Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-08-18

issue across. The returns showed
that AIS additional votes were need
ed in favor of commission to make
the election legal. The opposition
lacked seventeen votes of the re-
quired number.
The 398 majority for the opposf-
ticn was not secured without hard
ork on the parts of city officials,
officeholders and a large number Of
assistants secured by them TO spread
the gospel of anti-commission in
all parts OF the city. The regular
election tactics of approaching
thost about to vote and bringing in
voters in automobiles was resorted
to, both Democrats and Republic
cans working as a fusion party, seem
to experience little trouble in con-
vincing many of the voters how to
cast their ballot. With many of the
most seasoned politicians in the city,
including Representatives of both
parties. playing their old game. the
believers in commission soon real
ized that the stiffest opposition must
be met.
Those who led the forces favoring
a change of government were more
or less novices at this kind of cleo
tion and left it largely to the indi-
yidual citizen who was interested
in the government of his city to vote
as his conscience demanded.
Several cases came to light in
which the voters. although believing
in the commission form, did not care
to vote for it owing to the fact that
friend of his is now holding Office
under the present administration
and the adoption of the new idea
might put him out of office.
One of the peculiar features of the
election was the fact that the total
number of votes cast for the adop-
tion of commission government did
not equal the number of names sign
ed to the petitions when circulated
several weeks ago. This would In
dicate that many who were in favor
of the change and even signed the
petitions had not troubled them
selves with going to the polls to vote.
1t is also possible that some. when
thcy put their signatures to the petit
tion, did so merely to help make
possible the election, but were them.
selves opposed to the adoption.
1t will now be necessary to wait
until 1922 before another effort can
be made to put commission govern
ment across in, this city. According
to law the Commission government
election can be held only in the last
year of mayors term if one or more
elections have been held on the ques-
tion previously.
Yesterday was literally a holiday
for the city employees as far as actual
work as were the firemen, policemen,
received the tip, and. with the idea
in their heads that they were work
ing to hold the positions they row
occupy, were 70 be found at all Of
the polls and about the streets se-
curing votes TO oppose the meve.
Street department and water de-
partment employees were hard at
work as were the firemen, policemen,
many of the holders of higher city
offices and their friends. This array
of workers. carrying out their plans
in conjunction with political leaders.
who are known as old war horses"
in politics and have gone through
the mill many times before. proved
to be too powerful for the new and
inexperienced workers for commits
sion and the results show how the
work of the "antis' was rewarded.
Despite the heavy rains last night
when the votes were being counted.
the city officials. Office holders and
many of the employees who would be
affected by a change in government
went to city hall and there awaited
the returns with great interest.
The election boards made remark
able speed in tallying up the votes.
Fifteen minutes after the polls closed
the first poll OF the third ward had
made its report. While City Clerk
Graham was making a note of these
figures the second poll of that ward
came in and after that the remaining.
fifteen polls reported in quick order.