New Britain herald., 1916-04-12
NORTON TO QUIT AS
 DEMOCRATS LEADER
Will Resign as Town Committee
 Chairman at Caucus Tonight
MURPHY MAY SUCCEED HIM
Rev. W. Waldo Weller Appointed New Pastor of Methodist Church Here Will Occupy Pulpit Sunday-E. A. Freeman's Condition Unchanged.

Minton A. Norton this morning an nounced his intention of resigning as chairman of the democratic town committee at the caucus to be held this evening in the Town hall and the voters will be asked to name his sue cessor. Members of the party are anxious to have him continue at the helm but he is determined to quit and will not agree to further recon sideration.
 The chairman declares that he has not the time which the duties of the position require and he wants some other member of the party to assume the burden. MT. Norton has been at the head of the committee for the past two years. He has been hard worker for democracy for years and has shown considerable ability as an organizer. The party will miss his counsel and energetic efforts
 There was talk today of naming John Murphy to succeed him. Mr. Murphy gave considerable assistance to the party during the past two campaigns and he is well qualified to perform the duties. He is chief ranger of Court General Lawton, F. of A., which has shown remarkable growth as the result of his activities He is popular with the democrats and his election without opposition is as- sured should he be willing to- take the position.
 Besides naming MT. Norton's sue ccssOr, the caucus will select two dele gates to the state convention to he held at New Haven next month. The convention will choose delegates to the naional convention at Chicago. There is seemingly no content for the honor and today it was reported that the caucus would probably select MT. Nor ton and his prospective successor as chairman of the town committee to represent Plainville democracy.
 The call is so arranged that it will be possible to elect delegates to the fifth district senatorial convention. This matter, however, will probably be deferred until later.
 New Pastor For M. F.. Church. , Rev. w. Waldo Weller is to be the new pastor of the Methodist church here. He was appointed to succeed Rev. A. A. Houck at the last session of the New York East conference held in Stamford last evening. MT. W Neller is expected to arrive here the latter part of the week. He will conduct the services Sunday.
 Local NJ eth odists have but little information concerning their new leader. They have been informed that for some years he was engaged in missionary work in the Panama canal zone and is a forcefuI speaker,
 MT Houck plans to devote his en- tire time during the next year to his 1,-1n he is taking a course in theology.
 His successor is expected to be resident and with his family he will occupy the Methodist parsonage, which has been rented since Rev. c. B. Thurston resigned a year ago.
 Mr. Houck has done splendid work during the year and the new pastor will find the church in excellent condi- ton when he comes here to begin his duties.
 Condition Unchanged.
 The condition of Edward A. Free man, who is dangerously ill at his home on Washing gton street, was re- ported this morning to be unchanged. He is suffering from embolism and while the attending physicians believe it will be necessary to amputate his leg, his friends are hopeful that such an operation may be avoided.
 According to pr. J. N. Bull the family doctor, Mr. Freeman is not troubled by a ruptured artery as was generally believed. An artery in his leg has become blocked preventing the blood from circulating to any ap- preciable extent into his feet. Dr. Bull states that in cases of this char acter amputation is invariably neces sary to prevent gangrene and the sub- seQuent loss of the patients life.
 The doctors will give the case still more time to respond to treatment be- fore resorting to the operation.
 Wants License Transferred.
 Application to the county cOmmlS- siOners for a transfer of the liquor li- cense now held by his wife Martha II.