The Camden Republican Club at 312 Cooper Street - 1914
for many years this building was the home of the Camden County Red Cross 
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The Republican Party, under the direction of William Joyce Sewell, David Baird Sr., and David Baird Jr. dominated politics in Camden from the 1870s through 1935. To the left is a picture of the old Camden Republican Club from 1914, at 312 Cooper Street. 

In 1923 a building at 223-225 Broadway, the corner of Broadway & Stevens Street, was obtained which was to become the party's full-time city and county headquarters. 

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The building ob Broadway remained in use by the Republican Party until 1940. It was managed in the 1930s by William Lehman, a political ally of David Baird Jr. The 1930s were marked by a bitter struggle for power between Baird and Albert S. Woodruff. This struggle so divided the city Republican Party that Democrats led by George H. Brunner all but eliminated the Republicans from power within the city of Camden. 

As a result of this dissatisfaction with the leadership of David Baird Jr. by suburban Republicans, a movement led by county committeeman Edward Marker led to the Republican Party Headquarters leaving the building in 1940. The building had been closely identified with the Baird faction of the party, and this influenced the decision of party leaders as much as the apparent shift in party fortunes from the city to the suburbs. 

In July of 1942 the building at 223-225 Broadway was razed. Two new stores were built in its place.

Manager
of the
Camden County Republican Party Offices
1930s

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Camden Courier-Post - February 8, 1938

G. O. P. ASKED VIEWS ON CLOSING COUNTY HEADQUARTERS
Political Clubs and Leaders Get Questionnaire on Financial Support

Questionnaires have been sent to the Republican clubs of Camden city and county, together with requests for opinions from the county committeemen and committeewomen on whether Republican county headquarters, Broadway & Stevens Street, should be continued.

Replies are expected to be in the hands of the committee next Friday. A meeting of the committee, scheduled for last night, was postponed.

It was reported two months' rent of the headquarters remains unpaid, employees have not received their salaries for the past month.

Seven questions were submitted to the clubs in this order:

Do you, or do you not favor a County Republican headquarters? Why?

Do you, or do you not believe the present location is desirable? Why?

How does a County Republican headquarters help your- local club?

How can a County Republican headquarters help your local club?

Would your club be in a position to make a yearly contribution toward the maintenance of such headquarters?

Note: This question only can be answered by the various Republican clubs.

If your answer to question No. 5 is no, what would be your suggestion as to how a headquarters should be financed?

Remarks: Please give us your frank opinion freely.

Replies Confidential

The letter sent to the committee members declares all replies will be held "confidential." It follows:

"This committee was appointed at the last Camden County Committee meeting for the purpose of finding ways and means of maintaining a County Headquarters,

"We are sending the enclosed questionnaire to all Republican Clubs in the City and County of Camden. It will, therefore, not be necessary for you to consult your respective clubs.”

"We desire your own personal opinion which will be kept strictly confidential.”

The committee comprises Edward D. Marker, of Haddon Township, chairman; George H. Walton, of, Haddonfield; Louis Bantivoglio, of the Fifth Ward, Camden; Mary J. Smith, of Pine Hill; Dorothy MacIlvain, of the Twelfth Ward, Camden, and Elsie Geistert, Pennsauken Township ..

Miss MacIlvaine confirmed the re port that the letters and questionnaires had been mailed to county committee members. She said they would be sent to the clubs later this week.

"Our committee is not forcing the issue concerning the Republican headquarters," she said. "We think it only fair to permit the committee members and the clubs to decide the matter. We shall be guided in our recommendations, by the action of the members and the clubs."

No intimation was given as to the manner in which the polls are registering, although the hint was given by one of the county committee that the clubs were not yearning to accept any burden of maintaining county headquarters.

According to one of the coalition leaders the plight of the county committee is onerous. This leader declared the rent for the past two months remains unpaid. The leader also stated the employees had not received full salaries for at least a month.

The rent for the building is said to be $75 monthly.

William H. Lehman, regarded by many members of the committee as a political "Friday" for former U. S. Senator David Baird, Jr., is manager of headquarters at a reputed salary of $50 weekly.

Other expenses include the salary of a clerk, a janitor, fuel, electric, gas and incidentals.

Camden Courier-Post - July 25, 1942