Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-02-08
BURPEE AND PECK.
Had . Heart to Heart Talk st Hart.
 fssd Ysstsr6ay.

If the scramble for the judgeshipS of the city, the district and the suL ,I> for courts in this city does not end ih black eyes for some ot the wire pull CTS involved 1t will be wonder. Al. ready Senator Henry H. Peck has got himself into more hot water than he ever dreamed of. And h Is said that Representative BIakeslee is up to his ankles in it and sometimes wanderS around the capitol Hobbies like man lost in desert. Warm as has been | the fight, 1t was at boiling point yes terday when Senator Peck introduced a resolution nominating Attorney E.. F. Cole for judge of the city court. Had any other of the local representa- tives done this Judge Burpee would not have been very much surprised, but Senator Peck was the last man in the world he would suspect capable of it.
 But it is now said that though Sen ator Peck merely introduced the meas. ure and had nothing more to do with it than that, it was not altogether an unpleasant duty. In sentimental way Senator Peck, though outwardly friendly to Judge Burpee. is said to be opposed to him in this matter. There are family reasons also why he should not help Judge Burpee to of fee, it is said. But after the resolu' tfon was handed in and the shock Of the surprise was quieting down. Sen ator Peck and Representative Blakes- lee were given an opportunity to ex- plain their attitude toward Judge Bur pee.
 Attorney NJ. J. Byrne, who is a can didate for the ermine of the district court, was meandering around the lob- bies of the capitol and heard stories of Senator Peck's reasons for nominating Attorney Cole. One of the reasons was that Judge Burpee owed some l2.0OO 10 the city, money he had collected as taxes some years ago and not account cd for. and that 1t was scarcely proper that man with such reputation should occupy position as prominent as judge of any court of the city. There were other reasons whispered. it is said, but this was the only one given publicly. However, it Iearhed the attention of Attorney Byrne and when he met Judge Burpee he lost no time in telling him that Senator Peck and Representative Blakeslee wereD' t doing thing to his reputation and his chances for succeeding himself in the city court. And Judge Rurpee did not let the grass grow under his feet in finding the senator and the representa- tive. And the story goes that he took the senator by the lapel of the coat. the one that holds his favorite bouton- niere, and told him in a very few words the difference between slands: and gossip.
 But, my good man" exclaimed the suileless senator, .'I only told what I had heard.'
 Exactly" replied the judge, "that is where you made the mistake. You should not have circulated any such story unless you were ready to stand for it."
 Senator Peck was aStounded. He had no desire to get himself into hot water for the sake of politics or poli- Ncians. He had no idea that matters would reach such an extreme. He had no particular interests in the judge ships and just then he didn't care who the dickens would be aDDointed. A week ago Representative Marsh introduced q resolution nominating Judge Burpee 10 the city court. but it is common talk among the lawyers that he will not be elected by the county caucus. It is said he has to meet the opposition of Senator Peck aud Representatives R'akeslee and Marsh. How Senator Phelan stands is yet matter of speculation.