Camden Courier-Post – February 9, 1938
Orlando Warns Democrats at Fete to Moore, Crean and Mrs. Soistmann?
David Baird Jr., and his allies have already arranged their slate for the next city commission election and are laying plans to recapture the city government of Camden. Democrats should know of this movement and prepare to thwart the proposed plans at once.
This warning was given by County Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando last night, at a testimonial dinner in the Hof Brau at which three Ninth Ward Democrats were feted, and at which 500 were present. The trio honored comprised Mrs. Mary Ellen Soistmann, state committee woman; Oscar Moore, freeholder, and John J. Crean, assistant city solicitor and county committeeman.
While the three guests were feted and presented with wrist watches and other tokens, the affair took on a love feast aspect for the three New Deal commissioners arid all shades and leanings of Democratic leadership.
Mayor George E. Brunner was toastmaster and took occasion to poke fun at the G.O.P. and its tribulations over the county headquarters.
Brunner Jests at G.O.P.
“I have just received word,” said the Mayor with due solemnity, “that the Republican county committee of whom I, read today was having trouble over their headquarters, have finally solved their troubles tonight."
“I understand they are giving up their present location and. have just been presented by the Bell Telephone Company with a booth, and are now looking for another tenant to whom the committee can sublet half the space.”
Orlando’s warning came after he congratulated the special guests, He said:
“I have every reason to believe that Dave Baird and the rest of the Republican chieftains are already laying their plans to capture the city commission. They are working to the end with their own slate, so that they can take from the people of Camden the good government which they have received far some time.
“We Democrats do not want to take this warning lightly, we want to remember that Baird and his chieftains are already working toward capturing the government of Camden, and this is something that we want to prevent at all hazards.”
Orlando also congratulated the gathering as an indication of the growth of the party, and the faith that the people of Camden come to have in the Democratic party and in its principles.”
The prosecutor also prophesied greater honors in the future for the triumvirate who were the guests of the occasion.
Disclaims Harmony Rift
Mrs. Emma E. Hyland, postmaster and long a figure in Ninth Ward affairs declared she resented any newspaper stories that hinted that there was the slightest rift in the Democratic party.
She told of the trouble the Democrats in the Ninth Ward, which, she declared, had never elected a Democratic freeholder until Oscar Moore was chosen. Mrs. Hyland told of detectives shadowing her home during election, and of ‘the struggles’ that she and Moore had known together in fighting for the party in that bailiwick.
“I want to say,” continued the postmaster, “that we must all be impressed by the spirit of harmony that this gathering means has come to pass.
“I don’t want you, and I will not myself believe all you read in the newspapers declaring we are fighting among ourselves, for if there is anything like that in progress, I don’t know anything about it and I don’t believe you do, either.”
County Treasurer Edward J. Kelleher, hailed as “The Father of the Democratic Party in Camden County” contrasted the spectacle before him with the harmony dinner which he and others sponsored years ago.
"We sold 150 tickets,” he said, “and gave away 150 more, and when the sponsors reached the hall at 7 p.m., the hour of the dinner, there wasn’t a single other person on hand. Later the hall was filled, and it held 200 guests. 200 to attend a Democratic harmony dinner that embraced all of Camden county.”
Officials Laud Guests
Mrs. Bertha Shippen Irving, postmaster of Haddonfield; Police Judge Gene R. Mariano and others also congratulated the guests. Mayor Brunner introduced Commissioner Frank J. Hartmann by calling attention to the cleanup campaign now under Hartmann auspices.
“Just as Hartmann is making Camden a cleaner city in which to live,” said the Mayor, “so has Commissioner Kobus made the city clean from crime. The streets are clean, the city is clean, and this has only been made possible by the efforts of the three commissioners who have worked in harmony, and who are going to continue to work in harmony.” Crean, Moore and Mrs. Soistmann spoke their thanks to those present for the banquet, the gifts and the sentiments expressed.
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