislation providing for a limited local tax rate and providing for a gradual reduction of taxes to that maximum.”
Doubts Roosevelt Plan
He expressed doubt as to the wisdom of some of the Roosevelt program. “Inflation makes us prosperous, if revoking the gold standard aids us, amen, if calling 18 inches a yard will help us, that’s fine. If we can ask employers to sell us more and not throw more of our own workers out of work, that will be wonderful. But I can’t understand how we will be aided by those proposals. It’s too much for me.”
He demanded that France, England, and the other nations pay their debts, declaring they were spending five times their debts on armaments.
Congressmen Defend F. D. R.
Wholehearted support of all of President Roosevelt’s measures which will promote relief from present economic conditions was pledged by United States Senators Hamilton F. Kean and W. Warren Barbour and Congressman Charles A. Wolverton.
Kean explained that he voted for the economy bill after he had been assured the president would not touch the compensation of those veterans whose injuries were service connected and that it was passed only because “pressure was brought to bear.”
After paying tribute to Reesman and Mrs. Verga, Kean said:
“One of the first bills introduced by the new administration was the economy bill. This bill authorized the president to consolidate departments of the government, of which there are a great many overlapping and which could be done without any injury to anybody except those receiving salaries or emoluments therefrom. The bill also authorized the president to adjust the wages of government employees and to examine in and make new rules for those receiving pensions from the government. A year ago we tried to give Mr. Hoover power to do away with a lot of these offices that were unnecessary and useless. Mr. Hoover promised if he had the power that he would do so, but this was beaten by the Democrats, so that Mr. Hoover never had the power to do away with these useless bureaus.
Economy Bill
“The history of the economy bill is this: After it was passed by the House, before they had time to read it and under a special rule the debate was so limited that nobody knew anything about it before it was voted on, it was then sent over to the Senate and referred to the finance committee. In the finance committee a Democrat moved that the president should not have authority to reduce anybody’s compensation more than 25 percent.
“Each senator voted for or against the measure or amendment under consideration. On this amendment, upon the call of the roll, the majority of the Democrats voted in favor of the amendment. Most of the Republicans voted against the amendment and it was a tie on the last Republican name on the committee. This was Senator Walcott, of Connecticut, and he voted ‘nay’ on the amendment. This beat the amendment. Next was the question of reporting the bill out of the committee to the floor of the Senate. This was again a tie vote when it came to Senator Walcott and he voted ‘aye,’ which reported the bill out.
Won on G. O. P. Votes
On the floor of the Senate the bill would not have passed but for the Republican votes. We were assured by the Democratic leaders that the president would not touch the compensation of those veterans whose injuries are service connected. In other words, the wounded. When the regulations came out, some two months after this bill had been passed, they had cut the wounded veterans to pieces.
“When the president saw that the Senate voted almost two-thirds to take away this power from him, he got up some compromise formula which was not satisfactory, and got it passed by the House. This was submitted to the Senate and it was on this proposition that every Republican senator voted to support the Senate amendment rather than the House amendment, and I believe that had no pressure been brought to bear on the senators that every senator in the chamber would have voted for the Senate amendment, rather than for the House amendment.”
‘Pay Tribute’
“I don’t criticize the president, I pay him tribute,” Barbour said. “He showed outstanding courage and initiative. He is taking a long chance in many respects and it is the duty of Congress to make the program succeed. It is the program of the nation and I hope it does succeed. However, I do not forget my loyalty to the Republican party. The test is coming this winter in the administration of these great pieces of legislation. I feel it my duty as a Republican not to play politics, but I shall raise potent protest against any unfair or unwise laws.”
He praised Mrs. Verga and Mrs. Edna B. Conklin, of Bergen county, national committeewoman, who was among the guests of honor.
“I never would have been elected if it were not for the combined efforts of those ladies,” he said.
Two future booms were launched.
Mrs. Verga for Senator
“Some day when Senator Woodruff gets tired of being Senator, I hope to see Mrs. Verga as Senator or, if Congressman Wolverton would become Governor, I should like to see Mrs. Verga in his place at Washington. She is marvelously capable of filling both jobs.”
In response Wolverton laughingly said:
“That’s the first time I ever heard a sober man nominate me for governor.”
Wolverton’s address follows:
‘Cites Relief Jigsaw’
“In the few minutes allotted to me, it will not be possible to speak upon several subjects as I would like. I do wish however, to touch briefly and in a general way upon what in my opinion should be the policy of the Republican party at this time with reference to national affairs.
“The economic condition that confronts our nation today, with its attendant paralysis of business, finance, industry and agriculture, creating widespread unemployment, destitution and need, has brought us face to face with an emergency surpassing in its possible consequences even that of the World War. Its devastating effect has brought distress to millions of our people.
“Demand for relief comes from every conceivable source. It is not confined to any particular class. Bankers, railroads, industrial corporations, farmers, homeowners, businessmen, sovereign states, local municipal governments, capital and labor, rich and poor, each with divergent views and often conflicting interests, but all with an insistent demand that each shall receive the particular kind of relief its individual need requires.
Defends Administration
“In answer to the demand of our people for relief, the president called Congress into special session. He submitted his program for relief and recovery to the Congress and it has been enacted into law. To provide effectual relief in the variety of ways made necessary by the different needs to be served required the entrance of our government into new fields of activity.
“There has been a disposition upon the part of some who hold representative positions in our party to criticize the enactment of such laws upon the basis that we have cast aside many of the fundamental traditions of our nation. Such criticism in my opinion is wrong. It overlooks entirely the serious emergency now existing affecting the welfare of our people and which in my opinion is sufficient justification for the enactment of such temporary legislation.
In times such as these, if we are to best serve our people, we cannot hold to the same course of action that has prevailed in other times.
“This is a time of distress and need—a time that calls for the application of new principles or a rearrangement of the old.
“Policies and principles of government set up and agreed upon in times of prosperity cannot be accepted as standards in times of economic distress when the financial and industrial organizations of the country are prostrate and our people in want.
Warns Of Criticism
“Nor do I believe our party can gain public confidence by inaugurating at this time a campaign of criticism against the program and policies recently enacted by Congress. It has not as yet had a chance or a trial. This is not time to be destructive denunciation without constructive proposals. This is no time to create doubt. It is a time when everyone regardless of party affiliations should cooperate to build confidence, dispel fear and create courage.
“What we need today is constructive cooperation by all political parties. Let each retain his party lines, but cooperate for the common good.
“As a party we must have the vision that will enable us to recognize that new conditions create new obligations and the necessity for the application of new and different policies of government to fulfill our entire responsibility.
“We must have not only the vision as to the necessity, but also the courage to do things which a few years ago would have been unthought of because contrary to accepted theories of what is a proper field of governmental activity and unjustified under the prosperous conditions then prevailing.
‘No Place for Politics’
“Let our thought be in terms of the common good, then there will be no denial of the necessity or the propriety of the government in times such as these, assuming a responsibility to promote the general welfare and seeking to fulfill that obligation by entering into enterprises or assuming functions, that otherwise would be unjustified.
“In this time of crisis, when we are seeking to relieve human misery, there is no place for small or mean partisan politics. Nor is this any time for demagogic utterances—this is a time for calm and deliberate consideration and judgment. A time when it is imperative that whatever gives promise of relief shall have our whole-hearted support.
“In conclusion, permit me to suggest that the greatest opportunity for our party in the days immediately before us is to give sympathetic consideration and support to those measures and policies that will best promote human rights. Our party had its origin in support of that great principle and the future measure of its success will depend upon the extent of our adherence to it.”
Baird also declared he would support the president.
“Mr. Roosevelt is our president. Republicans will support him in everything which is for the best interests of the country. All should wish for his success,” Baird said.
Sales Tax Urged
Mott urged that Republicans support a sales tax as the most equitable means of raising needed money.
“A sales tax would distribute the cost equally and would be more fair than the income tax. As we know from the hearings in Washington, some aren’t paying their income tax, anyway.”
Mrs. Conklin paid tribute to Mrs. Verga for her great political sense, ability and understanding of human nature.
She urged that all Republicans work as enthusiastically as a minority party as they did as a majority.
“We must go along and build until we become the majority again,” she said.
Edge Sends Regrets
Walter E. Edge, former Ambassador to France, who was to have been the principal speaker, was unable to attend because he and his family are at their summer home in Maine. He sent a telegram expressing his regrets and his wishes for success to Mrs. Verga and Reesman. It had been reported Edge would be boomed for governor at the dinner but no mention of such a proposal was made.
The honor guests spoke briefly. Reesman asked for the support of the county committee and pledged himself to give all his energy towards the success of the party.
Mrs. Verga praised the committee members and thanked them for their support. She paid a special tribute to former Senator Baird.
“We have been successful in Camden County,” she said, “because we still stand solidly behind our leader, David Baird.” Her tribute was greeted by long applause.
Mrs. Reinert and Haines also spoke briefly pledging their support to the new chairman and vice chairman.
Woodruff Toastmaster
State Senator Albert S. Woodruff was toastmaster. He was introduced by Carlton M. Harris, chairman of the dinner committee.
The county committee presented a lounging chair to Reesman and a silver flower bowl to Mrs. Verga, as well as flowers to Mrs. Reinert and Haines. Flowers also were presented to the new chairman and vice chairman by the Twelfth Ward Republican Club and the ladies’ auxiliary, by the Young Republicans of Camden county through Harold Joyce, its president, and by the Bergen county Republicans, through Mrs. Conklin.
The dinner committee, in addition to Harris, was headed by Mrs. Pauline Caperoon, secretary; Mrs. Mary S. Hartung, assistant secretary, and William D. Sayrs, Jr., treasurer.
Young G.O.P. to Dine County Party Chiefs
Camden Courier-Post —
County Republican leaders will be guests of the Young Republicans of Camden county at a dinner July 14 at the Lotus Restaurant, 517 Market street, celebrating completion of the Young Republicans’ membership drive. Plans for the dinner were made last night at a meeting in Republican Headquarters, Broadway and Stevens street.
Guests will include David Baird, Joshua C. Haines, chairman of the Camden County Republican Committee; Mrs. Isabella C. Reinert, vice chairman and nominee for Assembly; Walter S. Keown, former chairman; Mrs. Elizabeth C. Verga, former vice chairman; Representative Charles A. Wolverton, George R. Pelouze, nominee for sheriff; Albert S. Woodruff, nominee for state senate; and F. Stanley Bleakly and Frank M. Travaline, Jr., nominees for assembly. Raymond J. Jubanyik is chairman of the executive committee of the Young Republicans.
Baird Rests at Farm on Leaving Hospital
Camden Courier-Post —
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.
Richards Opens Camden Quarters
Camden Courier-Post —
Jack Weinberg in Charge of Senator’s Campaign for Governor Here
Camden campaign headquarters for State Senator Emerson L. Richards, one of the four candidates seeking the Republican nomination for governor, was opened yesterday in the Hotel Walt Whitman building on the Broadway side.
At the same time, Jack Weinberg, who is supervising the campaign of Senator Richards in Camden, announced a committee of 50 business and professional men of Camden county who will aid him. Weinberg stated a similar committee of women will be announced later this week.
A speakers’ committee is being formed by Edward Martino, Camden attorney, and will meet at headquarters Friday morning. Distribution of Richards campaign material has been started and speakers will begin a tour of the city and county this weekend.
Weinberg has been an active figure in Republican politics in this city for many years. In 1927, he took a prominent part in settling factional differences that existed between State Senator Albert S. Woodruff, former U. S. Senator David Baird, Jr., and Mrs. Elizabeth C. Verga. Weinberg was in charge of the Republican headquarters in that campaign which resulted in the election of the Price-Smith-Sayrs-Reesman-Rhone ticket. He has been an adherent of the Republican organization all his life.
It was because of his personal friendship with Senator Richards that Weinberg agreed to supervise his campaign here. It was at Weinberg’s request that Senator Richards introduced the Sunday sports and amusements bill in the 1933 legislature.
Richards will make two or three speeches in Camden county next week. Noon-day meetings also will be held in the headquarters every day beginning Monday, according to Weinberg.
Weinberg announced the personnel of the general committee as follows: Former Assistant Prosecutor Rocco Palese, Jack Reiners, L. Scott Cherchesky, Carl Kisselman, Barney Brown, Benjamin Asbell, Eugene Verga, Jay Remington, William D. Sayrs, Jr., Neil Deighan, former Police Captain Charles T. Humes, Meyer Adelman, James Roberts, Neil Zeidman, Dr. Marvin Segal, Byron Edwards, Ellis Goodman, Edward Callow, Morris Bloom, Milton D. Sweiger, Horace Acco, Abe Lippman, William Mead, Ellis Kircher, George B. Ulizio, R. L. Brest, Henry Jones, Samuel Lippman, John McCarroll, Anthony Balatesta, William Kelly, E. L. Kappel, William Felt, James McCarroll, Herman Greenberg, John Sappio, Benjamin Hardy, Joseph Fuhrman, Harry Chew, George Maggee, John Frost, George Smith, John Weber, Frank Evans, R. Radcliff, John Plum and William Udell.
Shooting Suspect in 8th Ward Riot Held in $1000 Bail
Camden Courier-Post —
John Hess Accused of Firing Two Shots; Denies Illegal Possession of Pistol
FACTION SPITE REVEALED
The man who allegedly fired two shots during Wednesday’s Eighth Ward rioting, John Hess, 34, of 1825 South Sixth street, is shown at the left in police court yesterday. To the right is his counsil [sic], Edward V. Martino. Hess pleaded not guilty to illegal possession of firearms and was held for the grand jury.
Alleged to have fired two shots in a riot at Sixth and Viola streets Wednesday night, staged by groups of political factions in the Eighth Ward, John Hess, 34, of 1825 South Sixth street, was held in $1000 bail for the grand jury yesterday by Police Judge Garfield Pancoast.
Hess pleaded not guilty to a charge of illegal possession of firearms. A 15-year-old boy was slightly wounded by a ricochetting bullet and several persons were badly beaten in factional melees.
It was learned yesterday that among the injured was a 14-year-old girl, Stella Wojiechowski [sic], of 1907 South Sixth street, who said that someone punched her on the mouth. She and the boy who was shot, Nicholas Sustich, of 1804 Hale street, were bystanders.
The disorder was over the ward contest between Republicans in the primary contest, it was stated yesterday by Walter Sekula, defeated candidate for the freeholder nomination, who said he arrived at the scene of the riot at the time the police patrol appeared in response to a riot call.
Sekula asserted that candidates on both local tickets had worked on behalf of the Bard-Baker [sic] county slate, but that he had been accused of working for the Woodruff-Verga ticket, and that he had confronted his accuser with David Baird, Jr., and forced the admission that the accusation was without foundation.
During that conversation, Sekula revealed, William Tansky, defeated candidate for county committeeman, asserted there had been “cutting of the head of the Baird-Baker ticket.” It was in front of Tansky’s saloon, near Eighth and Viola streets, that the riot occurred when an impromptu parade in celebration of the victory of the opposing faction halted there.
Banquet to Honor John S. M’Taggart
Camden Courier-Post —
Popular Patrolman Will Be Guest at G.O.P. Club in Sixth Ward
To Be Feted
JOHN S. M’TAGGART
A testimonial dinner will be tendered Patrolman John S. McTaggart, well known member of the Camden police force, at 8 p. m. next Friday at the Sixth Ward Republican Club.
Officer McTaggart, who resides at 806 South Sixth street, is particularly popular in the Sixth ward. He has worked there a number of years and distributes a large quantity of food and clothing to the poor throughout the year. His charitable activities have made him innumerable friends. He was a member of the city fire department before becoming a policeman. He was working in William Mills’ butcher shop, at Broadway and Jackson street, in 1910 when he was appointed to the fire department by Monte Bessor, then a city councilman. McTaggart was the youngest man to have ever won appointment to the fire department.
Acting Mayor Frank S. Van Hart transferred McTaggart to the police department in 1922.
Among the invited dinner guests will be former U. S. Senator David Baird, Congressman Charles A. Wolverton, State Senator Albert S. Woodruff, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Verga, the five city commissioners and a large group of Sixth ward Republicans.
The committee in charge of the dinner comprises Michael Durkin, former City Detective Theodore Guthrie, George Chambers, Joseph Leonard, Howard B. Dyer, John Breslin, Miss Mary Hartung and Miss Marie Doyle.
7 G.O.P. Members 2 Democrats Quit Committee Races
Camden Courier-Post —
No Shifts in Candidates Made as Withdrawal Deadline Passes
3 PETITIONS REJECTED
Passing of the deadline for withdrawals of primary petitions at 4 p. m. yesterday showed seven Republicans and two Democrats quitting the race for election on the Camden county Republican and Democratic county committees. In addition three Republicans were removed as candidates by City Clerk Otto E. Braun.
No changes were made by the Republican or Democratic organization leaders in the candidates for the county tickets, despite reports up to the last minute that substitutions would be made.
The candidates withdrawing follow:
Republicans
Glenwood F. Watson, “Regular Republican, First ward.
Bronislaw Derowski, Jr., “Regular Republican Repeal Sales Tax,” Seventh ward.
Joseph Witek, “Regular Republican,” Seventh ward.
Robert J. Gartland, “Independent Republican,” Eighth ward.
William J. Rose, “Republican Against Sales Tax,” Tenth ward.
Thomas W. Anderson, “Independent Republican,” Eleventh ward.
Joseph Munger, “Republican Against Sales Tax,” Eleventh ward.
Democrats
Louis Di Renzo, “Always Regular Democrat,” Third ward.
Francis J. Hufner, “Regular Democrat,” Eleventh ward.
Woycicck Pyzik, “New Deal Democrat,” Thirteenth ward.
Those removed because of insufficient legal signatures:
Republicans
James H. Beal, Fifth ward.
Georgia R. Green, “Regular Republican—Repeal Sales Tax,” Fifth ward.
Helen Derowski, “Republican—Against Sales Tax,” Seventh ward.
City Clerk Braun allowed the petitions of Michael Russian and Mrs. Norah Falvey, Democrats, in the Eighth ward. John J. Hainesworth and Mrs. Catherine Corbett claimed 23 of the 45 names on their petition were illegal but Braun decided that only 20 names were illegal, leaving 25 legal names, sufficient for filing.
2 Candidates Withdraw
Two candidates for Republican Assembly nominations were shown to have withdrawn. They are J. Lewis Kollin and Clarence Wolf. The ticket sponsored by the organization headed by David Baird, Jr., remains as it was filed, as follows:
Albert E. Burling, for Senate; Edwin G. Scovel, J. Claud Simon and Henry M. Evans for Assembly; Joseph H. Van Meter for sheriff; Leslie H. Ewing for county clerk, and Joshua C. Haines for register of deeds. Clyde W. Briggs and Clarence Dunkleberger are running independently for Assembly.
The Democratic candidates running are those sponsored by the organization of Harry L. Maloney and Mrs. Emma E. Hyland. They are Francis G. Homan for Senate; Herbert E. Beattie, Anthony F. Marino and Leon H. Rose for Assembly; Albert S. Marvel, Jr., for sheriff; Victor J. Scharle, for county clerk, and William L. May for register of deeds. Albert Neutze is running independently for sheriff.
Candidates seeking to run in the general election have until September 12 to file.
3 G.O.P. Rulers in Secret Session
Camden Courier-Post —
Hint Legal Bars Placed Around Jobs During Parley
NEW DEALERS NOT NOTIFIED
A special meeting held in secret session by the three Republican members of the Camden City Commission late yesterday, occasioned wide speculative rumors in political circles last night.
Reports persisted resolutions were passed placing legal barriers about jobs to prevent dismissals by the New Deal Non-Partisan group which takes control of the city today, with seating of Frank J. Hartmann, Jr.
Mayor Tells of Meeting
Reached at his home shortly after 1 a. m. today, Mayor von Nieda admitted the meeting was held to “correct some resolutions.”
“What were the resolutions about, Mayor?” he was asked.
“Why, I don’t know as I should say anything about them right now. You probably will get it all later,” the Mayor answered.
“Did the resolutions have anything to do with adding safeguards to the jobs of any present city employees?” he was asked.
“Yes, they did,” the Mayor replied.
“How many resolutions were there?”
“Oh, I don’t know, three or four, I should say.”
“How many employes are effected [sic]?” he was asked.
“Oh, I don’t know, three or four, maybe.”
“Who called the special meeting of the city commission?” he was asked.
“Why, I am not sure. But I think it was City Solicitor Bleakly who called it. He said the resolutions should be attended to.”
Asked why Commissioners George E. Brunner and Mrs. Mary Kobus were not notified of the meeting, the Mayor said: “So far as I know, they were not notified the meeting was to be held. It is possible, though, they were not notified.”
Another rumor held measures were passed placing various posts under civil service commission rules, while a third rumor, from more authentic sources, alleged several amendments were made to resolutions passed at meetings, of the commission, previous to the naming of Meyer L. Sakin and John R. DiMona as assistant city solicitors.
This rumor occasioned speculation that the measures appointing the two lawyers, as originally passed, were defective in original form and probably would not bear out Republican contentions the New Deal commissioners cannot remove the men from the three year appointments.
Report Finances Discussed
Other rumors indicated the measures concerned city finances.
The commissioners attending the meeting, it was said, were Mayor von Nieda, Harold W. Bennett and Leonard, with City Solicitor E. G. C. Bleakly, Sakin, DiMona and City Clerk Otto E. Braun in attendance.
Leonard said “nothing special” occurred, and he would “talk about it in the morning.” Commissioners George N. Brunner and Mary W. Kobus declared they were not notified.
The session, it was said, was not held in the commission chambers, but in an adjoining room on the second floor, and lasted half an hour, between 5 p. m. and 5:30 p. m. Other reports were the session lasted to 7 p. m.
Braun, reached by telephone, admitted a special meeting had been held but refused to give any further information.
Plums Discussed
Meanwhile, rumor and speculation continued on how the jobs will be divided among New Deal Republicans and Democrats today. The city clerk and city solicitorship posts will go to Republicans, and the city police judgeship and city purchasing agent jobs will be awarded to Democrats.
This was reported as the tentative agreement reached last night between the leaders of both wings in the New Deal forces.
Former City Commissioner Clay W. Reesman, defeated on the New Deal ticket, and Howard B. Dyer, former deputy city clerk, are mentioned as possibilities for city clerk. Reports also mention the name of William D. Sayrs, former commissioner, and until Tuesday an executive in the real estate division of the state highway department. He resigned the office, which paid a $5000 per year salary.
Carl Kisselman and former Assistant Prosecutor Rocco Palese are mentioned as the chief contenders for the solicitorship, with two Democrats to be appointed as assistants. Among these candidates are Thomas M. Madden, E. George Aaron, John Crean, Jr., Milton Nurock, Mitchell Cohen, John Morrissey and Leon H. Rose.
Sidney Kaplan and Gene Mariano are said to be receiving chief consideration for police judge. Reports were that it would likely go to Kaplan if he prefers it.
Abe Fuhrman is conceded the best chance for the office of city purchasing agent.
Richman Supported
There is a strong sentiment among Democrats to reward Grover C. Richman, former assistant attorney general, and there is a strong rank and file tide to have the Democrats demand the post of city solicitor for him. This may change the tentative agreement.
Because Reesman was a candidate and has been a supporter of Senator Woodruff for years, he is favored for the city clerk job. Reesman was formerly chairman of the Republican county committee.
Dyer was deputy city clerk under the late Frank S. Albright, and was dismissed after the split between former U. S. Senator David Baird, Jr., and the Woodruff-Verga-Sayrs group.
Dyer is a former secretary of the Republican County Committee and was a member of the committee from the Sixth Ward. He moved recently to the Thirteenth Ward. He is now an inspector in the State Alcoholic Beverage Control department under Commissioner D. Frederick Burnett.
It is expected that most jobs will be discussed at a conference to be held by the leaders today.
It is almost equally certain that the contemplated removals or some of them at least, will be subject to legal contest by the organization Republicans. What plans they may have have not been disclosed.
Baird Quits Camden and Moves to Farm
Camden Courier-Post —
Former U.S. Senator Asks Election Board to Take Name Off City List
Former U.S. Senator David Baird, Jr., has moved from Camden and has asked that his name be stricken from the city registration lists. First official notification of Baird’s removal from his Camden home at 804 Cooper street came when he requested the Camden County Board of Elections to remove his name from the city permanent registration files. Baird informed the election board that his new address is “Evesham road, Delaware township, R.F.D., Marlton,” which is his Faughan River farm.
Baird confirmed the fact that he was moving out of Camden. “I have lived in the city of Camden for 55 years,” he said, “and I shall continue to vote in Camden county. There was nothing political concerning my removal and it is quite possible that I shall sell my Cooper street residence.”
Although the general public did not know Baird had moved, neighbors in the vicinity of his old home were awakened shortly after midnight last Friday, when a huge truck backed up to his residence and removed furniture and personal belongings. It was reported that a Camden manufacturing concern was negotiating for purchase of the property to expand their plant, but this was denied today at the offices of the concern.
Baird had always cast his ballot in the seventh district of the Second ward. The election board acknowledged Baird’s removal with the usual form cards used in such cases. Baird must present his card to the election board in Delaware township for identification, should he register there.
With Baird’s removal notice, which was signed by himself, were those of his wife, Mrs. Frances H. Baird, and Mrs. Edna V. Stevens and Mrs. Sallie Holley, all transferred to the new address.
Lodge Finds County in Revolt on Baird
Camden Courier-Post —
Democratic Assembly Nominee Says G.O.P. Campaign Has Collapsed
Henry Lodge, Audubon Democratic Assembly nominee, declared last night that both the Landon-Knox campaign and the Republican Organization county drive have collapsed “in the face of a county-wide revolt against a political dictator.”
Lodge spoke at a record-breaking Roosevelt rally at Merchantville Hall, Maple and Park avenues, which was preceded by a big parade. His remarks also were contained in a publio formal statement.
Lodge said the best evidence that the citizens of Camden county want no more of Baird is the disappearance of former Republican majorities. Those, he declared, have dwindled from 40,000 to almost zero, since so many G. O. P. voters have quit the party because of disgust “with the man who keeps insisting that he’s the Republican boss, when in truth, he is the Democratic party’s biggest asset.”
Another evidence of the citizens’ repudiation of Baird was when Camden city voters cast an avalanche of ballots against him to defeat his referendum last March, whose object was to foist back on Camden the old councilmanic government, Lodge declared. The Democratic Assembly nominee said that at that election “they were practically all anti-Baird votes,” so few of the ballots were for Baird-sponsored councilmanic government.
Revolt Against Dictator
“There is only one answer to the revolt of the people of Camden county against the Republican political dictator, and that is the dictator himself,” Lodge said.
“This self-appointed boss is trying now to save his own Republican county ticket from the wreckage of the Landon-Knox campaign in this county. The national ticket’s drive has collapsed, and the county’s Republican Organization leaders, so far as the national candidates are concerned, have given up the ghost.
“One sees signs of what is happening in the Republican Organization ballyhoo. Do you still see Landon and Knox in the biggest lettering on the billboards? Rather are not the choicest spot on the billboards, and the largest letters, those of the candidates on Boss Baird’s county ticket?
“With one ship, the Republican national ticket, sunk in Camden county, how desperate the Baird organization has become to save the other, the county ticket. But that county ship, too, is wrecked and nothing can save it because it has been found by the people of Camden county to have as its pilot a political buccaneer whose sole aim is advancement of his own interests at the expense of the citizens of the county.
Attacks Rivels
“Why this county-wide revolt? Is it not because of the smoke-screened political finesse of this Republican county czar, whose policy is, ‘I come first, and let the public try to catch up with me. What I want, I want, and who’s the public to tell me what it wants and what I or my order-takers are to do?’
“The proof of the direct tieup between Baird and the three present assemblymen is in his own remarks when he speaks in Trenton, and refers to them as ‘My assemblymen.’
“His idea of an assemblyman ‘standing up’ is one who follows out his orders no matter how much harm they are causing the county and state, which means the assemblymen under his control can never fight for the people.
“All of the county knows how because he could not have his way to ‘rule or ruin’ the Republican party in Camden county he had ousted the Committee of Six which comprised Congressman Wolverton, Surrogate Hanna, Commissioner Kobus, Sena-
Succeeds Kates in Last Appointment Permitted to Governor
Camden Courier-Post —
Coombs Gets Hires’ Place
Appointment of David Baird, Jr., of Camden, and Marvin H. Coombs, of Salem, as members of the Delaware River Joint Commission, operating the Camden bridge, was announced by Governor Hoffman at Trenton late yesterday. Baird was named to succeed former Judge John B. Kates, of Collingswood, who resigned from the commission last year and then was elected its treasurer. Coombs fills a vacancy caused by the death of Lucius E. Hires, of Salem.
The appointments were announced without comment from Governor Hoffman. Yesterday was his last day for making any appointments, as under the State Constitution, a governor’s appointive power ends one week before he retires from office. Hoffman’s term expires at midnight next Monday.
“It is the first occasion I recall that a Governor has made any appointment to the commission,” said Joseph K. Costello, general manager of the Camden bridge and secretary of the commission. “There is, however, a provision in the Act of 1931 giving him authority to fill a vacancy when it occurs while the Legislature is not in session, the appointee to hold office until the Legislature convenes.”
Is Zat So!
Camden Courier-Post —
By GORDON MACKAY
DAVID BAIRD, Jr., sat in the county committee headquarters on Monday night, as the remnants of his political empire were tumbling down upon his devoted head. The once powerful chieftain was not only robbed of his warpaint, but the rebels threatened to take his tepee away from him.
In fact they wanted the chief’s wigwam to be a mobile affair, not to be stationed at Broadway and Stevens streets, where, said the rebels, nothing was ever achieved that was worthy of the Republican party, its past strength in the county or the traditions that it had earned by years of triumph.
Baird, too, faced an insurrection that finally laid him low for the nonce at least, but the inside tale of that hectic meeting in the headquarters reveals that the storm of contention and strife within the wigwam rivaled that of the gale and the rain outside.
The starting or focal point for the revolt seems to have been a gentleman named Edward Marker, who is a member of the Haddon Township Committee as well as the Republican county committee. Marker seems to have become incensed because the imperial edict had barred reporters from the pow wow. The reason given for this exile of the press was that the county committee was meeting in executive session.
This reason was the match that touched off the Marker rebellion. He told Baird that barring reporters from the session was the height of stupidity.
“I want everything that I am dong [sic] in this committee to be in the newspapers,” declared the indignant insurrecto.
TELL BAIRD HE IS DONE
The longer Marker pondered the situation the greater his anger waxed.
“I want to tell you” he said to Baird, “that you don’t mean anything in the Republican party. You’re not our leader, there isn’t any Republican party today and this place down here is filled all the time with Old Guarders, bi-partisans and other breeds of Republicans that we don’t have in our place.
“I’m in favor of giving up this place anyway. I want to see the county committee meetings held in the places where there are some real Republicans. I want to see it meet in Haddon Heights, in Haddonfield, in Collingswood, in Merchantville, places where you get the real Republicans and not this brand you see down here whenever you come here.”
Marker by this time had reached his boiling point and he aimed all his shafts at Baird. Some of the braves stood with mouths agape as the Haddon township member bearded the whilom chieftain.
“You’re not a member of this committee,” said Marker, in his opening fire. “Why don’t we have reporters here? What are we afraid of? I want everything that is done here to be known by the newspapers, and by the people who read the newspapers.
“You think you are the leader of this party in Camden county, but I’m telling you that you’re not. You don’t mean a thing, and the less you have to do with the affairs of our party the better off we’ll be. Why you could come into Haddon township and you couldn’t get a handful to listen to you make a speech. Could he Mary?”
“Mary,” it might be stated, was Mrs. Mary Heck, county committeewoman from the same district as Marker.
“He certainly could not,” Mrs. Heck is said to have replied.
With this as an opening thrust, Marker went to town, and also to war, according to the stories his friends told yesterday.
GETS RESOLUTION TABLED BY MEETING
Those allies declared yesterday that Marker wasted no words in condemning the activities of Baird right to the latter’s face. Then came a reference to the motion that the county committee suggest to their legislative representatives that the solons vote for Baird’s election to the bridge commission.
Marker flared at once right here, according to his friends.
“Why should we tell the state senator and assemblymen what they should do?” asserted the indignant committeeman.” It stands to reason they don’t want to vote for you, Mr. Baird, for bridge commissioner, and why should we take any action in the affair at all. It isn’t our business, the legislature elects the bridge commissioner and I’m not going to vote to instruct them in any such way.
“You can see the whole thing, anybody can see it. Those men we sent to Trenton don’t want to vote for Baird. I’m against the resolution and I think there are enough others present here tonight who think as I do to defeat it.”
It was at this point that some persons, sensing that the meeting was becoming too acrimonious for party good, suggested that the resolution to instruct the legislative representatives be laid on the table. This was carried and the storm on that controversial point subsided for the time, at any rate.
Persons who had been in the meeting apparently had decided they would minimize the hectic struggle that went on within the wigwam, once they talked of the matter in public. Suggestions were made that the trouble wasn’t as tempestuous as hinted in the newspapers, but the versatile Mr. Marker wouldn’t have anything to do with this policy of peace-at-any-price.
He went through the township late at night in the storm, to tell certain cronies how he had bearded Baird.
Marker, too, is the chairman of a committee chosen to see if the present tepee at Broadway and Stevens street shall be abandoned. Marker wants to close down the place, and he doesn’t hedge in making declarations to that effect either.
George Walton, it is said, feels as does Marker that Camden is no longer the citadel of the G. O. P., and that the place for county meetings is in the spots where the party flourishes.
Marker still maintains that there is nothing to be gained by having the county committee building at Broadway and Stevens.
“We want these meetings held where real Republicans can attend,” he stated yesterday.” Take the meetings around and don’t stick in this place.”
Which indicates why the gathering paid scant attention to gale, high wind and rain outside, they had a hurricane of their own within.
Baird Faction Seeks to Force Appointment to Span Board
Camden Courier-Post —
Petition Being Circulated Among Ranks of G.O.P. for Ex-Leader
By Dan McConnell
Petitions urging the Camden county legislative members to sponsor a concurrent resolution recommending the appointment of David Baird as a member of the Delaware River Joint Commission were in circulation yesterday. Whether Baird sponsored the petition movement or approved the procedure could not be learned.
The action followed the Monday night meeting of the Camden County Republican Committee when a resolution pledging the support of the committee to Baird’s appointment to the commission was tabled.
Surrogate Frank S. Hanna, Republican state committeeman, added to the group of the former Republican leader when he unqualifiedly recommended the appointment of former State Senator Albert E. Woodruff, who he said opposed Baird’s leadership aspirations.
Baird Seated on Span Board as Woodruff Petitions Grow
Camden Courier-Post —
Four More G.O.P. Clubs Endorse Former State Senator for Post
By Dan McConnell
While former U.S. Senator David Baird, Jr., took his seat for an ad-interim term as a member of the Delaware River Joint Commission yesterday, a county-wide movement among Republican party workers to defeat his ambition to be given a legislative appointment gathered momentum.
Members of four more Republican clubs last night adopted resolutions urging Camden county legislative members to vote for the appointment of former State Senator Albert E. Woodruff.
Joseph R. Costello, secretary of the commission and general manager of the Delaware River Bridge, confirmed that Baird had taken his seat as a member of the commission for an ad-interim term.
Is Zat So!
Camden Courier-Post —
May we not at this time proffer a suggestion to Mayor Brunner, Eddie Kelleher and the other party sachems that should be a sure-fire plan to make Camden county safe for Democracy? We advise that the Democrats gather a fund of $4000, the money to be expended in giving testimonial dinners to Republican leaders, near-leaders and persons who figure themselves to be both.
Engage tables enough to accommodate about 350 persons. Invite representatives of all the various G. O. P. factions in the county, give a half dozen tickets to boisterous Democrats, so that the latter can sit back in their seats and enjoy the subsequent dogfight on a full stomach.
This idea that I am advancing to register about 5000 more Democrats in the county and paralyze the remnants of the once-powerful county G.O.P., was born when I attended the recent testimonial dinner to Louis Bantivoglio, freeholder from the Fifth ward.
Naturally my attendance was purely in a professional capacity. Speeches were made by divers and sundry spokesmen, the high-light being the sales talk for Bantivoglio and Baird by David Baird, Jr. The latter waxed wrathfully but warily in castigating the “half-breeds,” as he once sarcastically termed the Republicans of the ilk and stature and political leanings of Commissioner Mary W. Kobus.
Rarely, too, have we ever attended a banquet, either in the capacity of guest or reporter that ever awakened so many echoes of the past as did the dinner to the Fifth ward freeholder.
Mrs. Kobus Elected Louis
First came the information from friends of Commissioner Kobus that she was responsible for the election of Bantivoglio from the Fifth ward as freeholder. In view of the fact that Squire Baird seemed to feel that the freeholder’s election was a personal triumph, this appeared strange to yours truly.
We moseyed about, however, and discovered that whether the squire likes it or not Mary W. Kobus and her minions did elect Bantivoglio. The leaders of the Kobus faction who put the thing across were headed by a woman named Madeline Salvatore and a gentleman named “Bucky” Branch.
Bantivoglio was elected by something less than 40 votes. These votes could easily have been given to his opponent but there were strategic reasons why the Kobus faction didn’t want a Democrat chosen from the Fifth ward.
So Branch, who is a policeman, I believe, and who was not working on election day, it being his regular day off, went into his precinct and put over the votes that elected Bantivoglio.
And Mr. “Bucky” Branch, I have been informed, has been so sore at the fact that he did elect Louis Bantivoglio that he moans and cries and berates himself ever since the trick was turned.
Politicos who told me the story about the Kobus support for Bantivoglio gave a rather sensible reason for the step that was taken by the anti-Baird folk. The New Dealers among the Republicans sensed that the division between the Republicans and Democrats in the 1938 Board of Freeholders was going to be exceedingly close.
Too close, in fact, to take any chances. So it was decided to support Bantivoglio in the Fifth ward, because he was a regular Baird Republican and couldn’t be won to the coalition. The reasoning of the Kobusitees was clear and correct.
Had Bantivoglio been beaten by a Democrat, the board would have been divided equally. The Democrats would then have been able to deal with an individual rather than a faction. One vote would have given either side control. Thus by putting Bantivoglio across the Kobus faction made it imperative for the Democrats to deal with that clique; in fact Brunner and his minions had to do that little thing.
In view of this analysis I’m content to believe that the Kobus claim that the New Dealers elected Louis Bantivoglio is absolutely okay.
Lady “Copper” Not Trade Party
Now don’t get the information askew. Mrs. Kobus had no official or personal hand in this matter. It was the keen thought of some of her lieutenants, whose judgment appears to have been excellent, that fashioned this plan and executed it.
Meanwhile numerous politicos have been jibing Baird’s statement that he would “rather have one Louis Bantivoglio than 1000 ingrates.” These political seers and soothsayers declared that such a declaration proved that its author was all wet in his political judgment and short sighted in his political history.
These politicos ambushed Mackay the other day, crammed him into a corner and told him that if it “hadn’t been for Bantivoglio Baird would have control of the city commission today.”
These chuckling anti-Bairdites not only bearded me in my den, but dared me to disprove their statements by taking a look at the record. A stranger to politics in Camden, I didn’t know the import of this statement until I squinted at the ward returns for the 1935 city commission election.
There in black and white is the proof that Baird lost the city commission fight because of the Bantivoglio-Leo Rea alliance in the Fifth ward. Just to take a look at the record again and to refresh jaded memories, the regular Baird slate received the following votes in the Fifth ward:
Bennett, 1016; Leonard, 1001; Lummis, 962; Rhone, 963; von Nieda, 1081. The New Deal ticket, then supported by the Messrs. Bantivoglio and Rea, polled these votes: Baker, 1032; Brunner, 1022; Hartmann, 1001; Kobus, 1024, and Reesman, 930.
We would call your attention particularly to the Leonard-Hartmann vote. Louis and Leo supported candidates Brunner, Kobus and Hartmann, of the New Deal.
Leonard and Hartmann polled exactly the same vote, 1001. And the recount revealed Hartmann a winner by SEVEN votes, the box score showing Hartmann, 17,338, and Leonard, 17,331. And the Fifth ward turned the trick, for it would have been easy for Louis and Leo to have given Hartmann the same vote that Reesman received, or 71 less, and elected Leonard. There would have been no recount then.
Which scrutiny of the returns would seem to show that Bantivoglio as a friend of the squire proved his valor and vigilance in the cause by seating a New Deal commissioner and owing his seat in the Board of Freeholders to the Kobus clan.
In connection with this fund which the Democrats should raise to give testimonial dinners to G.O.P. leaders et cetera we might suggest that on each occasion they have, David Baird Jr., named for a new office. In order, that my friend, Florence Baker, can show her loyalty and friendship to the Old Guard Field Marshal by asking his election to the said office.
This suggestion to the Messrs. Brunner, Kelleher and the others is made tax-free, and no charge for usage. If that scheme doesn’t make Camden county safe for Democracy, nothing will.
First Ward G.O.P. Fights Move To Give Ecky’s Job to Lehman
Camden Courier-Post —
By DAN McCONNELL
First ward Republican workers opposed to the political dictation of former U. S. Senator David Baird are forming an organization to prevent the discharge of Harry F. Ecky, permanent registration registrar, and the appointment of William H. Lehman, Baird lieutenant, to the job.
This was revealed yesterday by Robert Brennan, First ward county committeeman.
Brennan made known that ward and precinct workers and more than 20 other Republicans, many former Baird adherents, met at his home, 103 State street, on Saturday night, when a “Stop Bill Lehman” movement was launched.
The movement, Brennan said, was spontaneous and was not inaugurated by him.
“Several friends called at my home Sunday afternoon to ask if it was true that Dave Baird intended to fire Harry Ecky and give Bill Lehman the job,” Brennan said. “I finally decided to hold a meeting Sunday night and quite a crowd gathered.
“Because of the interest we decided to hold a larger meeting later in the week. Those who attended the meeting are opposed to Baird and everything he stands for.
Those who spoke against the attempt to get Ecky’s job were William Heidican, William Hernessy, Richard Phillips, Fred Barth, Herbert Brennan, Elwood Martz and Frank Garrison. The latter was secretary of the meeting.
Brennan said members of the group will carry the fight against Ecky’s removal and the appointment of Lehman to every ward in the city, if necessary.
Battle Planned
“If Baird tries to go through with his scheme we will hire a hall, stage a parade and hold a mass meeting and invite every anti-Baird Republican in the city and county to attend,” Brennan added.
“Bill Lehman never did anything to help other Republicans get jobs. Since he has held his job at headquarters the only thing he has ever done is to get those seeking jobs to fill out cards and file them. The cards stayed in the file and nobody got jobs.”
Surrogate Frank B. Hanna, Republican State committeeman, last week charged Baird sought to oust Ecky as registration commissioner by obtaining the appointment of Myer Sakin, Camden attorney, to the Camden County Board of Elections.
Hanna lauded Ecky as one of the most efficient court house officeholders. The surrogate endorsed George H. Walton, of Haddonfield, a Camden attorney, for the election board appointment, succeeding another Haddonfield man and attorney William A. Early King. The Haddonfield Republican Club has endorsed Walton.
Checked and Double-Checked
Camden Courier-Post —
By JIMINY
THE week’s prize story, as it is being told around the courthouse, concerns the new “bingo” numbers racket in which a half dozen or more suspects were arrested. Prosecutor Orlando was questioning the prisoners when there came this repartee:
PROSECUTOR: “What’s the matter with you? Don’t you read the papers? Didn’t you read where we had banned bingo?”
PRISONER: “Yeah, I read that—but I thought you meant churches!”
* * *
Alleviating the daily burden of digesting news comes an occasional missive like this:
“Dear Sir:
“I am writing you to request a part time job writing column consisting of notes obtained from bartenders and waiters who work in cafes or inns and who advertise in the Courier-Post. I am married, 28 years old, have one child and good reference. If interested, call —— or write.
“B. R. McLaughlin.”
If there were such a job, it wouldn’t be open.
* * *
THE plan of David Baird to throw Harry Ecky out of his job for Bill Lehman is a shining example of how the Camden county Republican party is disintegrating because one man refuses to substitute gas-electric buses for horsecars. . . . The appointment of Harry Ecky was one of the few creditible [sic] appointments the Gentleman Farmer has had a hand in for some years. . . . Ecky is not only a straight, efficient registrar; he is a credit to his party, a popular man in North Camden and, until this political assassination, has been a loyal Baird follower in the face of endless adverse criticism. . . . The fact that Baird hopes to dump one of his most loyal workers merely to make room for his headquarters errand boy, doesn’t sit well with the uptown Republicans. . . . It is a good break for the New Deal Republicans, for such a flagrant case of double-cross brings sharply to the understanding of Old Guard Republicans why the New Deal Republicans seceded and struck out for themselves. . . . You can safely bet that regardless of whether Baird is successful in ousting Ecky, the First ward will henceforth be New Deal. . . .
One of the surprising features of yesterday’s recall election at Wildwood was the fact that William “Dutch” Kinsler was very active as a district leader. . . . For the Democrats. . . . “Dutch” was a guard at the Camden county jail for many years. . . . And was a vehement Bairdite. . . .
Social Notes: Prosecutor Sam Orlando is Florida-bound. . . . Al Woodruff is back from the West Indies. . . . Mrs. Emma Hyland and Mrs. Marie (Kelley) Verdiglione visited Gov. Moore at Trenton on Wednesday. . . .
In recent weeks we have been enjoying a joust with the editor (?) of a weakly paper and very probably he has been enjoying it too from behind the eight ball. . . Now, a political chameleon who issues a throw-away folder in the suburbs, is trying to muscle in to draw some comment from us. . . We can’t joust there, being under a handicap, as we cleave to facts and truth. . . Whereas no such restriction hinders or worries the suburban pensman. . . That can be attested by the fact that the Camden County Grand Jury once preseented [sic] him with a diploma. . . In recognition of his expertness. . . At criminal libel. . . He pleaded non vult (guilty) to the indictment, throwing himself upon the mercy of the court. . . The grand jury’s too busy these days with bingo and bagatelle.
Out in one of the suburbs the ABC agents are investigating a councilman who is a bartender in one of the taprooms in his community, which they say is illegal, since the governing body of which he is a member is also the issuing authority for liquor licensees. . . The taproom recently was told to close on time. . . It must be Spring . . . Mrs. Roy Lehman, of Lucaston, writes in this year’s first letter about having seen a robin. . . And some boys were playing marbles under the bridge around Third street the other day.
Some more social notes: Corporal Sol Polkowitz, of the Malaga state police barracks, is on a 36-day leave in order to tour England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Czecho-Slovakia and Roumania. . . Is Chief John Branin about to leave Delaware township? . . . Mrs. Kathryn Sheeran’s friends threw her a surprise birthday party the other night. . . Walter Fallon, who told us, wouldn’t say what birthday.
Charley Humes and Chinny Weber will battle it out for last place in the ping-pong league tonight. . . Mrs. Beatrice Di Guiseppe, of 425 Pine street, has a dracena plant which has just burst into rare bloom. . . She got it seven years ago from Pasquale Iannuzzi . . . One of the staff found an old photograph near Broadway and Federal, and it may have some sentimental value for the loser. . . On the back are some notations, among them this: “Don’t you think Robert James some boy—don’t you think you could love your little grandson”. . . It is torn in half, though, and maybe that’s a story in itself. . . Aside to Mrs. M. R. of Gloucester: Have you heard favorable word from the Westville authorities?
Allen Feted at Birthday Party; Joins G.O.P. Tribute to Forrest
Camden Courier-Post —
Assemblyman Sees Defeat for Moore-G.O.P. Plan to Provide Relief for N. J.
COUNTY SOLONS WIN PLAUDITS
Feted at Dinner
MILLARD E. ALLEN
WILFRED FORREST
Assemblyman Millard E. Allen appeared in a dual role last night which he admitted was much to his personal satisfaction. He had a birthday party at the Old Mill Inn and he appeared with Mayor Wilfred Forrest of Pine Hill, freeholder from the six-towns district, as a guest of the Republican clubs of their respective boroughs.
The guests of honor seem to feel the 400 present should be given an account of their stewardship, one at Trenton and the other at Camden. Allen made it clear he did not believe the Moore-G.O.P. work relief bill would pass, although he prophesied the legislators were in duty bound to inquire into any merits which might be claimed for the measure by its sponsors.
Forrest said he was a minority Republican, although elected as one of the majority in November, and that he intended to stand on the firing line, no matter who took potshots at him.
Letters of regret were read from Allen’s colleagues, who were busy in session at Trenton; Congressman Charles A. Wolverton, former Governor Harold G. Hoffman and others.
Forrest on ‘Firing Line’
Forrest as the first speaker said: “I am one of the minority party although I was elected as one of the majority members of the Board of Freeholders. I was elected as a Republican and I’m still a Republican. When a man enlists in service and is put on the sentry line, he challenges the foe and if the latter doesn’t halt he fires.
“The sentry may be shot in the encounter but he doesn’t hesitate. I’m a Republican, I have a sworn duty to perform to remain a Republican. I’m right on the firing line now, and no matter who fires at me, I will still be a Republican and remain a minority member.”
“I am absent from the Legislature tonight,” Allen said, “when we are slated to look into the Governor’s work relief bill. I don’t think the measure will ever mature, but we are in duty bound to look into any merits which anybody believes the bill may possess.
“This is the end of my first month in the Legislature and you can’t expect too much of me. I’m there only to serve in your interest, in the interest of the people of this end of the county which deserve their fair share of whatever benefits may be at hand.
“I want to tell you the delegation from Camden county has its feet on the ground and its eye on the ball and nobody up there is going to put anything over on the Camden delegation.
Pledged to Service
“I’ll serve you as long as you keep me there and the first consideration I shall have is to see the people of the lower county served in the manner they should be served.”
David Baird, Jr., urged a mass meeting of all “real Republicans” to get together and map plans for future action. He made reference to Camden county’s eggs which were said to have been produced at $1.65 a dozen and declared “as a farmer I would rather have my friends drink my liquor than my milk, because I know what my liquor costs me.”
“You know as I stand here,” continued Baird, “seeing real Republicans gathered from all over the county it doesn’t discourage me when I read the comment in the press of Camden.
“Why can’t we have all real Republicans of the county get together, at a big meeting or a dinner, or something of that sort to honor the Forrests and the Allens of the party, in the name of real Republicans?
“When I mean real Republicans I mean Republicans of the sort that I see here tonight. I can think of nothing worse that can be said about a good Republican than to be praised by the press of Camden.”
“How many of you people will come to a meeting for real Republicanism in this county?”
In response to this appeal the crowd rose and cheered.
Baird then touched on the election in November, with a remark that had his hearers rather visibly in wonderment. Whatever seemed to be in the speaker’s mind it apparently was not clear to the auditors.
“Remember we have an election next November,” he declared, “and we elect a congressman and sheriff. I think if the present sheriff can get enough county ads I doubt if Charlie Wolverton is going to be a candidate.”
Mrs. Baker Raps ‘Traitors’
Mrs. Florence Baker, state committeewoman, thundered against those Republicans she branded as “traitors” to the party. She praised the guests of honor for their party regularity.
“I think the man or woman who is elected as a Republican,” she continued, “and then sells them out are traitors. Any man or woman who sells you out is always a traitor and you never know when they’ll sell you out, and you never know when you can trust them.
“Don’t be discouraged, Wilfred Forrest, because when another year rolls around some people may not like the deals they made and you real Republicans will no longer be the minority party but the majority membership of the board of freeholders.”
Marshall Talks ‘Eggs’
Joseph Marshall, county committeeman from Magnolia, was toastmaster and gave a theme to the freeholders who talked later. This was the famous $1.65 eggs, which the hens and chickens at Lakeland are said to have laid during the date prior to January 1, 1938.
“I’m the man,” said Marshall, “who was supposed to sell those eggs to the county, but since the publicity I’ve been inclined to raise my price to $1.98 per dozen.
“I want to say one thing for the Courier-Post. When that stuff about the eggs first appeared, I was fit to tear the roof off the newspaper building. I went down to see them to tear something apart.
“But I must say they used me swell. When I told them the facts and the figures and asked for some space to present my shtatebent [sic], why they would have offered me the whole damn front page to state my side of the affair.”
James Wood, former director of freeholders; Louis Bantivoglio, member from the Fifth ward, of Camden; William Myers, of Voorhees township, and Lewis Orchard, of Berlin, all members of the board, also spoke.
All touched on the eggs and their alleged costliness before the New Year, Myers said Forrest was late for a caucus one night.
“Where were you?” I asked him when he appeared.
“Down to Lakeland for dinner” he told me, “where could you go and eat and get eggs at $1.65 a dozen?”
Von Nieda Lauds Baird
Commissioner Frederick von Nieda of Camden paid a tribute to “our Republican leader, Mr. Baird and said the moment would surely come when real Republicans would have charge of the party again.”
“Perhaps the mists will roll away in another year,” he declared, “and when that time sure ly [sic] comes we want men like Allen and Forrest, men we can trust, to bring about better times for the Republican party.”
Mrs. Mary F. Smith, chairman of the committee which arranged the affair, then presented Forrest with a brief case, while Mrs. Fred Bilson did likewise in giving Allen a traveling bag.
The sponsor of the affair was the Pine Hill Republican Club and the Laurel Springs Women’s Republican Club.
Baird Followers Make Bid to Regain Prestige in County
Camden Courier-Post —
G.O.P. Old Guard Names ‘Committee of 11’ Empowered to Promote Harmony in Party by Compromise with Any Faction
Camden County’s G.O.P. Old Guard, adherents of former U. S. Senator David Baird, made a bid last night to regain political prestige lost in last year’s Democratic landslide.
Baird did not attend the meeting.
Meeting in the Overbrook Villa at Lindenwold under leadership of former Freeholder James W. Wood, president of the Camden County Republican Club, the more than 100 in attendance voted to name a committee of 11 “with power to nominate and make compromises they see fit toward selection of candidates for sheriff, state senator, assemblymen and freeholders.”
With the date for filing petitions two weeks away representatives of the 36 county municipalities met with a professed keynote of “harmony,” as expressed by John R. (Continued on Page 6—Column 4)
Di Mona, former assistant Camden City solicitor.
“We have a better chance for harmony in Camden this year if we all rise above petty jealousies and work wholeheartedly for the party,” Di Mona declared.
‘Beat Brunner’ Plea
“Beat Brunner in his control of the Freeholders,” was the plea offered by William Myers, former Voorhees township freeholder.
Inspirational talks were given also by former Assemblymen F. Stanley Bleakly and Edwin G. Scovel, both of whom were named to the steering committee.
Myers urged the group to forego further consideration of the recently adopted railroad tax compromise bill in the Legislature, which he asserted “is a state affair,” and urged the gathering to look to county questions.
Others named to the committee are former Freeholder Frank C. Schramm, of Atco; Benjamin H. Slemmer, of Haddon Heights; former Commissioner Frederick von Neida, of Camden.
Also Louis Bantivoglio, of Camden’s Fifth ward; William H. Heiser, Second ward; Samuel C. Berry, of Clementon, who offered the resolution; Mrs. May Rich, of Pennsauken; Mrs. Lillian Shoemaker, of Magnolia; Charles Wilhelm, of Gloucester, and Mrs. Laura B. Bilson of Laurel Springs.
May Effect Compromises
Indication the group plans a county-wide harmony effort was seen in specific declaration in the committee resolution that the group be authorized to effect compromises with the Camden County League for Good Government “or any other facion [sic].”
Reservation was made, however, for the Old Guard to have its say. The resolution provided the committee must report back for approval of any contemplated compromise.
Albert E. Pugh, county committeeman of Lindenwold, who also is chairman of the county Republican group harmony committee, was asked by Wood for a report on the progress of that unit.
Pugh said the grup [sic] had met twice, once in Gloucester and again at the home of George H. Walton, Camden county Republican chairman, in Haddonfield. He declared the group planned no further meetings.
Center on Freeholders
The concensus [sic] of the meeting was that the fight at this Fall’s polls should be centered on the choice of freeholders. A review was given of the recent court action on unseating freeholders Stanley Ciechanowski and Ventorino Francesconi, following a Republican inspired recount.
Removal of the tw [sic] freeholders by Judge V. Claude Palmer was halted by a State Supreme Court ruling. However, two three-year-term freeholders are to be elected in November.
Among others attending the session were former Freeholder Raymond G. Price, of the Eleventh ward; James D. Kershaw, former Mt. Ephraim freeholder; Arthur H. Holl, former undersheriff, and Alfred and Elsie Geister, active in Republican circles of Pennsauken township.
Walsh Blocks Coup by Baird in Freeholders
Camden Courier-Post —
Prevents Meeting and Halts Plan to Make Wood Director
Proceedings Off Till Next Monday
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.
David Baird Co. Closes Business After 72 Years
Camden Courier-Post —
By OSCAR W. MAGNUSON
The David Baird Co., lumber dealers, a business which was started in Camden 72 years ago, has been discontinued.
Announcement of the closing of the business was made today by David Baird Jr., president of the concern, and son of the founder, David Baird Sr.
Termination of the business was announced to all of the customers of the company in a letter which Baird mailed, notifying them that the actual business had ceased as of June 1.
As he made the announcement, Baird said that he will now give his full time to the Smith-Austermuhl Co., general insurance brokers, of which he is the president.
Closing of the business ends the life of a concern which through the years has been much in evidence in the business life of not only Camden but in many other cities and states in the union.
Baird said that the lumber yard property on Delaware avenue and Pearl streets will continue in the ownership of the David Baird Co., but that it is in the market for sale “to any industry, and especially the lumber business,” he declared.
David Baird Sr., who came to the United States from Ireland in 1859 and to Camden in 1861 and who took a job in a Camden lumber yard, started the business at the southeast corner of Point and Pearl streets, a site now occupied by the RCA Victor plant.
The elder Baird bought the old Patchin property in 1901, and this included all the ground from the south side of Pearl street to 75 feet south of Linden street, and from Front street to the pier head line on the Delaware river.
He later sold Linden street to the City of Camden and the property where the first house is located at Front and Linden streets. Then he sold property to the old Victor Talking Machine Co., now the RCA Victor and to the H. Humphreys Co., now occupied by the Esterbrook Pen Co.
Operated Sawmills
Before organizing the David Baird Co. in 1903, after David Baird Jr. had been graduated from Princeton, David Baird Sr. operated saw mills and timber camps in Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.
After incorporating in 1903, David Baird Sr. discontinued spar yards in Baltimore, Md., Mystic, Conn., Boston, Mass., and Bangor, Me., and kept only the Brooklyn Spar Co., which was operated until 1935 by the David Baird Co. In 1927 David Baird Sr. died, since which time the management of the business continued under David Baird Jr.
“The David Baird Company specialized in heavy construction timber, piling and spars and with the passing of the majority of wooden steamships, barges and lighters, we discontinued the making of spars in 1935 and therefore discontinued the Brooklyn Spar Co.,” said Baird. “Since 1935 the demand for Baird company specialties, heavy timber, has been greatly diminished due to the substitution of creosoted lumber, reinforced steel and large concentrated yards started in this area,” he said.
Other Company Officers
In addition to Baird, the present officers of the company are David Baird 3d, vice president; Maurice F. O’Neill, treasurer; George S. Bingham, secretary. Directors are Baird Jr., Baird 3d, O’Neill and T. Gordon Coulter.
The announcement telling the trade of the termination of the business also stated that Watson Malone & Sons, Philadelphia, has purchased most of the lumber inventory of the Baird company. O’Neill, who has been with the Baird company for 28 years, has been engaged by the Malone concern and will service old customers of the Baird company at the Philadelphia concern’s yard at Allegheny avenue and the Delaware river.
Camden Courier-Post — June 7, 1950 — On June 7, 1950, David Baird Jr. announced the closing of the David Baird Company lumber business that his father had founded in the 1870s.
Baird Family Mausoleum
Baird Family Mausoleum at Harleigh Cemetery, Camden NJ.
Night rider takes on carpetbagger
Camden Courier-Post —
By STEPHEN M. O’KEEFE
Former Courier-Post City Editor
Labor Day signaled the end of summer and all the ad boys of the Courier resumed hustling to make 1923 a banner year. In the not distant past, the paper regarded 16 pages as big day. At this point 32, 36 and 40 pages were common.
No bright days were being reported down the street. Rumors bobbed up that Patterson was tired of it all, but he was determined not to sell out to Stern. He kept that vow.
It wasn’t easy, according to some contempoary [sic] accounts. Part of the difficulty appeared to Patterson’s associates to be David Baird Jr., then assuming the leadership position held by his father.
THE YOUNGER Baird was a brash heir apparent toward some of the more knowledgeable of the elder Baird’s lieutenants. Men like Frank Patterson, who in certain situations had been mentor to the old man, just couldn’t cotton the unseasoned apprentice. Young Davie was excitable and impatient.
Patterson witnessed such outbursts as often as a Courier editorial critized [sic] Baird or his organization.
But young Baird was too hotheaded to master his emotions — a characteristic of his father. When a Courier story or edtiorial [sic] found even a slight flaw in GOP policy or practice, Baird’s son reacted like a bull to a red flag.
Acting in such a fever, young Baird decied [sic] to acquire control of the Post-Telegram. The idea excited him
“I’M GOING to run that carpetbagger out of Camden,” he vowed.
Before he could get started the Patterson family leased the paper to William A. Searle, then secretary of the Camden Board of Trade. Searle had an affinity for the newspaper business and his heart was devoted to the advancement of Camden. In response to his inquiry, Searle was told by Patterson that he could buy the Post-Telegram if he could raise the money.
Searle’s father lived in New York state, had the means and Bill though he might persuade him to finance purchase of the paper. The eleder [sic] Searle made a trip to Camden and looked over the property but felt it prudent to request a one-year lease, with an option to buy, to determine first wheatehr [sic] his son could “make a go of it.”
The lease was signed, and Searle took over management Oct. 1, 1923. Before the end of the year, it was obvious that the operation was far from profitable and that Searle’s father would not underwrite the purchase. Patterson retained title and resumed direction. Searle afterward became publisher of a small advertising periodical in Haddonfield.
On Nov. 17, 1924 the formation of a new company was announced. The Camden-Post-Telegram Publishing Company, which had purchased all stock from Patterson and a few miner [sic] shareholders.
THE PRINCIPAL figure among the new owners was David Baird Jr., listed as vice-persident [sic]. Killam E. Bennett was president on the record. Another investor was Albert S. Woodruff, a prominent attorney who later represented Camden county in the state Senate and in 1941 was appointed vice chancellor in the New Jersey court system.
The deal for the Post-Telegram was based on the assumption that Camden needed two newspapers and that competition had manifold advantages. Local advertisers saw bright prospects of lower lineage rates.
That concept was accepted in general, but not by Baird or Stern.
Baird was motivated by hate. He bragged about it, Stern tried to buy the paper and set up a monopoly, acting greedily, comfortably garbed as good business.
STERN HAD Harry T. Saylor, born diplomat, as managing editor. Stern drew heavily on Saylor’s talents and counsel.
Baird and Frank S. Albright, managing editor and Patterson’s trusted aide for more than 25 years. Baird bypassed Albright and brought in a stranger, Pierrepont Isham Prentice, and gave him the title of publisher.
Before formal announcement of that move, Baird confided to friends:
“The man we have as publisher is so much smarter than Stern that the Courier will fold within a year.”
Prentice was credited with some skills as a newspaperman, but he was no match for Stern and Saylor.
ADDING TO his difficulties, Prentice had standing ordess [sic] for biter [sic] attacks almost daily on the Courier and Stern.
The Post-Telegram picled [sic] up a few readers, but circulation had fallen so far that income could not match the cost of operation. Advertisers refused to pay for space at the sme [sic] rate charged by the Courier, whose readership had soared from 11,234 to 26,066 in the four years since September, 1919.
Then Stern goofed. He wrote an editoral [sic] in which he put the Courier in favor of consolidation of all the suburbs under a county administration. The plan would reduce duplication of services and would cut taxes substantially. In his memoirs, Stern did not mention any consulatation [sic] with Saylor on the editorial. Saylor’s method in such matters would be to discuss the proposal with people closely related to it. In that manner he would have learned — before publication — what Stern was to discover within a few days.
BAIRD JUMPED on the plan and, for once, Prentice was in accord with him.
With the help of Albright and the newsroom staff, they asked longtime residents how they felt about the doom of their home town under the scheme of the carpetbagger in Camden. They didn’t cotton to it. The old reliable Post-Telegram could be depended upon as their sounding-board and would stand by them, they were assured.
Two centers of resentment were Haddonfield and Merchantville. The aversion in each case was steadfast. No amount of argument about the practically of the plan advanced in the Courier columns could shake the home-rule sentiment in both boroughs.
Similar reaction also cropped up in smaller down-county municipalities, where the citizenry did not want to see their demi-rural communities gobbled up by the more populous centers.
The Post-Telegram experienced a surge inciruclation [sic]. The issue proved a tonic to the news staff.
STERN CONFESSED the blunder by dropping the proposal. Baird gloated. (In 1932, under stress of the Depression, Baird urged consolidating municipalities to reduce expenses and taxes).
Stern later wrote that he regretted abandoning the merger proposal. He regraded [sic] the multiplicity of local governments to be great weakness of the American system.
When Stern ceased to advocate consolidation, the brass knuckles slipped from Baird’s hands. The fight had ended, and the glow of the Post-Telegram’s triumph soon faded. Its decline resumed. Baird made several futile editorial stabs.
IT WAS common knowledge that Baird was the boss of the Post-Telegram, just as he was becoming successor to his father as chieftain of the Republican organization. It also was obvious that he was not a newspaperman. He never had the training or experience. He was not a writer and did not fill the position he had gained through family wealth and political influence.
But Baird was stubborn. That burning desire to drive Stern out of Camden gripped him like a steel trap.
Only one man, his father, could convince him that newspapering was not his cup of tea.
The old man had a sheet of figures showing financial loss in the P-T — with not even a faint hope of recovery. The practical parent turned to his secretary, Mrs. Elizabeth Verga, and asked her to arrange a meeting with Stern.
TO THE ELDER Baird, 1925 was not the season to lose money in any business. Actually, it was a prosperous period. The Walt Whitman Hotel opened. Broadway had been cut through at Market and Cooper Streets as a channel for traffic generated by the new bridge being built. J. Robley Tucker, the “boy wonder” had made millions in real estate.
A new office building was being erected by R. M. Hollingshead Corp. at 9th and Cooper Streets, and a cornerstone was laid for Parkside Trust Company at Haddon and Kaighn Avenues. The aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, the largest vessel ever built in the United States, was launched from the shipyard of the New York Shipbuilding Corp.
According to Stern’s later accounting, 1925 was the second million-dollar year of the Courier profit chart.
AS THE YEAR wore on, and the realty boom faded, the elder Baird could no longer stand by and see Young Dave throwing away money on the P-T. When Stern responded to the elder Baird’s invitation, a cordial exchange developed that would have been impossible with the younger Baird present.
Stern’s memoirs describe the meeting as brief and decisive. Baird admitted his son lost a lot of money and said it was time he stopped trying to run a newspaper. He said he would like to have Stern buy the property at a fair price, then stated his son paid Patterson $250,000. Stern’s rapid retort was an offer of $300,000.
“It’s a deal,” Sen. Baird declared. They shook hands and sent for their attorneys to draw up an agreement. Effective date of the transaction was set as Jan. 27, 1926, one year and 10 weeks after Patterson sold to Baird and associates.
DAVID BAIRD JR.
Moore in Camden Speech Demands Fairness at Polls
Camden Courier-Post —
Towers Theatre Packed at Climax of All-Day Invasion Here
TOURS SMALLER TOWNS
Editorial: “Mr. Harry Moore’s Great Exposé That Exposes Nothing” appears on page 16.
By RANSLOE BOONE
Demanding a fair election and protection to Democratic voters, A. Harry Moore was greeted here last night by the largest crowd to gather at a Democratic meeting in Camden’s recent history.
The Democratic candidate for governor brought to a climax an all-day speaking tour of Camden county with a mass meeting which overflowed the Towers Theatre, Broadway and Pine street. At least 3500 persons crowded the theatre to its doors and more than 1000 others, unable to get in, heard the speakers’ words through amplifiers over the sidewalks.
Assails Justice Lloyd
Moore criticized Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd, for his refusal last week to order state police into Camden to protect the interests of the Democrats.
“The court has not given me that assurance. Instead, the court delivered from the bench a fine speech for my opponent.”
The Democratic candidate had promised in an earlier speech here September 8, to name names of those he charged had resorted to illegal practices at the polls. He made no mention of them last night except to say he had given the names in affidavits filed with Justice Lloyd.
Earlier in the evening the Democratic standard-bearer addressed more than 250 at a combined meeting of Merchantville, Delaware Township and Pennsauken Township voters at Merchantville Hall, 15 West Maple Avenue, Merchantville, and to 1200 at Gloucester city hall.
Lauds Courier-Post Fairness
In an address at noon to employees of the RCA Victor and Campbell Soup companies, Moore, without naming his Republican opponent, declared:
“Come on with your millions,” he added without mentioning the name of his Republican opponent, “and with the editors you have bought and paid for, and next Tuesday I’ll crash through to the governor’s chair!”
“When I speak of the editors who have been bought and paid for, I’m not in anyway referring to the local newspapers— the Morning Post and the Evening Courier. Both of these papers have been fair to me in handling the news of the campaign.”
Moore’s address at the Towers Theatre follows:
Cites Request for Trooper
“Evidence is on file with the justice of the Supreme Court here showing clearly that extraordinary means must be taken by me to protect my interests on election day in certain parts of the City of Camden. When I spoke here the last time, I referred to conditions that existed in the Eighth and Fifth wards, conditions that made it impossible for opponents of Republican candidates to receive the protection that the laws provide for all candidates for office.
“I promise at that time that the names of certain individuals who resort to illegal practices at the polls would be made public. This has been done. The names have been given to the justice of the Supreme Court here.
“Though my counsel, I have appealed to the justice of the Supreme Court for assurance that he would use the power of his high judicial office to give my interests the protection of the law of New Jersey in those sections where I am compelled to believe my interests are in jeopardy. Filed with the court are 40 affidavits showing what has happened in the Fifth and Eighth wards in the past, and what I have every reason to believe will be repeated this year unless checked beforehand.
Ridicules Supreme Court
“The court has not given me that assurance. Instead, the court delivered from the bench a fine speech for my opponent. The court insisted on emphasizing that the City of Camden and the County of Camden were no more capable of election law violations than any other city or county in the state.
“Now, I have no criticism to make of the people of Camden city or Camden county. Certainly the great majority of the people here are law abiding. I never said they weren’t. But the court was given evidence of the strong-arm and illegal methods used at the polls in the Fifth and Eighth wards in the City of Camden, evidence submitted by persons who witnessed the stuffing of ballot box and by other persons who were victims of intimidation and beating by gangsters.
“Am I not entitled to the protection that I seek? What are courts for, if not to see that justice is done and the law respected?
Hits at Baldwin and Cops
“Can I depend on the prosecutor of Camden county to see that the law is not violated on election day, when the prosecutor has appeared as counsel for my opponent in these matters, and is out campaigning for him?
“Can I look to the police for protection when the affidavits now on file with the justice of the Supreme Court show that the policemen on duty at the polling places where these law violations occurred closed their eyes to what was going on, some leaving the polling place at the approach of bullies in the Eighth ward, and others actually assisting in the assaults made upon voters and election officers?
“The justice said that Camden county has been cleaned up. Two years ago he told the grand jury here that conditions were rotten and charged the grand jury to do its full duty. Granting that Camden now is free of all the things Justice Lloyd said existed here two years ago, credit for the change must go to Justice Lloyd.
“If then, a word from the court accomplished that much, why won’t a word from him now, about what habitually happens in the Fifth and Eighth wards, on election day— occurrences that everyone is familiar with— put a stop to that?
Appeals to Fairness
“I want the same protection here that my opponent will have in my county on election day. Guarding his interests at the polls in Hudson will be a Republican prosecutor and a Republican bureau of elections, Mr. Baird will have at every polling place in Hudson county, in addition to the regular challengers and watchers, two Republican deputies from the Bureau of Elections, paid not by the Republican party, but by the taxpayers of Hudson county.
“It is costing our people $100,000 a year to maintain this Republican election bureau with its investigators and deputies.
“The records disclose that 19 names are registered from the saloon owned by the Republican leader of the Fifth ward, and those names, together with the name of the saloon owner and the address of the saloon, have been submitted to the court. In addition, there are at least 1000 names on the Camden city registry lists that do not belong there. That evidence is also in Justice Lloyd’s possession.
Threatens Vote Crooks Here
“These 19 names we know for a positive fact are illegally on the registry books. They are the remainder of the 4000 illegal registrants that were discovered during an investigation. Three thousand have been stricken from the registry lists by the Common Pleas Court here, and but for the expiration of the statutory time limit they all would have been stricken.
“However, despite the refusal of the court to assure me of the protection to which I am entitled, I want the people to know that every safeguard will be thrown around their ballots. Even without the support of the law enforcement agencies of this city and county the polls will be properly protected next Tuesday. The next time I come to Camden it will be as the governor of New Jersey, and I promise now that it will be a sad day for the law violators and recreant officials, from the highest down. They will answer to me for whatever frauds occur next Tuesday.
“I pledge to you that the law will be respected, that the ballot box stuffers will be put where they belong, that the reign of terror of the gangsters will end, and end speedily; that the machinery of government will be returned to the people, that the ballot will be cast by the people of South Jersey in accordance with their own desires— unhampered and unafraid.
Pledges Jury Reform
“The question of jury reform no doubt is of particular interest to the people of Camden. I believe that one of the main reasons why hand-picked and political juries are possible is the present method of selecting jury commissioners.
“Instead of improving on the original method of having the jury commissioners for each county appointed by the chancellor, the present administration at Trenton threw the procedure completely into politics by placing the appointment of these officials in the hands of the governor.
“I advocate that jury commissioners be appointed by the justice of the Supreme Court in the respective counties. In addition, I favor life tenure for justices of the Supreme Court. The latter reform would completely remove the Supreme Court from politics.
“That much accomplished, the justice of the Supreme Court becomes the only proper officer to select jury commissioners.”
Nowrey Presides
The Camden mass meeting was opened by former Mayor Joseph E. Nowrey, who presided. District Court Judge Myron Ernst, of Jersey City, predicting Hudson County would give Moore 100,000 majority, paid tribute to Mayor Frank Hague, of Jersey City, Democratic state leader.
“We love and respect Mayor Hague,” he declared. “He never has been a boss, as the Republicans charge, but he gives the people value, dollar for dollar.”
He declared the election of Moore would be a “beacon signal making possible the election of a Democratic president of the United States.”
Other speakers included Gene Mariano and E. George Aaron, Camden attorneys; Harvey Rothberg, Trenton, organizer of the A. Harry Moore Veterans’ League; James Baker, former president of the State Board of Taxation; Edward Hart, Jersey City corporation counsel, and the three Democratic candidates for Assembly, Vincent de P. Costello, William C. French, Jr., and Frederick Stanton.
Entrance of Moore was the signal for a deafening ovation. Stamping, whistling and cheering broke out spontaneously as the Democratic candidate stepped on the platform. He was forced to wait several minutes before he could silence his supporters and open his address.
Addresses RCA and Soup Workers
Moore opened his Camden county tour with an open-air address to more than 700 employees of RCA Victor and Campbell Soup Companies at Second and Market streets at noon.
“I want to see that every poor boy and girl in the state has a chance equal to the rich,” he declared, describing how he himself had started as a poor boy and went to work when he was 13 years old.
“You are my kind of people and I am going to represent you. You are the laboring class and the American Federation of Labor has endorsed me. Labor organizations are with me everywhere.
“There is a demand for a change.
A Republican came to me the other day and said, ‘I’m a Republican and I’m going to vote for you. You can’t be worse than what we’ve had.’ I smiled and said, ‘It’s true I can’t be worse, but I hope to be better and I will be.’”
Hits ‘Hoover Prosperity’
Moore attacked what he termed the “Hoover promises of prosperity.”
“Where is the job for every man that he promised, where the chicken at every table and the automobile for every workingman that we were to have under Hoover prosperity?” he asked.
“I ask, where are those evidences of prosperity that were promised? I represent you. I’m going to represent you. I want, and you want, the government taken out of the hands of a boss.”
Moore’s remarks were greeted with cheers and applause, interrupted occasionally with cries “We want Moore” and “atta boy, Harry.”
Skirmishes Black Horse Pike
The Democratic candidate was the guest of Harry A. Maloney, state committeeman, at luncheon at his home in Bellmawr, from where the party resumed its tour.
Moore visited the New York Shipbuilding Company at 2 p. m., and greeted many workers.
Five other open-air meetings followed at Mt. Ephraim, at Runnemede at 3.20 p. m., at the Blackwood Bank at 3.45 p. m., at Clementon Democratic headquarters at 4:15 p. m. and at the Atco station at 4:45 p. m. More than 2300 heard the candidate at these meetings.
He attacked Baird’s state and national record at a mass meeting at 5:30 p. m. at the headquarters of the Independent A. Harry Moore Club, Haddon and Lees avenues, Collingswood. More than 300 crowded into the hall while many more heard the address outside through amplifiers.
Moore’s cause was aided by two prominent Collingswood Republicans when the Democratic candidate spoke in that borough. Both Mayor Joseph H. Van Meter and Thomas M. Jack, former mayor and former sheriff greeted Moore on his arrival in Collingswood and attended the meeting there. Van Meter also was present later at the Camden meeting.
“David Baird was responsible for passage of the Public Service paving bill which relieved the company, of which he was a director, of the expense of paving between and beside its tracks. He saved the company $3,000,000 a year, placing the burden on the taxpayers.
Commends Woodruff
“When this measure came up during my term as governor, I vetoed it.
“At that time Senator Albert S. Woodruff, whom I consider a most honest and upright man, refused to favor the measure as demanded by Baird.
‘I represent the people, not you,’ Woodruff told Baird, and I admire Woodruff as a man who can be a man, not a mouse.
“Baird then answered Woodruff: ‘You’ll vote to override the veto or you won’t go back to the Senate.’ Woodruff refused, and he was defeated at the next primary.
“When he was a member of the United States Senate, David Baird answered only 193 out of 454 roll calls, being absent for 261 of them, and yet now he promises to be a full-time governor if he is elected. He failed to appear at the 1930 special session of Congress, yet he collected his stipend just the same.”
Moore attacked Baird’s failure to vote on the Mexican immigration bill which affected southern labor, declaring: “He could not make up his mind how to vote.”
During the last three years, when David Baird was boss of the state, it cost $96,000,000 to run the government, $24,000,000 more than when I was governor. Baird, as boss of the legislature, increased the burden of taxation. All he wants is more power to build up his political organization.”
Moore spoke along the same lines at Merchantville and Gloucester.
Upset of Auto Hurts Five on Sea Girt Trip
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Delegates on Way to Larson Reception Meet With Accident Near Freehold; 4 of Injured Kin of David Baird, Jr.
Freehold, Aug. 1.—Five Camden delegates on their way to attend a reception to Governor Larson at Sea Girt today were injured when the automobile in which they were riding overturned on the Hightstown road, two miles from here.
All the injured are residents of Camden. They left the home of David Baird, Jr., this morning to join 3000 Republicans from Camden, Gloucester, Cumberland counties at the governor’s reception.
The most seriously injured is Mrs. Catherine Kaighn, 42, of 411 Chambers avenue.
She was taken to a Freehold hospital suffering from cuts on the left elbow, ear and knee, and possibly a dislocated left shoulder. An X-ray is to be taken to determine the seriousness of her injuries.
Mrs. Kaighn is the mother of Policeman John Kaighn, who is chauffeur for Mayor Price. She is also the mother of Misses Edna, Mary and Edith Kaighn.
Others who were injured are:
Mrs. Emma Miles, of Forty-fourth street and Westfield avenue, cuts on arms and face.
Robert B. Brice, of 211 Elm street, driver of the car, cuts on the scalp.
Mrs. Alice Peak, 84 Cooper street, severe bruises and cuts of the left ear, left elbow and leg.
Mrs. Mary Brice, wife of Robert Brice, suffered slight cuts of the neck and hands.
All the injured were treated at the Freehold Hospital.
Mrs. Miles is employed as a recording clerk in the office of the Camden county clerk.
All of the injured with the exception of Mrs. Miles are related to David Baird Jr., Republican political leader of Camden county.
The accident is said to have taken place when Brice tried to pass another automobile. As he swung ahead of the car a truck was seen coming in the opposite direction. In trying to steer out of the path of the truck the car was overturned twice.
All of the injured were pulled from beneath the wrecked automobile by A. R. Clark, of 442 Trenton avenue, Camden, and Elmer Radcliffe, of 33 Crescent boulevard, Collingswood.
When Mr. Baird was notified of the accident at Sea Girt he immediately jumped into his car and went to the hospital at Freehold. Later he got in touch with relatives in this city and informed them he would see that all the injured are returned to this city tonight.