Political Feud Stirs Atlantic

Two political factions compete for the control of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Robert Delaney and Mayor Stoy, the faction leaders, support different men for “city boss” and will stop at nothing to win.

Atlantic City, N.J. Aug 12 - Two political factions fighting for control of this city are vieing one with the other and amazing the town with exposures and counter-exposures of graft and of deals with all forms of protected vice. Mayor Stoy has charged that Robert Delaney, who aspires to supplant Louis G. Kuenhle as the city’s boss, is leagued with “other gambler to defeat him for re-election. Delaney denies that he is now leagued with gamblers, and charges directly and specifically that the Stoy faction has received, and is receiving tribute from protected gambling resorts. To cap these charges [cannot be read] from other sources which make it plain that gambling has been a protected and profitable industry in Atlantic City for more than a decade, and that other forms of vice have paid large sums regularly for the upkeep of the local Republican machine and the men who control it. Paralleling this struggle is another between the liquor sellers and the owners of piers and varied amusements. The former, not content with being permitted to violate the excise laws by keeping open their bars on Sunday, have been able, by an alliance with the small reform element, to prevent the amusement owners from doing business on the Sabbath. The latter, taking advantage of the present political chaos, have succeeded in passing through councils on first reading an ordinance which will permit Sunday baseball, vaudeville and all manner of amusements. In the contest between the warring factions the reform element appears to be submerged. This is demonstrated by the candidates for the mayoralty. Mayor Stoy, who seeks to succeed himself, is generally regarded as an echo of Boss Kuehnle. He has become wealthy in an office that pays only a modest salary. Augustus Parker, his only opponent, is the candidate of the Delaney faction. Until his election to coucncils a few years ago he was a plasterer, working for small day wages. When he was elected he threw away his kit. The Stoy people say he is worth $75,000 and they assert they will show how he got it. This general statement is only a bare outline of the feud that has aroused the city and alarmed hotel-keepers, bankers, and business men generally. These latter are pleading with the factional leaders to compose their differences. They assert that the city will be hurt irreparably by the scandal if the revelations shall continue.

“Political Feud Stirs Atlantic,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed October 9, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/702.