Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1913-05-10
Paul Woitscheck and Andrew
Anderson Both After First
Assistant Position.
FORMER is THE FAVORlTE
w. P. 0'Hara Will be Elected
Chief Next tuesday Night
Without Opposition.

One OF the first contests for first
assistant chief OF the fire department
will be decided at the election OF
the departments officers next Tues
day night. Paul M. Woitscheck, OF
the Garfield Engine Company, nov
second assistant fire chief of the de-
partment, and Andrew Anderson,
president OF the Washington Hose
and Chemical Company, who was de-
feated for second assistant chief at
the last election, are the opponents
for the high office. w. P. O'Hara, of
the Lincoln Engine Company, now
first assistant fire chief, is the only
candidate for that most supreme title
that can be conferred upon any city
fireman-fire chief. Frank E. Took
er, Jr., of the Mcclellan Engine Com
pany, has no opposition for second
assistant fire chief.
There is no likelihood of a dark
horse candidate being put up at the
last minute, as has been done on
different occasions before, as the de-
partment is expected to support
"O'Hara to q man. as one of the
firemen puts II. Tooker will also re-
ceive generous support Of the whole
department. Woitscheck is the fav-
orite candidate for first assistant,
and the majority Of votes from every
house is expected TO be lined mp for
him, One reason that the firemen
give for their favoritism is that Woit-
scheck has been second assistant and
now 1t is his just turn to be first
assistant, as the Offices are generally
distributed In that rotation, and
never in the history of the depart
ment has man succeeded in attain
ing the office of chief except by first
serving as second and first assistant
chiefs, since the second year after
the formation of the city fire depart
ment and the election of three chiefs.
Woitscheck, from an investigation,
seems to be the favorite candidate
for first assistant OF the McClellans,
Libertys, Garfields. Projections and
Lincolns. Most of the Eagles will be
away Tuesday night at Peekskill, N.
Y, where they intend to rescue the
famous triangle, so only few votes
from that company will be cast, and
they are likely to be divided up be-
tween the two candidates for this
office. Washington Hose and Chemi-
cal Company, who have nominated
Anderson, seem to be the only com
pany in the city that will give their
entire, or the majority of their sup
port to their present president.
The flremen say that no more
worthy, efficient and popular chief
can be elected than w. p. O'Hara for
that office, he having served most
creditably as second and first assist
ant, and, 1t is said, knows more about
a fire than any man in the depart
ment.
The election will be held over the
police station Tuesday evening be-
tween Z and o'clock, and the judges
of election will be the secretaries
from the different companies. After
the close OF the polls the ballots will
be straightWay counted ami Chief
Frank c. Comings will send in two
fire taps If Woitscheck is elected and
three if Anderson wins. A parade
will Immediately form, and the fire
men will march to Goodwill hall
where the newly-elected chiefs will
be congratulated and felicitated on
their victories. They will be accom-
panied by the Goodwill Fife and
Drum Corps and will probably on
their way to the hall make a detour
marching up State street to the Nc
Clellan Engine Company. At Good
will hall Jolly evening viii be spent
enhanced with an appetizing clam
supper. when all differences between
he supporters of the two candidates
will be forgotten and all the tiremen
will smoke the pipe OF peace to-
gether.
When Chief Comings was seen by
a NEWS man today he stated that
he would continue to go to fires after
he retires as chief whenever the
alarms for his company, the Protec-
tions, are sounded. He had a mag
niflcent word of praise for the men,
bers of the department. He said;
You will find no more congenial
bunch of fellows than In the fire de-
partment here, and after election is
over they will forget all their differ
ences that existed before" Mr.. Com
ings, the firemen say, has served
most faithfully during his year as
chief and has emphasized his ability
of generalship at a number OF big
fires in the city during that time.
NH Ia will hH