Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-06-25
HIS STATE OFFICE
USED AS CLUB TO
AID W|TTPENN AIM
Rhodabeck's Position Forced
Him to Act With Lippincott,
Mayors Manager.
HIS FIRST, HALF-HEARTED
EFFORT CAUSED THREATS
Protest of Insurance Men in
Newark Reveals a Polit-
icaI Game.

How the automobile insurance busi-
ness conducted by John M. Rhoda-
beck in connection with his position
as Newark agent of the State depart
ment of motor vehicles was used in
rather an involved manner as a club
to force him to support the candidacy
of H. Otto Wittpenn, of Jersey City,
for the governorship Is rather inter-
esting little taIe of auto insurance
and politics.
Rhodabeck is prominent in the
councils of the Woodrow Wilson
League here, while Job H. Lippincott,
appointed by President Wilson while
he was still Governor to be State
commissioner of motor vehicles, is
the active manager of the Wittpenn
campaign. Rhodabeck was appointed
to his position here by Lipincott
But it is said that after Rhoda
beck had received the appointment
he began to differ with Lippincott
politically. particularly as to the
candidacy of Wittpenn. AS a worker
in the Wilson League Rhodabeck was
expected by Lippincott to get the
executive committee of the league in
in favor of the candidacy of Witt
penn.
His Help Lukewarm.
Rhodabeck, it is said was only
lukewarm in these efforts and it is
said was practically accused by Lip
pincott of laying down on the job"
Now enters the insurance point of
the game. The local insurance agents
who were fighting Rhodabeck for
using his official position to get the
inside track in the soliciting of in
surance took the matter up with Lip
pincott in a letter.
That letter was written on May g.,
and three days later the insurance
agents received a reply from Lippin-
colt in which he stated that Rhoda
beck was fully within his rights in
using his ONCE to further his insur-
Ance business and stating further
that the agents of the motor vehicle
department were expected TO do out
aide work, as the position did not pay
enough to warrant man devoting
himself entirely to It,
it is pointed out that three days
elapsed between the letter written
by the Insurance men and the reply
of Lippincott. That was just about
time enough for Lippincott to have
got word to Rhodabeck that he had
better get active in obtaining the
support of the Essex County Wilson
League men for Wittpenn or face
row over the insurance proposition.
In any event, men in position to
know the facts state that Rhooabeck
did become alert and made a big
effort to align the executive commit
tee of the Wilson League up for Witt
penn. He failed, but 1t is pointed out
that he tried to deliver the goods"
and at least appeased. if he did not
satisfy, Lippincott. AS a result the
insurance men are still In the position
of protesting against man using a
State Office to further private busi-
ness and knowing that Rhodabeck's
methods have the approval of his SUI
perior in the department.
The insurance men are mum as to
what their next step will be in the
matter, but 1t is rumored thata COM
mittee may be appointed to go over
the head of Lippincott and take the
matter up direct with Governor
Fielder.