Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-08-13
WORD IS PASSED
BY POLITICIANS
All Sorts of Rumors CircuIat-
ed in Move to Kill Commits
sion Form of Government
WOULD CONFUSE VOTERS
False Statements Coming
From Political Circles -
Supporters Are Confident

with election day Just four days
away opposition in every form is be-
ing instituted against commission
government with the hope on the
part of certain factions that the new
form will be defeated when It comes
to a vote of the people. Not only
does this group wish to obliterate by
fair means a chance for the people
to try this new form. but they are
circulating insidious stories to pref
udice the citizens at such critical
time. In the fourth and some of the
other wards. the propaganda being
spread Is not kept secret. With the
knowledge that the time is too short
to explain many of these stories as
colossal untruths, the leaders have
taken advantage to let matters go
until this late date, when there has
begupn a systematic program to con-
fuse the minds of the people.
1t is hoped by commission govern
ment supporters that the right
thinking citizens of the city see
through the methods being employ
ed by the opposition and will at
least give the situation intelligent
and unprejudiced consideration,
which. IL employed. will undoubt-
edly result in the victory for the
new form of government.
Some of the arguments put forth
are most amusing in their stupidity.
1t is likely that more false reports
will be circulated just before election
day. To confuse the people, to plant
the seed of doubt in their minds at
the eleventh hour seems to be the
most effective way in the minds of
those in opposition to Illustrate the
Oh in m n
which will at least make a try at
changing deplorable conditions OF
the city.
William II. Bawden, secretary of
the Commission Government Asso-
citation issued the following state
ment today:
'sThe campaign of education that
has been conducted during the past
two and more weeks by the Com
mission Government Association is
rapidly drawing to close. Circulars
are being sent to every voter who re-
gistered last fall. comparing the new
regime with that which now obtains,
giving a summary of the provisions
of the law providing for commission
government, with explanations OF the
workings of those provisions here IN
Perth Anboy, with quotations from
great men expressing their belief IN
commission government, and from
leading men IN softe of the cities
where Il has been tried out NOBODY
claims that 1t is the ideal system,
nor that it is perfect. but all agree
n1at 1t works out much better than
the old system, and that where 1t
fails to work as expected 1t is be-
cause the citizens supinely fail TO
use the means for redress that the
law places in their hands Bill
posters are also being placed In
every pat of the city, so that he
who runs may read about commission
government in comparison with the
present systems
"At the last general electien the
total vote cast was 5,281, of which
thirty per cent, or 1854 votes, must
be cast to make the election valid;
but a majority of the votes cast
will decide for or against commits
sion government. Last fall the total
those so registered may vote now.
1t is hoped that large vote will be
cast, and it is confidently expected
that a large majority of them win
be in favor of the proposed change
In the form of our city government.
SHOP meetings are also being
held in some of the plants of the
city. at which commission govern
ment is being explained, and ques-
tions asked being answered. 1t is
the aim of the association that as far
as possible every voter shall know
what he is deciding and the reasons
therefor. The general interest is
significant, as we'll as the quiet de-
termination of many of the solid
business men OF the city, those
whom reason sways and not preju-
i1ice."