Norwich bulletin., 1913-12-06

The ancient and honorable Nameaua Engine Company Of New London re- gently brought into the limelight by it's action in eXpelling EX-Alderman and Elk Foreman Thomas B. Donohue from membership, which was disap proved by the court of common council, has recently decided that there must be a change iI the internal manage ment of the company affairs. At the annual meeting held Monday evening Attorney Richard F, Freeman was elected foreman not by reason of his experience as a fire fighter, but rath- CT in the hope of getting the company with noble record back into it's prop CT place. The time has arrived when diplomacy is necessary and the mem bers believe they have found their Moses in Attorney Freeman. Already Foreman Freeman has called for a conference on the Donohue matter, with the fire department committee of the court of common council and there is hope for an amicable adjustment. There may have been some misunder- standing that will be adjusted in com mittee, but the present court of com mon council will not stand for the proceedings, especially since at the time MT. Donohue was a, member of the council and as such did that which caused the Nameaugs to vote to ex- pel-the loaning of a key to the com
 
 employees could use the company's toilet.
 No man knows more of the trans action than does Attorney Freeman, and it is understood that he has no particular love for DOnohue. It has been openly stated that MT. Freeman helped to defeat Donohue for re-elec- tion as an alderman from the First ward and on election night he was at the meeting that the vote to expeI DonOhue was taken. It is no secret that Freeman has no political love for Mayor Mahan and has opposed him for many years, even when Freeman was chairman of the democratic town committee. The pair of worthies are pronounced political enemies and Freeman has attacked the doings of the mayor on public occasions that were not of political nature and which did not add to the number of friends of the talented Attorney Free man. In fact, it is believed by at least one individual, that Mahan, and Ma han alone, caused Freeman to aband- on the democratic party. When the parting came it is quite likely that Freeman saw the real political light for a first time and wondered why he had remained so long with the unap- prectatiVe democracy, for his worth and ability was soon recognized. Ha
 
 representative to the Connecticut gen era1 assembly and came within an ace of capturing the republican nomination for congress, in which event he would have been Congressman Mahans op- ponent.
 Mayor Bryan F. Mahan is the head of the court of common council and Attorney Richard P. Freeman is the head or the Nameaug Engine company. There Is a serious matter that awaits adjustment the interested contest ants being the court of common coucfl and the fire committee. foreman of the fire company, MT. Freeman is ex- pected to win the case from the judge and the jury for his clients. It looks like an uphill job, but Freeman has ability and pluck; so has another. It is up to Foreman Freeman to exercise his diplomacy and to extend the olive branch and by so doing the best inter- eStS of the cOmpay he represents will be served. The mayor is in no way mixed up in the affair, but as mayor he may be compelled to take a hand in the settlement. He knows well the good record of the Nameaug Engine company, and like all other good ctti- zens who realize the importance of harmony in all the companies compos- ing the volunteer fire department of New London, would be pleased to haya the Nameaugs back in the front line where it rtghtfully belongs, The mem bers of the Nameaug have elected MT. Freeman for the purpose and it is up to him to make good. Here's hop- ing he will.
 Speaking of firenen and the like re- minds that New London has perhaps the best equipped volunteer fire de- pertinent in existence. That has a large sound, but 1t is undoubtedly true and it can be truthfully added that no city of,the size has a larger numb ber of fremen, more efficient It is an un- contradictable assertion that New Lon-