Norwich bulletin., 1910-10-01

Dick DeS1 Eye of Pinafore type;"He
meant well, but didn't, know"
Now Charles II. Thompson, who has
had newspaper experience is to take
trick at the wheel and proposes to
steer the much abused old craft back
into waters that are not troubled, and
here's hoping he will succeed. Mr..
Thompson did his first reporterial
work on that paper and later, when
the property passed to the Day man
aSement, he was made the city editor
for the first period of it's changed ;
ownership. He was before, and after
a reporter on the Day and is in the
practical printer class. For over a.
year Mr. Thompson has been employed
in the circulating department of a New
York newspaper and has had like ex-
per1ence in Boston, and for a. time he
worked in the government printing Of
fee in Washington. For a man of his
years he has held many positions,
mostly in connection with newspapers,
in places all over the country from
New York to Alaska. He will probab-
! ly give to the Telegraph his wide and
varied experience and may revolution
, 1ze the newspaper business in progress
slve New London, He has the best
wishes for a successful undertaking,
as the city needs an improved Tele-
graph.
| When Governor Waller suggested ut
the city meeting that the council take
action before the incoming session of
the legislature that will result in a
| return from the ward to the voting
| district system, by amendment of the
city charter. 1t is the general opinion
| that the ward system is a detriment
to the progress of the city and q fail
ure. II has been given a fair test of
| about dozen years and the result has
| been a change in the personnel of the
| city government and men have served
| in the council as ward aldermen who
would not take a chance of winning in
| a general vote of the whole city
In consequence of the ward system
| men of standing in the city cannot be
prevailed upon to accept nominations
as ward candidates in some of the
| wards. AS result men who cannot af-
! ford to give time to the city business,
and who are not qualified even if will
! ing, have for party sake accepted NOM
| nations and in some instances the
| least evil has been chosen. OF coursa
| the present council is the best ever,
| but there have been incompetent men
| in the membership of some councils
| and others are BILE to be elected some
/, time in the future
There have been mon elected ~
aldermen who have not the slightest
Interest in the, city affairs from q
| financial standpoint or for that mat
! ter any other, There was nothing to
hold them to the city except their
| change to another city if the opportu-
| nifty was offered. They could at q
| moments notice pack their grip and
| take the first train from the city with
| interest These men are not tax-pay-
, ers not even of a poll tax, and could
not be elected even as a hog hayward,
were there such an Office, outside of
the ward where they happen to stand
in with the gang that controls.
| With the ward system abolished
| this class of aldermen would never
| again be known and the sooner the
change is made the better it Will We
for the management of municipal af-
| fairs. The people have given the sys-
tenn a fair test and opportunity ought
to be given the people to decide by
referendum whether the continuance
Of the ward system was desirable.
The democrats in New London are
showing signs of life, especially since
the nomination of Edward L. Brown
! for state treasurer, and have actually
established local headquarters and are
reorganizing for the state campaign,
on even a larger scale than if there
was a presidential election close at
hand. It is planned 10 thoroughly re-
| organize the party and some of Old
Guard are at headquarters teaching
a campaign. The democrats have be-
come tired of doing nothing in party
| work and now some of the ould- timers
are getting in their work in a frantic
endeavor to call some of the seceders
| home and halt the flow of the sons of
! democrats into the republican camp.
Already there is life sufficient at
headquarters that actual smoke talks
on politics and candidates have been
hal WIFI PTenX n ri inf
topic. The matter of selecting candi-
dates for representatives is being con-
sidered and already headquarterSmen
are booming Nathan Belcher for the
legislature. This is the young at
! torney who was one of the democratic
nominees Few years ago and came
WITHIN four votes of defeating the re-
publican nominee. Carl j. Vets who
was not considered particularly
strong candidate a the time, as he
was classed as an Armstrong man and
just then feeling was strong. in some
| republican quarters against the re-
publican mayor. Mr.. Belcller re-
ceived MANY republican votes.
| Nathan Belcher is son of William
BelGher who has been nominated for
Office on the state ticket, and grand
son of the late Nathan Belcler. q.
democrat who once represented the old
| Fhjrd district in the national house of
Representatives. It is believed Nat1a n
will he nominated without opposition,
but the man cannot 1Ns found who act
ually believes he will come. so lear
an election as when he came SO near
defeating Mr.. Viets.
The great unwashed. as the I11i1loFi-
ty party was termed years ago, seems
to have difficulty in finding a running
mate for the young attorney which is
in marked contrast with their friends
the enemy I'm this respect. There may
be some Barkis or some Micawber in
the party but they have not vet been
discovered in this connection. 1t is
now about seventeen years sinve the
local democrats sent representatives
to the state legislature. Two were
sent TO the deadlock session for the
first time within the melnory of the
oldest voter. although prior to that
time IL was common to send re-
| publican and democrat At the fol-
lowing session the same two repre-
sentattves We're gain IN slnbers. but
since that time no democrat has had
look in. and the prospect OF Il change
in that respect is not looked for at
this time. Perhaps that's a reason