Norwich bulletin., 1912-06-01
NEW LONDON LENIENT TO SAILORS Clearinghouse Keeper Refused Admission to Uni
 formed Soldier From Fort
CONGRESSMAN HIGGINS ACTION REGRETTED
Had Made Himself Solid With the City By the Sea-Mayor Mahan Sees Chance to Start Personal Boom But Will Give Situation Careful Scanning Before Becoming
 Candidate

AdIluk4dACs
 Many sailors from the battleship North Dakota enjoyed shore liberty this week While a comparatively few or the blue jackets gave the police some trouble. the great majority were well behaved and welcome visitors. It can b. truthfully said of the men of the North Dakota that taken as whole they are the best behaved bunch of naval men that have visited the city iI' many years. During the summe" months promise has been made that many ships of the navy will visit New London harbor and that the men will i he given shore liberty So it is we'll that the police are instructed to be as lenient as possible with Jack Ashore, but of course such leniency must be within the bounds of good conduct.
 As a rule the people of New London make no discrimination against the visiting sailors, marines and soldiers, ot which there are many of the latter in the city at intervals from the island forts. But once in awhile some in- dividual is charged with disrespect to the uniform. But these cases are so rare that when they do occur they create considerable discussion. Such case happened this week and the fact has been called to the attention of the war department for action. soldier from one of the forts had been in the custom of taking his meals at a cer- tain boarding house when in the city on pass, always being in civilian dress One day of the present week he called at the place dressed in his uniform and he was denied admission to the board A.. Al va {t tu al legged. Like the occasional ill-behaved soldier and sailor, there is the occa- sional narrow-minded and misguided citizen, which in this instance seems to be a keeper of d boarding house. Like the. police to the soldier, the lat 1 ter should be lenient with men of that class for it is evident that they lack justice and common sense.
 The men of today who were boys | fifty years ago can remember the con dition that existod in Now London dur
 ing and after the civil war when the | soldiers and the sailors did not com mingle and when the marines were | practically ostracised by both, and the i whole were classed as undesirable by | the people as a. whole. Those old-time | fellows who wore the uniform of the | army and the navy were 8 class by | themselves when on pass or liberty and | had no use for the civilian and that i feeling was reciprocal, and that was at | a time when the union was in peril | Just as sure as a sailor and marine | met, no matter whether from the same 1 ship or not, there was a fight and the 1 same was true at the meeting of sold | iers and sailors. In consequence there | were lively times in New London, and | then there was certainly discrimination l against the men in uniform, which was | tC & degree JuStihable. But that was | about fifty years ago and there has ! been general change in conditions for | the better since then
 Not only were the wearSrs oF the | uniform ever ready to fight between | themselves but were ready to tackle | citizens often upon imaginary provo cation. At that time there were sever Ri hundred boiler makers employed in l New London and they were considered l 8 pretty tough set. There arose a bit l ter feeling between the soldiers and the l boiler makers and street and saloon l nights were of frequent occurrence The soldiers were in a sense armed for 1 conflict at all times and more than one er-maker carried a riveting ham fner in his inside pocket. Included in the uniform of the soldier was a leather belt with large oval clasp of brass in front bearing the letters "'U l B" This clasp was backed with solid l lead which converted the belt into a 1 dangerous sling shot This weapon was frequently used against the boiler makers or other citizens when attacked l by the intoxicated soldiers. Therefore it is plain that the soldier of today is g peaceful dove in comparison with the 1 brave soldiers that we read about, that ts if the recruits that rendezvoussd at New London about half century ago are accepted as fair samples.
 Hardly had announcement been made l that ,Cenaresssnan Edwin w, Hiauins had saved the New London naval sta ton from abolition and when even some democrats were singing his praises and considering giving him their appreciative political support, when along comes his authoritative an n0uncement that he will not be a can dsdate for renomination. He certainly has been a friend to the city of New London and to all it's citizens who had business with the accommodating and 1 eflcient congressman and the people l upon sober consideration now begin to realize the fact more than ever. Many democrats regret this action and ex- press sympathy with their republican 1 friends for as sure as grass grows Mr. 1 Higgins would have received a big democratic vote in New London at the next election. so large that that there 1 you'd be no warrant for. a recount ] But the passage of MT Higgins from
 As congressional contest makes clearer tAe way for the nomination of Mayor RTVan ho nominee, for with the Norwich con gressman in the field, the mayors chances would materially lessen.
 Mayor Mahsn is being boemed as tho democratic candidate from without and
 from within the new district, the poll
 tical complexion of which is just at the
 present time problematical MT Mahan
 Is one of the shrewdest of politicians and while this booming is going on he says nothing but steadies the buck and
 applies the saw. He will make a care
 full study of the situation and at the right time and place he will declare
 himself to be a candidate provided he is reasonably sure of being elected. If he considers the chances against him his name will fade away in connection
 with the nomination. In this respect he will be his own adviser as the man
 competent to give him tips on politics has not come to the surface as yet. There is no doubt as to the qualified
 tions of Mayor Mahan to represent the district in congress. but there is doubt of his election even should he secure the unanimous nomination, which he
 will not.
 When there was agitation for a new
 town hall in connection with a new county court house, the city of New , London was authorized to issue bonds {, of $1O0.000 for court house purposes. But there came change in conditions and thera was m llninn huildinP hut