Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-07-26
FIGHT
. FOR DEMOCRATS
A. ]. Gebhardt of Highland
Park Announces His Can
didacy for County Job
'BAIR ALSO IN RACE
Will be Contest at Primary on
Both Tickets as Several Re-
publicanS Seek Office

Middlesex county will have a large
delegation at Sea Girt tomorrow,
when the annual Governors Day"
Is observed. 1t is generally under
stood that the county Democratic
leaders will confer with Governor
Silzer during the afternoon in order
to definitely decide upon the selec-
ton of county chairman to sue
ceed Edmund Hayes, of New Bruns-
wick, resigned. At this same con-
ference it is likely that efforts will
be made to draw up a county slate
for the fall primaries. The county
leaders are said to be desirous of
having no contests at the primaries
but indications at present are that
the men who have announced them
selves as candidates will not with
draw unless great pressure is
brought to bear.
1t is estimated that about 700
Democrats from Middlesex county
will be at Sea Girt tomorrow, the
Perth Amboy and New Brunswick
clubs having arranged to go in large
numbers. The local Democrats will
leave in automobiles at IL o'clock
noon, from in front of the City
Democratic Club headquarters, in
the Strand Theatre building. The
county seat Democrats, about 200
strong, will leave in automobiles at
10 O'Clock in the morning.
Governor Silzer haszaxtended to
John Pfeiffer, chairman of the Re-
publican county committee, an in
vitation to all of the Republicans
in the county to attend and Chair
man Pfeiffer has passed the invita-
ton along SO that members of the
G. 0. P. will attend. At 2:30 the
governor will hold reception and
at $3.50 he, together with state AM
erican Legion officers and county
legion commanders, will review the
state militia encamped at Sea Girt.
Now that Assistant Prosecutor
John e. Toolan has announced that
he would not accept the position of
county Democratic chairman, choice
seems to rest between two men:
John A. Coan. of South Amboy, for
mer assistant prosecutor, and Ed
ward i. Houghton, of New Bruns-
wick, former sheriff. 1t is general
ly expected that one of these two
men will be selected following to-
morrow's conference.
Governors Day" in the past has
Always proven to be the occasion
for the announcement of candida
cles and a general conference among
politicians of the campaign outlook.
Tom orrow will be no exception if
recent developments are to be con-
sidered. There has been a sudden
activity on the part of Democrats
VINO seek office during the past few
days the outlook of contests for
every office is bright.
Anthony J. Gebhardt, former di-
rector of the Board of Freeholders,
today announced his candidacy for
sheriff in the following statement to
the press:
During the past few months I
have been frequently asked by the
Representatives of the press and
others, as to whether or not l in
tend to be a candidate for sheriff
at the coming election.
I'm fairness to my business asso-
ciates, to the people and to myself,
L have avoided making a statement
After due consideration, however,
feel that / would be ungrateful,
indeed. to allow such an opportunity
for public service as the office of
sheriff affords. to pass unnoticed
Il therefore take this opportunity
of announcing my candidacy for the
shrievalty nomination on the Demo-
cratic ticket.
II hardly think I am a stranger
to the people of Middlesex county as
was born and reared in this coun-
ty, and for the past thirty-five years
have been established in business in
Highland Park. During that time
l have held various positions of
trust in the commercial and politi-
cal life of the community.
During my term as director of
the Board of Freeholders, 1 am glad
to say, advocated and supported
many Improvement projects for the
benefit of the taxpayers and resi-
dents of the county, which were
made with large success. I hope
the voters of Middlesex county will
again place their confidence in me
as they have done in the past, and
afford me the opportunity once more
to serve them in an honest, efficient
and economical administration.
In addition to Mr.. Gebhardt, of
Highland Park, New Brunswick
man, George Bair, has officially an
nounced himself in the shrievalty
race. George Gathers, another New
Brunswick man is being urged to
enter the sheriff race as is Richard
j. Calvin. alderman-at-large in
Perth Amboy. II these latter two
decide to become candidates it will
mean a four-cornered primary fight
for the nomination.
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