Baird, Stokes Lash Richards Ambitions And ‘Horse Trading’

Camden Courier-Post – June 30, 1933

Dinner to Reesman and Mrs. Verga Packs Whitman

Local Delegates Get High Praise

Ex-Governor Denounces Roosevelt Program, Hits Inflation

By Ransloe Boone

Bitter criticism of the “horse trading” of the Legislature and the gubernatorial aspirations of Senate President Emerson L.Richards, were coupled with appeals for party loyalty and praise for Camden county’s leaders at a dinner of the Camden County Republican Committee in Hotel Walt Whitman last night.

The dinner, one of the largest ever held in the hotel, was in honor of City Commissioner Clay W. Reesman, new chairman of the county committee, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Verga, vice-chairman of the county and state committees; Joshua C. Haines, former chairman, and Mrs. Isabella C. Reinert, assemblywoman and former vice chairman.

Tribute was paid them by a distinguished gathering of more than 500 national, state and county leaders. So great was the crowd that the capacity of the main ball room was taxed and the junior ballroom was utilized also.

The attacks on "horse trading" and Richards were made by former Governor Edward C. Stokes and former United States Senator David Baird, Jr. Baird did not mention Richards by name.

Proud of Own Legislators

"We Republicans in Camden County have a faculty for victory," Baird said, “but we can and will help to defeat selfish aspirants to office if they don’t play straight with the Republican party.

“I am proud of the record of Senator Albert S. Woodruff and our Assembly members, Mrs. Isabella C. Reinert, F. Stanley Bleakly and Frank M. Travaline, Jr. They didn’t take any part in the trading of judges, highway commissioners and prosecutors.

“Camden County has been accused of not wanting civil service. When it came time to vote on the question Camden County stood by civil service as it always has, and beat the ripper.

"Only when you play the game and stand four-square for the ideals of the party can you expect the people of the state to trust you."

“Whose Legislature?’ Stokes declared:

“We won a great victory in New Jersey in the last presidential election. We did it by remaining loyal and not by trading with the Democrats.

We thought we elected a Republican legislature. John Milton, Hudson County Democratic leader, however, says we elected a Republican legislature but the Democrats are putting on the show. But in that very paternal letter he wrote me not long ago, telling me what I should do and why I should not ‘interfere’ with the Legislature, Senator Richards assured me the Republicans controlled the Legislature, I’m glad to know that for, of course, Richards is always right.”

Stokes predicted history would repeat itself and the Republican party soon would come back into its own.

"The party that stands by its principles despite defeat always comes back."

The former governor proposed two means of lowering the present high taxes and heavy expenditures.

"I wish this county committee and all those throughout the state would insist on legislation to prohibit municipalities from spending more than they have and from floating bond issues and I wish you would support legislation providing for a limited local tax rate and providing for a gradual reduction of taxes to that maximum."

Doubts Roosevelt Plan

He expressed doubt as to the wisdom of some of the Roosevelt program. Inflation makes us prosperous, if revoking the gold standard aids us, amen, if calling 18 inches a yard will help us, that’s fine. If we can ask employers to sell us more and not throw more of our own workers out of work, that will be wonderful. But I can’t understand how we will be aided by those proposals. It’s too much for me.”

He demanded that, France, England, and the other nations pay their debts, declaring they were spending five times their debts on armaments.

Congressmen Defend F. D. R.

Wholehearted support of all of President Roosevelt’s measures which will promote relief from present economic conditions was pledged by United States Senators Hamilton F. Kean and W. Warren Barbour and Congressman Charles A. Wolverton.

Kean explained that he voted for the economy bill after he had been assured the president would not touch the compensation of those veterans whose injuries were service connected and that it was passed only because "pressure was brought to bear."

After paying tribute to Reesman and Mrs. Verga, Kean said:

“One of the first bills introduced by the new administration was the economy bill. This bill authorized the president to consolidate departments of the government, of which there are a great many overlapping and which could be done without any injury to anybody except those receiving salaries or emoluments there from. The bill also authorized the president to adjust the wages of government employees and to examine in and make new rules for those receiving pensions from the government. A year ago we tried to give Mr. Hoover power to do away with a lot of these offices that were unnecessary and useless. Mr. Hoover promised if he had the power that he would do so, but this was beaten by the Democrats, so that Mr. Hoover never had; the power to do away with these useless bureaus.

Economy Bill

“The history of the economy bill is this: After it was passed by the House, before they had time to read, it and under a special rule the debate was so limited that nobody knew anything about it before it was voted on, it was then sent over to the Senate and referred to the finance committee. In the finance committee a Democrat moved that the president should not have authority to reduce anybody’s compensation more than 25 percent.

"Each senator voted for or against the measure or amendment under consideration. On this amendment, upon the call of the roll, the majority of the Democrats voted in favor of the amendment. Most of the Republicans voted against the amendment and it was a tie on the last Republican name on the committee. This was Senator Walcott, of Connecticut, and he voted, "pay” on the amendment. This beat the amendment. Next was the question of reporting the bill out of the committee to the floor of the Senate. This was again a tie vote when it came to Senator Walcott and he voted “aye,” which reported the bill out.

Won on G. O. P. Votes

On the floor of the Senate the bill would not have passed but for the Republican votes. We were assured by the Democratic leaders that the president would not touch the compensation of those veterans whose injuries are service connected. In other words, the.wounded. When the regulations came out, some two months after this, bill had been passed, they had cut the wounded veterans to pieces.

“When the president saw that the Senate voted almost two-third to take away this power from him, he got up some compromise formula which was not satisfactory, and got it passed by the House. This was submitted to the Senate and it was on this proposition that every Republican senator voted to support the Senate amendment rather than the House amendment, and I believe that had no pressure been brought to bear on the senators that every senator in the chamber would have voted for the Senate amendment, rather than for the House amendment.”

Pay Tribute

"I don’t criticize the president, I pay him tribute," Barbour said. "He showed outstanding courage and initiative. He is taking a long chance in many respects and it is the duty of Congress to make the program succeed. It is the program of the nation and I hope it does succeed. However, I do not forget my loyalty to the Republican party. The test is coming this winter in the administration of these great pieces of legislation. I feel,it my duty as a Republican not to play politics, but I shall raise potent protest against any unfair or unwise laws."

He praised Mrs. Verga and Mrs. Edna B. Conklin, of Bergen county, national committeewoman, who was among the guests of honor.

"I never would have been elected if it were not for the combined efforts of those ladies," he said.

Two future booms were launched.

Mrs. Verga for Senator

“Some day when Senator Woodruff gets tired of being Senator, I hope to see Mrs. Verga as Senator or, if Congressman Wolverton would become Governor, I should like to see Mrs. Verga in his place; at Washington. She is marvelously capable of filling both jobs.”

In response, Wolverton laughingly said:

"That’s the first time I ever heard a sober man nominate me for governor."

Wolverton’s address follows:

Cites Relief Jigsaw

“In the few minutes allotted to me, it will not be possible to speak upon several subjects as I would like. I do wish however, to touch briefly and in a general way upon what in my opinion should be the policy of the Republican party at this time with reference to national affairs.

“The economic condition that confronts our nation today, with its attendant paralysis of business, finance, industry and agriculture, creating widespread unemployment, destitution and need, has brought us face to face with an emergency surpassing in its possible consequences even that of the World War. Its devastating effect has brought distress to millions of our people.

“Demand for relief comes from every conceivable source. It is not confined to any particular class. Bankers, railroads, industrial corporations, farmers, homeowners, businessmen, sovereign states,local municipal governments, capital and labor, rich and poor, each with divergent views and often conflicting interests, but all with an insistent demand that each shall receive the particular kind of relief its individual need requires.

Defends Administration

“In answer to the demand of our people for relief, the president called Congress into special session. He submitted his program for relief and recovery to the Congress and it has been enacted into law. To provide effectual relief in the variety of ways made necessary by the different needs to be served required the entrance of our government into new fields of activity.

“There has been a disposition upon the part of some who hold representative positions in our party to criticize the enactment of such laws upon the basis that we have cast aside many of the fundamental traditions of our nation. Such criticism in my opinion is wrong. It overlooks entirely the serious emergency now existing affecting the welfare of our people and which in my opinion is sufficient justification for the enactment of such temporary legislation.

In times such as these, if we are to best serve our people, we cannot hold to the same course of action that has prevailed in other times.

“This is a time of distress and need- a time that calls for the application of new principles or a rearrangement of the old.

“Policies and principles of government set up and agreed upon in times of prosperity cannot be accepted as standards in times of economic distress when the financial and industrial organizations of the country are prostrate and our pea pie in want.

Warns Of Criticism

”’Nor do I believe our party can gain public confidence by inaugurating at this time a campaign of criticism against the program and policies recently enacted by Congress It has not as yet had a chance or a trial. This is not time to be destructive denunciation without constructive proposals. This is no time to create doubt.It is a time when everyone regardless of party affiliations should co-operate to build confidence, dispel fear and create courage.

“What we need today is constructive co-operation by all political parties. Let each retain his party lines, but co-operate for the common good.

“As a party we must have the vision that will enable us to recognize that new conditions create new obligations and the necessity for the application of new and different policies of government to fulfill our entire responsibility.

“We must have not only the vision as to the necessity, but also the courage to do things which a few years ago would have been unthought of because contrary to accepted theories of what is a proper field of governmental activity arid unjustified under the prosperous conditions then prevailing.

No Place for Politics

“Let our thought be in terms of the common good, then there will be no denial of the necessity or the propriety of the government- in times such as these, assuming a responsibility to promote the general welfare and seeking, to fulfill that obligation by entering into enterprises or assuming functions, that otherwise would be unjustified.

“In this time of crisis, when we are seeking to relieve human misery,there is no place for small or mean partisan politics. Nor is this any time for demagogic utterances- this is a time for calm and deliberate consideration and judgment. A time when it is imperative that whatever gives promise of relief shall have our whole-hearted support.

"In conclusion, permit me to suggest that the greatest opportunity for our party in the days immediately before us is to give sympathetic consideration and support to those measures and policies that will best promote human rights. Our party had its origin in support of that great principle and the future measure of its success will depend upon the extent of our adherence to it."

Baird also declared he would support the president.

“Mr. Roosevelt is our president. Republicans will support him, in every thing which is for the bests interests of the country. All should wish for his success,” Baird said.

Sales Tax Urged

Mott urged that Republicans support a sales tax as the most equitable means of raising needed money.

"A sales tax would distribute the cost equally and would be more fair than the income tax. As we know from the hearings in Washington; some aren’t paying their income tax, anyway."

Mrs. Conklin paid tribute to Mrs. Verga for her great political sense, ability and understanding of human nature.

She urged that all Republicans work as enthusiastically as a minority party as they did as a majority.

"We must go along and build until we become the majority again," she said.

Edge Sends Regrets

Walter E. Edge, former Ambassador to France, who was to have been the principal speaker, was unable to attend because he and his family are at their summer home in Maine. He sent a telegram expressing his regrets and his wishes for success to Mrs. Verga and Reesman. It had been reported Edge would be boomed for governor at the dinner but no mention of such a proposal was made.

The honor guests spoke briefly. Reesman asked for the support of the county committee and pledged himself to give all his energy towards the success of the party.

Mrs. Verga praised the committee members and thanked them for their support. She paid a special tribute to former Senator Baird.

"We have been successful in Camden County," she said, “because we still stand solidly behind our leader, David Baird.” Her tribute was greeted by long applause.

Mrs. Reinert and Haines also spoke briefly pledging their support to the new chairman and vice chairman.

Woodruff Toastmaster

State Senator Albert S.Woodruff was toastmaster. He was introduced by Carlton M. Harris, chairman of the dinner committee.

The county committee presented a lounging chair to Reesman and a silver flower bowl to Mrs. Verga, as well as flowers to Mrs.Reinert and Haines. Flowers also were presented to the new chairman and vice chairman by the Twelfth Ward Republican Club and the ladies’ auxiliary, by the Young Republicans of Camden County through Harold Joyce, its president, and by the Bergen county Republicans, through Mrs. Conklin.

The dinner committee, in audition to Harris, was headed by Mrs.Pauline Caperoon, secretary; Mrs. Mary S. Hartung, assistant secretary, and William D.Sayrs, Jr., treasurer.