The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-09-11
new CHARTER
RAISES CAIN IN
OLD STRATFORD
Residents Who Are Not Candi-
dates Are Very Scarce
Struggle Coming In The Direct
Primary Which Is On
Sept. %
Especial to the Farmer.)

Stratford, Sept. 1.-THE political
situation here is interesting. The 40
tivity of the Progressives is causing
the "O1d Guard much uneasiness. The
administration scouts are reporting
Progressive meetings somewhere in
the town almost every night. The
Progressive leaders have announced
that they will nominate a full ticket.
OF course the new charter granted the
town by the last legislature will re-
strict their nominations a party but
they will go into the direct primary
election and will be heard from when
the nominations for selectmen and the
mem bers of the board of finance are
made. Their very confidence bodies
ill to the powers that have been for
so long dominant in the town. DR..
Rollin Curtis, who is recognized as
the leader of Bull Moose voters will
be a, candidate for First selectnlan.
Besides him there are dozen can
didates although all have not yet filed
their petitions duly signed with the
town clerk.
The Progressives claim that not one
of those who voted the ticket at the
last election have departed from the
faith, but on the contrary the ranks
have been steadily gaining in numbers.
Another phase Of the situation is<at-
tracing considerable attention. The
Red Men have always been counted on
to vote solid1y for any of their mem
bers who happened to be on a ticket.
This has been the cause of much COM
ment and some dissatisfaction. The
tribe has grown so large that a ri
valry exists in the order.
For Selectman of course the Old
War Horse of the Republicans Chas.
H. Welles will lead the G. o. P. list
Thomas McQuilIan will be forced to-
accept the nomination although he is
not seeking it. It is a case of pc
culiar fitness for the position. AS an
non-partisan candidate for first Sc
lectman he will draw much bigger
vote than he could possibly get should
he be nominated by the Democrats.
His name is heard mentioned more ia
vorably than any other. The friends
of Elliott w. Peck are working hard
for him. His friends are denying
that he had any part in the anti-sa-
loon campaign Weged by Rev. Z: G..
Carpenter who is his pastor. Mr..
Peck is a prohibitionist principle
and would like to see the saloons ban
ished from Stratford entirely.
Fred Nett1eton, who served the town
as second seIectnan for two years was,
the first to file his petition with the
town clerk. Others ARE coming in
slowly. Everyone who hopes to be
a candidate must file his petition be-
fore the 9th inst. The primary will
be held on Sept. %.
Red Men in the town that there is n
big change in the feeling among the
mem bers is indicated by the appear
of John Graham, Jr., as candidate for
the office of registrar. Keeler VII
son the present incun bent is a Red
Man and polled a large vote at last
election. He was the logical candi-
date of the order at the coming cleo
ton but Mr.. Graham is the junior
sycamore of the tribe and he has
friends who wish. to see him in some
town office. They argued that be-
cause a Red Man already held the Of
fee was no reason why their candidate
should not be considered.
Then again Ivan Morehousc: grand
j0rcr, who gets most of the cases in
the justice courts has no mortgage on
that position. Another Red Man has
been proposed to compete with him in
the Republican caucus for the posi-
ton. There are also Democratic Red |
Men who do not feel bound to vote the
Republican ticket because a member |
of the order happens to be on it for
an important office
Up to 10 O'Clock this morning the |
following candidates had fled petit
tons with town clerk H. c. Lowell:
For first selectman, Elliott w. Peck. |
For se1ectmen, James LaIly, John J. +
Williams, Frederick H. Nettleton, /
Clarence E. Palmer.
For fnenDer OF the DOdrO OIL Hnance
for one year: J. Barnish, Charles Sny- |!
der, f. S. Hoyt, Radford B. Smith.
For two years, F. Vande Bogart, w. !
J. Hanford, McLaren Stephenson, F. |
R. Sammis, Frederick S. Beardsley, E.
P. Billiard, Elliott w. Peck.
Radford B. Smith has announced
that he will not be candidate. Ell |
lott w. Peck, if elected to both the |
places for which he is offered must
resign one of them for he cannot, I'M
der the new charter hold both the |
office of se1ectman and member of
the board of finance.
The indications are that the voting |
under the new charter will be slnuch |
more Independent than at any pre-
vious election.
Other candidates who will probab- |
1y file petitions before the primary arel
S. w. Hubbell, Gustave johnson, Sam |
uel Beardsley, Capt. Charles Wake |
ley, Arthur Wheeler, Ephraim Wake
lee and a dozen others who may or
may not file petitions, for places on
finance board.