Waterbury Democrat., 1901-12-11

The great battle which was sched- uled 10 come off ill the superior court to-morrow morning between Mayor kilduff and Judge COwell, Ernest J. Steer and Michael D. Russell, John Meyer and George A. Gibson, with Judge Wheeler as referee. has been de clared on, much to the disappointment Of tht public, who expected to see the best bout of their lives. Preparations for the impending struggle were dis continued this morning at the office Of the O'Neills. counsel for the defend ants, on receipt of the following mod est note which explains itself:
 Waterbury. Conn. Dec II. 1901. HON JOHN O'NEILI4. City,
 Dear Sir:-We hereby give notice that the applications of George H. CoweII yS Edward G. Ailduff, Ernest j. Steer yS Michael ID. Russell and John Meyer ys George A. Gibson, are withdrawn and will not be pursued.
 Respectfully.
 l.. r. BURPEE,
 <F. NJ. PEASLEY, Attorneys for Applicants.
 The back down came unsolicited and was quite surprise to the democrats who were ready 10 defend themselves in such q way that it is thought they would much prefer to have the case aired ill the courts. But it is not likely that it would have amounted 10 anything. The alleged illegal fourth ward ballots were traced to where they belonged and the best evidence any court could ask would have been put forward to show that no one at the house where the third ward dem Ocratic ballots were printed saw the word for on them. so that it is not unreasonable to suppose that the al- Ieged illegal ballots in the third were the work of the same bunSlers who had charge of the republican ship in the old fourth. What was 10 prevent inc same clique from uniting tickets in the third ward and making botch job of the printing the same as they did on their fourth ward ballots?
 One thing appeared to he worrying tie democrats. and that was the fear entertained in some quarters that no third party had q ticket in the field. They knew that they could do the republicans, but if some other party happened to have d ticket at the polls ana EtCelStu even Olle le9dl DdllOl. then republicans and democrats were outside the breastworks. When cOun- Sel for the democrats were assured that there were but two tickets i'll the field on election day they breathed easier and appeared to have no doubt as to the outcome of the suit. If the case went to the courts and all the ballots should be declared illegal and q new election ordered the city would be out something in the neighb0rhood of $6.0O0 and the democrats would surely come out of the tussle with ev- cry office in the gift of the people, the board of aldermen included, and it is surInised that this had something to do in prompting the appellants to throw up the sponge before stepping into the ring. Of course the attorneys for the applicants will have something to say that will put decent face on their position. We shouldn't be sur prised to see them try to lead the pub fic to believe that they stopped the row in the interest of peace and good will and for the sake of harmony in the community. That's all right Let nobody say aught against this. They got themselves into q bad mess and every man should be charitable enough to allow them to work their way out of it in the most ingenious way they can think of. It is the Christmas time and we should exercise as much charity as possible towards our erring neighbOrS. Of course it should be borne in mind that at the outset those who were at the back of the contest meant all right. Later they saw that their game was blocked and since that time their guns have been practically silent.
 They can all talk and assign reasons as to why Judge COwell disappointed so many of his friends by deciding to contest the election but it seems to be pretty generally believed that the question never would have been raised lad 1t not been for the remarks of Mayor kildun at a recent meeting of fhe board of finance relative to q well known manufacturer who has his mil Ion dollar plant down on the grand