Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-10-19
WHAT THAT LARGE REGISTRATION MEANS

WHAT Thai LAhGE Edl0 MA AIAN0
THERE is REASON for the Board of FreehOlders to vie"
with some concern the large registration in this county this year
The ~freeholders are credited with having as tight an organization
for perpetuating themselves in office as has ever existed in Middle
sex. It is said that these men have a combination that can't be
beaten. They are all Republicans and as their terms expire they
invariably are renominated.
BY what seems to be a clever manipulation of the jobs and con-
tracts to be handed out, both parties are taken care of SO that 1t
has been noticed in recent years that the Democrats have not tried
very hard to GUST the present regime. 1t is a sort OF bipartisan
combination that those who are on the inside are perfectly willing
to have continued.
The power of this organization centers in the City Club IN
New Brunswick, which is controlled principally by the city COM
missioners of New Brunswick who also perpetuate themselves in
office through the same methods; in fact, the freeholders have
adopted the New Brunswick ciy commissioners tactics and have
been very successful thus far.
This City Club in New Brunswick is something like a little
Tammany Hall. 1t has itself so firmly entrenched in the control
Of the city of New Brunswick that it is now endeavoring to spread
out and get control of the county. This was seen in the recent
Republican primary contest for the nomination for sheriff. Fred
erick Gowen, a New Brunswick man, was backed by the City Club
and the edict went forth that he should be nominated. Personal
friends Of David Brown, of Woodbridge, who was Governs op-
ponent, turned against him in New Brunswick because the City
Cab, favored Gowen, and they felt obligated to stand by a New
Brunswick man.
The ~freeholders are all members of the City Club in New
Brunswick. 1t is here where the politicians of both parties hand
cut and hobnob together. The City Club is for New Brunswick
first, last and all the time. 1t is New Brunswick against the county
as far as that organization is concerned. And the City Club has
demonstrated its power in the recent primary.
In the coming election, however, the independent vote will
be out strong. For the first time, the registration in
Perth Amboy exceeds the registration in New Brunswick. The
outlook is not encouraging for the New Brunswick City Club.
Then, too. the Democrats have put a good freehoder ticket in the
field this year. Just how much an honest effort the Democratic
'smachine'' will make to elect these candidates remains to be seen.
1t is doubtful if the New Brunswick City Club can handle these
men if they are successful, and there is reason to believe that the
favorite contractors will also be disconnected if these Democratic
freeholders are elected.
cannot control the board this year as there are only three to be
elected, but they can break up the "ring'' that now has the county
al its mercy, and, at the same time, the people will have the adj
vantage Of a minority representation in the Board of F~reeholders,
which will be a good thing.
There is a general belief among politicians that the freebooter
firing centering about the City Club in New Brunswick cannot be
beaten. With such a large registration and with only the city and
county affairs to receive attention this year, the voters have an ex-
ceuent opportunity to show what they can do once their mind is
made up to have a change. What difference does it make, anyway,
whether Democrats or Republicans are on the Board of Freeholders
as long as county affairs are handled efficiently and economically.