Perth Amboy evening news., 1914-09-19
In Office Fifteen Years.

III Siilte FItttH
Thrice elected, for fifteen years
he held office, under the fee system,
and pocketed the revenue from one
of the best paying political Jobs in
the county of that time, 1t is fire.
luently said in New Brunswick that
Jr. Conger left the Office with
100000, saved from its fees, etc.
Since Mr.. Cannon has been county
clerk the Office has been on $4,000
annual salary basis. In 1904, when
Mr.. Conger ran for the third time
and was elected, he gave assurance,
it is understood, to the party leaders
that it would be his last attempt TO
hold the Office. But it had become a
habit, so, In 1909, he entered the
primary contests against former
Senator w. II. C. Jackson, also of
New Brunswick. Mr.. Jackson won
jority over Mr.. Conger, but was de-
feated on election day by Mr.. Gan
non. 1t is no secret here that Mr..
Conger did not take off his coat and
work for BILLY" Jackson that cool
November day. "Dory" Strong and
his henchmen did all in their power
to put the former senator into a
position of reward, but the friends of
Conger had not forgotten the sting
ing defeat at the primaries. Count
ing this years campaign, it means
that Mr.. Conger has been candi-
date for county clerk On seven CON
secutive occasions.
So Mr.. Johnson has entered the
fight, with the known backing OF
former Senator Strong, as a silent
protest to the Republican voters
against the candidacy of Mr.. Congar.
He will not make any effort to Sc
cure the nomination, his friends say,
but simply consented to have his
name used because he is opposed to
the action of Mr.. Conger. During
1910, 1911 and 1912 Mr.. Conger re-
mained in the political background,
but, finding a little opposition to Mr..
Cannon within his own party, as lead
by William II. Quackenboss, of this
city, Mr.. Conger had visions of re-
turn to the county clerks chair. lie
began to build and repair his fences,
although he frequently stated that
he did not intend to be candidate.
When Alfred S. March ran for surro-
gate on the Republican ticket three
years ago, he called ON Mr. Conger
and asked for his support. Mr..
Conger refused to make any public
statement of his intentions, but said
that he was a back number in poll
tics, and had retired from the arena.
The shrievalty nomination on the
Democratic side of the house will
occupy attention Tuesday, but it will
not be compared with the interest
which will be taken in the county
clerks race in November. Not only
Mr.. Cannon and the survivor of the
Conger-Johnson fight will be in the
field, but Mr.. Quacken boss, a former
Democratic sheriff, is also in the
race. He has accepted the nomina-
ton of the Progressive party, al
though he does not intend, thereby,
TO forsake his Democratic affiliations.
A close analysis of the Republican
fight for the nomination gives Mr..
Conger the place, which means a
three-cornered fight between Conger,
Cannon and Quackenboss ON election
day. So many Republicans are dis
gusted with the past and present At
titude of Mr.. Conger, that the race
is conceded to be between Messrs.
Cannon and Quackenboss. Both are
strong candidates, with the former
having a distinct advantage because
he is the present county clerk and
the party he represents is in power.