Norwich bulletin., 1912-04-06

There is political talk and political doings in New London every day in the year, but as election time hears there is simply an increase in volume and that's aI The republicans have already held caucus and named Taft delegates to the state convention and soon the democrats will go and do likewise. But national politics is at present secondary to local affairs. It seems to he generally conceded that Mayor Mahan will be the democratic nominee for congressman from the new Third district and candidates for the mayoralty are cropping out almost daily, for with Mayor Mahan out of the race there is chance for someone else getting it. for 1t is considered fact that there is not a man among the many men in the city who could win that office from the present in culnbent.
 On the republican side quite a num- Der have been prominently mentioned tut only one who has come to the gront and center and openly expressed his willingness to be the party's standard bearer in the mayoralty race is Alderman Samuel Prentis one of the most active members of the party, and who is one of the very few mem- bers of the present court of common council who shows any signs of op- position to Mayor Mahan and his characteristic progressiVeness. Mla Prentis is the representative of the council on the board of water and sew CT commissioners and is quite 9. mixer. He is one of the aldermen from the | Second ward, nominated against the wishes of the party leaders and elect eC practically without opposition. He shows deep interest in all matters of municipal interest, provided they are not guided by the personal magnetism and influence of Mayor Mahan. It IS not believed that the. party will pre- sent the nomination to MT. Prentis on 8 silver salver, but If he gets the nOm- 1 inatior he will have to make a fight for ! it. He has shied his castor in the ring and declares he is ready to meet all corners in the contest.
 | Although Mayor Mahan was noml- mated by the democrats, his election | by a large majority does not follow l that the city is democratic, although 1 some of the wards do occasionally | elect democratic representatives in the city government. Trained politicians, 1 the valuable kind who do the paper | work for the party, unhesitatingly de- 1 clare that on a strict party vote New | Irondon's normal republican majority l is at least four hundred. But in New l London the personality of the candi-
 date is taken under consideration, as was shown in the recent election when | Thomas R. Murray, candidate on the 1 democratic ticket for member or the
 board of assessors, ran away ahead or l his party vote, led some of the re- | publican candidates for other offices and came within an ace of being elect ! aa i co 1 iority in that particular election was about three hundred. With this fine test of popularity and his previous | experience as a member of the court of common council. and a fearless one | at that his political friends are groom ing him as the democratic nominee for mayor to run against MT. Prentis l or any other man.
 MT. Murray, like Mir. Prentis, is Q native of New London. They are both trained political workers and should | they De pitted against each other in the mayoralty contest, the campaign would probably be as lively as the first pitched battle between former Mayor B. l.. Armstrong when he won from the present mayor although it was
 considered during the campaign thai
 Armstrong, green at the game of poli- ties, was not in the same class witt
 Mahan, the seasoned politician, tho
 hero of many political fights, agains
 men trained down to the minute 1T
 the game of politics. But when the
 ballots were counted it was learned
 that the Armstrong politics were no
 correctly figured for he had met hi!
 political adversary at his own game
 and won.
 While Mayor Mahan is being boomeC | e.,
 gresg, he is pursuing his usual tactics
 by remaining silent until the time ac
 tually arrives. Then if he wants thu
 honor he will step right in and win
 But if the situation does not look goot
 to him, if he does not consider thu
 chances of election good, he will ar
 range that his name will not be men | toned in the congressional convention
 Speaking of mayoralty candidates
 it should be remembered that, witt
 Mahan shelVed for congress, there
 are republicans that would command
 the vote of the people, practical.
 without regard to party, if they wOult consent to nomination. There are no
 many such men, just a few, and tn
 most popular of them all is George s Palmer, who, since his coming to Ney
 LonQon, mas snOWn intense interest Il l all that concerns the good and wei } fare of the city and is doing much to
 wards it's general advance, beautifica l ton ard general attractiveness. Il
 the gooo old summer time, when tn i flowers are in bloom, he opens his spa clous and beautiful flower garden | connected with his mansion in the Pc
 quot colony, to all the people of tn l city, that they may enjoy the beauti 3 ful that conditions do not permit then l. to cultivate in such variety and beau t ty.
 Mr Palmer is foremost in the sev 5 eral organizations who are working i
 nulson to make the city more attrac