Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1910-01-10
John Pfeiffer The
New Leader
Chosen.
FOLLOW IT UP
1t Is Understood that the
Fight will be Kept Up and
an Effort Made to Un-
seat Strong in the
State Committee.
Special to the EVENING NEWS.

Special 10 the EVENING NEWS.
New Brunswick, Jan. 10:-Thsr
liveliest meeting in the history Of
the Middlesex County Republican
Committee was held on Saturday af-
ternoon here in Goodwill hall, the
feeling being so bitter between the
Groves and Strong factions that the
members of the committee nearly
came 10 blows. The Strong forces,
after joining in the election of John
Pfeiffer, Of Perth Amboy, as chair
man, were badly routed.
Jacob H Whitfield, one of Theo-
dore Strong's leading workers, and
County Detective Frank Hoffman,
who is in the employ of Prosecutor
( T. B. BOOraem, Strong opponent OF
the Strong faction, were the chief
participants in the heated contro-
versy after the committee meeting.
Whitfield attended the meeting by
proxy and called Hoffman a cur The
latter demanded an apology, which
Whitfield refused TO give. On ths
contrary, he challenged Hoffman to
prove his right to make such de-
mand In an instant the friends of
both sides rallied to their support,
coats were pulled off, and it looked
for time as If there would be gen.
eral mix-up and some blood shed.
The dispute was only quieted down
by hard work among those with cool
er hears who persuaded them to re-
tire without blows.
Whitfield and Hoffman are bitter
enemies, more so because of the re-
cent developments in the H Ray
mond Groves slander letter case,
Hoffman having arrested Whitfield
and the thEes--oA5a.1rsTs charged v<<<h
the CRIME. Prosecutor Booraem
worked up the case against the Whit-
field party with the aid of Hoffman,
Richard Peltier and other detectives.
Theodore Strong attended the
meeting and Henry Banker. a Strong
man, was there on the proxy OF DR..
Bellof, who ran for alderman in the
third ward and lost at the last cleo
ton. Groves was there on the proxy
of Alderman Feaster Of the second
ward Whitfield was also, there by
proxy Hoffman spoke for the GreN1
faction and Fred Cornell was tha
spokesman for the Strong men.
After Mr. Pfeiffer had been elected
/ trouble ensued when he and his sup
porters went over to the Groves side.
BY q vote of 29 to 26 they elected all
the Groves candidates for the other
officers and the Strong men were
down and out.
! Former Assemblyman William
! Drake. of Stelton, was chosen vice.
president over John n. Leisen, OF
| Woodbridge. and DR.. J. L. Suydam,
! of Jamesburg. Isaiah Barclay. Of
| Cranbury, the only nominee for
treasurer, was elected, the Strong
men not naming any candidate and
August Wagner, of this city, was
made secretary, defeating Alfred
! Rastall, Of this city.
With the exception OF William F.
Van Pelt, county committeeman
from the first ward IN Perth Amboy,
the delegation from that city stood
solidly together and was big factor
in the meeting. II looks as if Perth
/ Amboy is going to play an import
ant part in party councils hereafter.
/ 1t is in Perth Amboy where the op-
position to Strong has been the
| greatest and it was due largely to
| the Perth Amboy committeeman that
| his overthrow was made so complete
! Saturday. Van Pelc stood with the
Strong faction throughout and
seemed TO be the only friend Strong
| had from Perth Amboy.