The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-08-16
HOT FIGHT
 IN NINTH Four Delegate Tickets Pre- pairing for Republican Primaries TWO FOR COONEY
 TWO FOR BOOTH Six Candidates Seek One Al dermanic Nomination,
 Muirhead Leading
Anti Lee Forces Rallying to
 Struggle for Regular Re- publican Nomination

Complicated beyond precedent is the situation in the Republican party in this city. Not only is there a great contest on in which a large number of Republicans are seeking to shake off the leadership of men whose affil- iations with public service corpora tions they do not like, but this con- test is threaded through and through with struggles for minor political of- flee. Just now the seat of agitation there will probably. be four tickets for the choice of delegates to the Repub- hcan town and city convention and in which six candidates for aldermen are in sight.
 While it is possible that a change of sentiment may take place 1t ap- pears at present that the two Lee tickets will be distinguished by the preference of the delegates for B. F. Cooney or James A. Booth, respective ly. The same distinction exists in the two anti-Lee factions. one of which favors the Cooney candidacy, while the other favors the Booth candidacy. MT. Booth has once held the office of town clerk MT. Cooney's chances of being successful, will it is claim ed, be favored by a struggle in which four sets of candidates for delegates are fought over.
 In the Ninth there are six candidates for aldermen. The stars of this pro- cession are Alderman A. V. Hartley, and w. R. Muirhead, the well known builder. Hartley is the last of the aldermen who voted for the 20 year water contract. Two years ago he crat and came within IS votes of be- ing beaten. Ut was thought that he would not seek a. denomination. It is believed that the jresence of so many a dor dofn f1 ,oy-fIx fr, the efforts of the Republican leaders affiliated with corporations, who are anxious to split the field so that a small, though relatively small pri- mary vote for Hartley will secure his re-nomination.
 This plan would have gone along swimmingly had it not been for MT. Muirhead who,r upon a platform of avowed opposition to further domina- tion of Republican councils by pub lie service corporations, plunged into the contest and after an active can- vass, enrolled with the registrars Sat- urday 170 names of men who are fa- yorable to him for alderman. Not claimed, can be rejected upon any pre- text whatever. Unless the unusual occurs it is thought that Muirhead easily controls the situation. He is a man of strong religious convictions and will it is said have the support of "church'r element which is strong in the Ninth.
 But the opposition is waging a hot fight against him. First it is claimed that Muirhead is a Democrat and that his name has been enrolled upon the Democratic primary list. The latter charge is true. But MT. Muirhead in sists that he is Republican and he will take the Republican nomination for alderman if it comes to him.
 It was said today that he has al- lied himself with MT. Booth, The Muirhead ticket will be for Muirhead for alderman, may be for Booth for town clerk, and for anybody for may or who will enlist to free the Repub- Hcan party from it's present sinister control. Charles H. Morris, the har- bormaster, is said to be the first choice.
 The Muirhead registration includes many members of the Slovok Sokol union. which has recently built a large hall on the East Side. MT. Muir head had charge of the building of the hall.
 The other aldermanic candidates are Charles R. Ayres, 216 Ogden street, who is a clerk in the order depart ment of the Bridgeport Brass com pany; Michael RebStock, Hallett street a well konwn builder; Thomas Stewart a mason, who favors improvements S for the North End of the district, M. E. LaFarge, a carpenter and builder James McAleese, who has been several times a candidate for the nomination and William Smith recently a candi- ed the Democratic party some time since.
 MT. Ayres candidacy is that of his friends more than his own