Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1916-12-30
SAM coRKER SLATED FOR NEW TERM.

All signs point to sharp conflict
when the solidly Republican Board of
Freeholders meets in the Court House
in Hackensack next Monday noon to
organize for 1917.
While the reelection of nearly all
of the present county officials is ex-
pected there is very likely to be a
bitter controversy over the $4,000 po-
sition of County Engineer, which
Henry Welles Durham has filled very
satisfactorily during the year about
to close.
Durham, after splendid career in
Panama, in New York and elsewhere,
was induced year ago to accept the
position of County Engineer to sue
coed Ralph d. Earle, jr.
In the opinion of impartial observ-
ers, Durham has made good, but
there have been efforts on foot to get
him out of the way for some man
who has lived longer in Bergen county,
and rumor has it that the movement
to GUST Durham in spite of his record
is about to succeed.
1t is settled that although four
votes to remove Durham have been
secured the Freeholders who object
to dropping good county engineer
will voice their protests in emphatic
fashion.
1t is said that Director VIM. f.
Eager, Of Tenaf1y, Louis S. Coe, of
Englewood, and Joseph Kinzley, jr.,
of Hackensack, will stand by Dur
ham and vote against any change in
the county engineer administration.
Reports have it that Ross McClave,
son Of Major s. Wood McClave, of
Cliffside Park, is candidate for Dur
hams place. 1t is said that McClave
expects to land the place. He is a
Princeton graduate, and has active
friends and has a good record.
Freebooter Kinzley gave out this
the Republican Board of Freeholders
over the proposition to put Ross Nc
Clave, of Cliffside Park, in the posi-
ton of County Engineer which Henry
Welles Durham has filled for year.
II certainly intend to vote for the
retention of Mr.. Durham as County
Engineer at next Mondays meeting
Of the Board of Freeholders. I know
there are other members of the board
who agree with me that Mr.. Durham
should be retained in the position
where he. has fought grafters, pre-
vented looting Of the county funds
and seen to it that the road contract
specifications were fairly carried out.
A man who has done what Mr.. Dur
ham has done must of necessity have
made bitter enemies and these enemies
are the best proofs of duty well per-
formed.
"The enmities that he has aroused
by his unrelenting opposition to
crooked methods in the county road
department make me all the more
anxious to stand by him now. would
not reflect in any way on the young
man who has been mentioned for Mr..
Durham's place. The point make is
that we should not remove tried and
true official who has med good for
new man no matter how good may be
his intentions"
Freebooter Louis S. Coe, of Engle-
wood, is also outspoken for Durham.
Mr.. Coe says: "In my opinion Ber-
gen county would suffer serious loss
by dispensing with the services of
Engineer Durham. The history of
County Engineers Office since he took
ClA01 kC q yCaA esEsO 40 OAAO OA SAAASASAA~yS
economy and splendid engineering
work."
Director of the Board, William P.
Eager, of Tenafy, is equally determ-
ined to fight for Durham's retention,
although rumor has it that Freehold
ers Hopper, Howell, Gaul and Beswick
are about to vote for Ross McClave in
Durham's place.
It is generally believed that Clerk
James K. Hardness, of Hackensack,
County Counsel Clarence Mabie, OF
Teaneck, County Collector VIM. M.
Linn, of Hackensack, will be among
those who will be re-appointed. Sealer
of Weights and Measures, John
O'Connor, of North Arlington, and
Court House Custodian Samuel
Corker, of Fort Lee, are also slated
for another term. Freeholders Andrew
Gaul and Reid Howell will begin their
new three year terms next Monday.
There is opposition to the re-appoint-
ment of DR.. VIM. E. Ogden as County
Physician.