Norwich bulletin., 1911-01-06

The opposition to the new Haver- hill charter did not cease with it's adoption by the vote of the citizens. A former city solicitor, ;Eole and acute, who had been prominent in his op- position. attacked it as unconStitu- tional. and framed objections to it on this ground which were presented to the supreme court for decision. The features of the charter upon which the question of it's being constitutional was raised were these:
 1. Restricting the printed names on the ballot to the two candida tes for an office receiving the highest number of votes in the preliminary election for nomination.
 2 Denying the right to have print ed on the ballot the name of q can didate nominated by caucus of a political party.
 B. Denying the right to have print ed on the ballot the name of a can didate nominated independently of a caucus by nomination papers.
 I. Denying the right to have print ed on the ballot the specification of q political party or political principle expressed in not more than three words
 Of course these objections were di-
 
 ter to free the elections from the in fluence of political parties; and to allow no political party to nominate candidates as representing such polit- ical party, with the designation of such party after the name on the ballot.
 j. Requiring men to accept an of flee of uncertain tenure with liability to be recalled at any time without just cause or for a legislative, executive or judicial act.
 This objection, evidently, was di- rected against the provisions of the recall.
 $. Requiring the man to seek the office (no longer can the office seek the lnan) and before his name can go on the ballot, to have a petition of qualified voters in which they certify him to be of good moral character and qualified to perform the duties of the office.
 This objection was directed against the method by which one became a candidate in the nominating election.
 The supreme court listened to the arguments, carefully considered the is sues raised, and gave judgment on each point against the opponents; that Is, they pronounced the charter en- tirely constitutional.
 The charter having been adopted. having been pronounced constitutional by the highest authority of the state, the attention of the citizens was turn ed to the preliminary or nominating election. There was no dearth of can didates nor lack of assurance in pro- claiming their merits for the office. The socialist party did not depart from its usual course. In a party conven- ton it chose candidates of its own for every office, and issued a statement in the press of the socialist principles for which these candidates stood. Of course, however, each of these can didates was placed on the ballot by the method of petition prescribed by charter The opponents of the char ter were vigorous in their desire to become officials under it, and the may or of the city, who had served five consecutive terms under the old char ter and had been most earnest in his objections to the new one, pleaded that there should be no swapping of ''hosses'' while crossing a stream. and that his experience was necessary to connect the new and the old forms. For the single office of mayor there were seven candidates, for the four positions of aldermen there were