Norwich bulletin., 1909-10-09

Ctle tndl lHeTG was 4 SOmclnlnk BOlnk on that can only be understood by those Initiated into the mysteries of the game of politics. Mir. Whiton gives as reason for his defeat that MT. Mahan was a better republican than he (Whiton) was a democrat
 Another evidence of republicans de- serting their party was shown in the vote for selectmen. Fox, democrat, re- ceived 221 republican votes, and White. democrat, received IFS. While Da Sil- va, republican, who has been repeated lS elected by vote in advance of his party, received only 24 democrs tic votes, and his colleague, Kennerson, oIly IS. In the first, Second and Third wards MT. Mahan was given more republican votes than any other candi- date, but in the Fourth and Fifth wards Fox led him, in the Fourth by two votes and in the Fifth by twelve votes.
 There was no candidsts for alder ms~ by the democrats in the Second ward, but the other four aldermen on the democratic side were given 1S5 re- publican votes. while the republican candidates were given in return only n votes. The highest number of re- publican votes given to a democratic alderman was CS to James OLeary, in the Fourth. The largest number of democratic votes to a repu biican norn- inee for alderman, 30, went to Thomas Howe in the Third ward. The First was the banner republican ward for Mahan, where he received 104 repub- lfcan votes in exchange for 12 demo- cratic votes. MT. Whiton's banner democratic ward was the Fourth, where he was given 23 votes in payment of 5 republican votes for Mir. Mahan.
 There was probably more real po- litical play in Mondays election than in any that has preceded, of the kind that Bret Harte referred to in his ref erence to the Chinaman, and there was also more than one prominent repub- hcan who was working openly in op- position to MT. Whiton for other than political reasons, and all helped to de- feat the regular nominee of the re- publican party; but all Is fair in love. war and politics. It was a clear case of the republicans meeting the enemy and going with them.
 Mr. Mshan should certainly feel hon ored by the fiatterina vote he received from his fellow towns men, regardless of party, a practical endorsement of his former active and widely criticised administration; for when votes were deposited for him the Voters knew well
 
 his lEetbods. Mr. Mahan has prom ised model administration, and of course he usually keeps his political promises. He is the man on horse back. and in recognition of his polit- ical generalship and his progressive spirit. his rise from a tinsmith ap- prentice to mayor of his native city and the heaviest taxpayer, all should tip their lids to him as he rides by, For ffffharp a edlf- ma n that man is Bryan F. Mahan.
 He has the opportunity to improve upon his former management of mu- nicipal affairs. Will he do it2 Every Voter who placed his name in the bal- lot box believes he will perform the duties of mayor to the best of his ability, and he has the ability to fll the office fully as we'll as any of the honorable gentlemen that preceded hip.S and better than some. Time alone will reveal what the new mayor of New London will do for the good of the city and the residents thereof.
 Just because Bryan E. Mahan is mayor of New London must not be taken as signal that there is to be a general resumption of a certain line of vice that has already been practi- eally suppressed by persistent prose- CuilOu, iOT ll VIII pc iOu0O lndt lnt new mayor will see to it that there Is strict enforcement of the law in that particular. Although an argu- ment used against MT. Whiton was that he would see to 1t that the Sun day and liquor laws were enforced were he elected mayor, holds good with Mir. Mahan, although he may not be radical in some minor matters. There will be no revival of the ne- G~.. A "A business, nor will there be increase in the sale of liquor after hours and on Sundays. The mayor will give these points attention, and should he be too busy, he will find willing assistants in the committee of fifteen and those be- hind the reform movement of a year ago and since.
 Rev. Mir McNally has said that give him three hundred God-fearing men and he could make New London clean, referring perhaps to the illegal sale of liquor and it's attendant vices It may be that Mayor Mahan will convince that the city is not so bad that such a large force of men Is not reduired to do reform work in New London. Mayor Mahan can, If he will, alone and single handed, do more in the municipal reform line in a week than the Rev. MT. McNally's force could QO III u UtCduc. mdlOT Mdllhn lo equal to almost any emergency and if he takes a notion that thefe Is need for reform in the moral welfare of the city. along lines that cannot be accomplished solely by the churches there will be things doing, and don't you forget it.
 The New London fire police is now an organization in name only, having sold their belongings and asked the council for permission to disband. It Is given as cause in communication to the court of common council that members of the fire police were not permitted to ride to fires on the hook and ladder truck and hose wagons of the department. That's a pretty film sy pretence. for there were fire police before there were any horse drawn or motor fire apparatus in New London, srd, so far as known, this riding is new wrinkle. As matter of fact. only specified number of members are allowed to ride on the runs to fires, and it is folly for the fire police men to expect that the working force of the companies should be decreased for the accommodation of the fire po- lice. New London is one of the small est cities in the state in area and it is no more inconvenient for the watch CTS to walk or run to the fires than the workers.
 It is hinted that the real cause of the present trouble is internal dis sensions. that have characterized the organizst tion at intervals ever since it passed from the control of men who had served for years as active firemen to those whose only fire experience consisted of fire police duty. Of course, 1t is the privilege of the mem bers to resign. but the fire police is city organization and the members