Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-11-01
THE MAYORALTY ISSUE

When it comes to local issues in the present campaign there Is
no issue as FAR IS the choice of a mayor is concerned. Mayor ZEN
Broeek's administration has been such that no argument against
his reelection can be found. The only argument the Democrats nave
in the mayorahy campaign is the high character of their candidate
No one denies that Mr.. Dorsey would make an excellent mayor.
But because Mr.. Dorsey would make a good mayor Is n o reason
ubv Tho reaple of this city should deliberately repudIate a man VINO
has served them faithfully and well during the most trying PERIOD
e. o;tv hoo. W experenced. If ever a public official has earned an
endorsement at the polls, Mayor TenBroeck has. knowing /"
tborouob1v the people of Perth Amboy believe in the spirit o i iMr
tlav we cannot conceive of anything but an overwhelming majority
for him.
With civic duties that under ordinary circumstances occupy
,r.escouv all a mans time a mayor, there was suddenly added to
,bo.o duties the demands of the federal government In conneetoh
with the war. Few people realize the vast amount OF de'ah 0 =
- vi,b tbe work of the draft board alone. Then there were
.he hundred and war activities, all addressed to the mayor TO
oroanize and get started. Long weary hours were spen. I"
,aovor and his associates organizing the draft system OF whicht here
VIC NO nreeedent to follow. Everything was brand new and the
Srat hoard was left to use its best judgment. The responsibility OF
sacces or failure rested with Mayor TenBroeck:
with ON of the largest districts in the whole country to hahde'
!. hrougbt Perth Amboy through with honor and distinction. In
1ritc of the large number of registrants and the difficulty IN handing
H. H. rsnos and making certain elements of the population under
stand the mayor succeeded in keeping Perth Amboy in the front
,anks of all the districts of the country in making the returns. There
has not been a call but what Perth Amboy has responded, ready.
All this work in connection with the first draft when the hardest
task Of organizing a system was accomplished, was done entirely WIN
out extra compensation. 1t was purely a patriotic duty serving n 5
country in time OF war.
Surely. after such high class, loyal service the mayor is en-
,T,ed y q vot Of confidence o the part of the people whom he has
represented 50 faithfully.
of four weeks ago when the city and its people suffered greatly as
a result of the explosions at the Gillespie shell loading plant at Nor
car. No one will ever appreciate the strain that was placed upon
The mayor during that trying ordeal. As mayor OF te city he was
called rpon to solve many trying problems at a moment S notice;
Questions that in ordinary times would be given days O thought1W
consideration had to be decided in a moment. Big men not caring
TO assume the responsibility would put 1t up to the mayor. lie
was the one man at the head of the city to whom all looked Tor u
-hority. Not only did the mayor have the people of this city to look
after and advise, but thousands of refugees came crowdmg IN All
-erNlnh had to be provided for. 1870 @,e ,a,,
- Night and day the mayor was on the job and that the whole
affair was handled with no serious blunders being committed IS little
short of marvellous. Credit must be given Mayor TenBroeck for
his mastery handling of the crisis and it is up to the people OF
Perth Amboy to show that they appreciate good service by giving
him al overwhelming majority at the polls next Tuesday.
An attempt has been made in some quarters to blame the mayor
for the enforced early closing of the stores as a result of an order
from the city fuel administrator. This is something over which the
mayor has no authority. The fuel administration is under the juris-
diction of the federal authorities. 1t was organized as a war
measure and it has accomplished its purpose in seeing that there is
an equal and just distribution Of coal throughout the country. What
ever fault is to be found with the way the fuel situation has been
handled in this city rests with the local fuel administrator. The
mayor and aldermen have done everything they could, but have
met with rebuhs, along with everyone else. To defy the adminstra-
tor at this time no matter who he is is to defy the United States
government, and that is something neither the mayor nor anyone
else can be expected to do under existing circumstances.
We said at the beginning that there is no issue in the local
Issue is whether or not the people of this city are al minded enough
to recognize hard, earnest, selfsacrifcing work and are ready to show
their appreciation by an endorsement at the polls that will show their
sentiment in no mistaken manner. If there is an issue that is it.