Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1919-11-10
4 R[)S
MAY DUMP
MARTIN
Macdonald May Win Place -
Martins Fight Against
Hague VIII Make His Reap
pOintnlent Impossible.

DV cDeCtIB COTTSSPOnucHE.
TRENTON, Nov. 1O.-With one OF
the biggest appointments of his ad-
ministration confronting him, just as
soon as he Is inaugurated the politi-
clans are already discussing how Gov
ernor- elect Edward /. Edwards Will
fill the place of Secretary of State and
what will be the fate, which Is bound
up in the appointment to be made, OF
the encumbent of that office, Thomas
r. Martin. In many ways the position
of Martin is unique in State politics.
He is the only Democrat, holding a
high State position, who escaped the
ak of the Edge Republican admins
tration of the past three years.
Martin escaped not at all because
the G. o. P. wanted to keep him, but
because his term overlapped that OF
the Governor elected in 1916, which
happened to be the present United
States Senator. AS Democratic Sec
retary of State Martin was a principal
actor in the inauguration ceremonies
of Edge, and he will survive that ad-
ministration by several months IN the
term of office. AS Secretary again,
he will figure prominently on the day
Mr.. Edwards takes the oath of Office,
but there are many who expect to see
the new Democratic Governor fail to
reappoint the present Democratic
Secretary of State, whose term ex-
Dires next April.
Therefore, it may happen that the
only Democrat who survived the Re-
publican control of State offices dur
ing the past three years, will be the
first to go under the incoming Demo-
cratic ascendency for the next three
years in the Governors office.
While it Is said that the Secretary
of State and the Governor-elect are
personally good friends, it is common
political knowledge that Mr.. Martin
and Mayor Frank Hague, who is the
new Democratic State leader, are arch
enemies and the same may be said or
Mr.. Martin and George j. Blakeslee.
In the campaign Of the primary OF
1918 Martin ran a ticket against Ha-
que in Hudson County in an endeavor
to take control there away from the
Mayor. The Secretary of States ticket
was badly beaten. This year In his
que and Blakeslee, close friends OF
Edwards. So, according to the rule or
politics, the re-appointment of Martin
is improbable.
Already there Is talk that the place
may go to Democratic State Chair
man Charles F. Mcdonald. of Mon
month county. Mr.. Mcdonald took
the Craftsmanship In the spring OF
1918 when it was q thankless task.
The Monmouth county man did not
want the job, but at the re-organiza-
ton dinner in Newark in that year, he
was induced to take hold of the relns
of a State organization that had been
badly smashed in the Republican
State sweep of 1916. Practically un-
aided and alone he conducted the
campaign of 1918 for United States
Senator, when he induced George M.
La Monte to become the party's candi-
date for the seat at Washington.
When the state chairman started
his work of reorganization, he faced
the 10000 Republican plurality OF
1916, the ate~Congressional delega-
ton stood Republicans 9, Democrats
and there were but twenty Demo
Gratis in both Legislative branches.
Even Washington and the Democratic
National Committee conceded every
thing lost, so far as New Jersey was
concerned in 1918. Yet Edges plur-
ality was cut down 100000. the Con-
gressional delegation was changed so
that it now stands Republican Z,
Democrats and the representation
in the Legislature was increased by
16, giving the party equal representa-
ton in the Assembly.