Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-12-30

The scheme that the Kitchen cab
met" has on foot now is to have
Chauncey c. Baldwin appointed to
the water board. Mr.. Baldwin classes
himself as Republican and 1t is nat
ural to suppose he would base his
claim to the appointment on that
ground, counting on the votes of the
Republican aldermen to elect him.
Paradoxical as 1t may seem, however,
Mr.. Baldwin's main strength lies with
the three Democratic aldermen, who,
1t is understood, are being lined up to
vote for him. If Mr.. Baldwin, while
claiming to be a Republican, can get
the three Democratic votes In the
Board of Aldermen, he will need but
one vote from the Republicans to win.
OF the Republican members of the
Board of Aldermen. Aldermen Wilson
and Anderson are outspoken in favor
of Mayor TenBroeck for the water
board appointment and Alderman
Reidy is backing Frank Stas. This
leaves Ira r. Grouse, alderman-at-
large. as the only Republican unac-
counted for.
The significance of Mr.. Crouse's po-
sition is realized when 1t is recalled
that last year when water commits
sioner was chosen, Mr.. Grouse gave
Mr.. Baldwin a complimentary vote for
the position. 1t is understood that Mr.:
Baldwin is now trying to hold Mr..
Grouse to his position of last year,
thus securing the fourth vote neces-
sary to land the appointment.
OF course, 1t is not absolutely GER
tain that Mr.. aBidwin can command
the full strength of the Democrats In
the Board of Aldermen. Posing as 4
Republican 1t would, under ordinary
circumstances, seem strange that ne
could count on any of them. But
politics is a great game and the fact
that the Democrats realize that 1T Is
impossible for them to name one of
their own party because f.ey are in
the minority in the board, may be
offered as an excuse for voting for one
who, while claiming to be Repub-
Iican, is on extremely friendly terms
with certain leaders in the Democratic
party.
In fact so friendly is Mr.. Baldwin
with certain Democratic interests that
no less a Republican than Alderman
Wilson, in a statement made public
few days ago, challenged Mr.. Bald
wins Republicanism in local affairs.
1t is no secret in political circles that
Mr.. Baldwin did everything he could
TO defeat Mayor TenBroeck when the
latter was running for reelection last
fall and Republican leaders generally
resent MS attempt now " Sldp Vho VI
the finest plums in the gift of the
party after what they consider such
base political treachery.
Neither Is Mr. Baldwin's Repub-
licanism- strengthened any by the
knowledge that among those who fire.
quently attend the sessions of the
Kitchen cabinet" is County Clerk b.
M. Cannon, who is the recognized,
Democratic leader in this city Mr..
Cannon is known to be very close to
Mr.. Baldwin and whether true or not.
the wise ones think they can see the
fine hand of Barney" in the whole
affair.
AS for the Democratic aldermen
themselves, Albert G. Waters is Mr. /
Baldwin's private secretary at the
Standard Underground Cable Works,
and is naturally counted on to favor
the man with whom he As so closely
associated In business, regardless of
politics Thomas Patten. the new
alderman from the third ward. is so
new at the game that he is counted on
to do as the Democratic leaders advise.
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