New Britain herald., 1914-04-18

positions to be filled are a water commissioner for the democrats and a president pro tenn, and there Is no apparent Likelihood of there being any change, MT. Egan being likely to be returned to the water board and , Alderman Christ as president pro tenn. He is a very capable official and makes an excellent choice for the re- publicans. He understands the city business thoroughly, is a splendid parliamentaria and a good floor leader. It would be difficult, if not impossible, for the republicans to ob- tain as good a man out of the present membership of the council. If the terms of other city officials ended this year there might be some changes, so that MT. Quigley will be a year in office before he can reach any of those officers should he be So inclined. Ever since the election there has been more or less talk of Judge F. B.. Hungerford for corporation counsel in place of the present occupant of the office, James B. Cooper, but the latter has another year to serve and in the meantime many things may happen. A new administration usually makes many changes, but the council has not always been in sympathy with MT. Quigley, and while all are ready and probably willing to work to- gether for the general good, there may not be the same unanimous dis position to change officials. MT. Quig- ley may not be the same aggressive member under the new conditions as he was before. As mayor he will be held responsible for the govern tao will good efficient help if he is to hold up his end.
 The democracy has been so badly defeated this week that there is con- siderable curiosity as to what kind of 8 showing it will make in NoVem- ber It is absolutely impossible to make any estimate using last Tues days figures as a basis. The pro- gressives will have a ticket in the field in the fall and they expect to poll large vote. They do not ex- pect to run but they do eX- pect to prove such a strong force that they believe the republicans will be glad to come over and join with them for the big battle two years later. The democrats have never been beaten quite so badly as they have this week, but they have come pretty near it. Back in 1896 Mckinley car ried New Britain as against Bryan by 1,700 and c. J. Parker and M. c. Webster were elected representa- tives by about 1900. Two years later T. H. Brady democrat, was elected as one of the representatives and he was reelected at the following state election, while A. J. Sloper carried the town for senator by approximate ly 2,OOO votes, New Britain has had three democratic senators since, al- though it has not been so fortunate with it's candidates for the house. The pluralities, however, of the winners in several instances have been so small as to be a narrow escape from defeat. It is, therefore, impossible for any party to successfully claim a majority for a local ticket from one year to another. The evidence is against it. Conditions change rap- idly and when they do there is no telling what may happen. This is a workingman's community and the voters are not class to be easily imposed upon. In the last cam paign there was no one on the dem ocratic stump who showed an incli- nation to buckle into MT. Quigley and take issue with him on certain things, except MT. McDonough and he could not be expected to make the, cam paign alone. It is not likely that any one, however, could have beaten MT. Quigley at the last election. The cards were apparently stacked for him and. there is no longer any use of talking about the figures. They do not leave much room for encour- agement, but, nevertheless, the de- mocracy does not, need to be dis heartened. No one can tell what may happen in a local election. It may be a republican today and a dem ocrat tomorrow. The republi- cans, however, were never so com- pletely in power locally as they are today. The question of who will be the next mayor will depend on how MT. Quigley fills the office. The key to the situation rests almost en- tirely with him.
 A Bean to Rival the Cow?