New Britain herald., 1916-10-12
PaalnViale News
DEMOCRATS ANGLE
FOR A CANDIDATE
Leaders Fear Nomination for Rep-
resentatiVe Will Go Begging
CALL CAUCUS FOR MONDAY
Few Names Even Suggested-WiIl At
tempt to Persuade Castle to Make
the Rnn--Assessors Name Wheeler
For Chairman.

Members of the democratic town
committee in issuing today the call
for the party caucus to be held in the
Town hall Monday evening admitted
that they were at sea regarding the
probable selection of their candidate
for representative. There are as yet
no candidates in the field but the COM
mittee hopes the opportunity to make
a bid for Plainvilles seat in the gem
eral assembly will not go begging.
Joseph T. McCarthy's name has
been mentioned in connectin with the
nomination but the leaders amdit that
they have no assurance that he would
accept. Two years ago Mr.. Mccarthy
declined to make the run and his
friends declare that he would be I'M
willing to change his attitude at this
time. An effort may be made to pur-
suade H. A. Castle, chairman of the
town committee, to take the nominal
ton. He is regarded as the democrats
best bet. That he would make a cap
able representative is admitted by the
citizens in general regardless of their
party utilization. He would also poll
a good vote no matter what choice was
made by the republicans although the
exceedingly difficult for the nominee
of the followers of Wilson.
The caucus will make a nomination
for judge of probate and justices Of
the peace in addition to selecting it's
choice for representative.
Machine Favors G. o. P.
While the idea of substituting ma
chimes for the Australian system OF
voting at the coming election origin
ated with democrats and socialists, the
belief is held that if any party bene-
fits are to be derived from the change
the republicans will be favored be-
cause OF the normal majority which
thew hold and the fact that men un-
fa miliar with the intricacies of the me-
chanical apparatus which is to be
used are liable to refrain from split
ting. Voting straight is a very easy
matter on the machines as the opera
tor simply has to pull his party lever
after entering the booth, and In other
places it has been the rule that at
least until the apparatus is in use for
two or three elections split votes are
com paratively few.
AS the number of republicans in
Plainville is far in excess of that Of
other parties, the G. O. P. should
tenefit most by straight voting. Con-
sequently the outlook for the demo-
CT attic candidate for representative is
not made any brighter by the intro
duction of the machine. Unless
Plainville voters learn how to manipu-
late the machine with speed not ex-
hibited in other places where tn ap-
paratus has been installed or the re-
rublicans show a tendency to turn
towards democracy, the throwing into
the discard of the Australian ballot is
bound to work towards the advantage
of the G. O. P, this year at least.
Assessors At Work.
Electing Frank T. Wheeler to serve
as chairman, the board of assessors
has made preparations to begin its &C
tivities in connection with the COM
piling of the grand list for this year.
The board will start at it's work at
once and the property owners Will be
called on to file statements of their
taxable possessions.
PROPERTY lists must be in the hands
Of the assessors by November LIST, tax
payers who fail to comply with the
law losing the opportunity of appeal
ing to the board of relief In addition
to having to pay on ten per cent.
in CrSaSo Tor CnSlI IlSSllSC1ICS.
The personnel Of the board was not
changed by the recent election, MI
Wheeler. l.. B. Tucker ad O. II. Rob
ertson continuing members. The
hoard is not necessarily bipartisan.
Mr.. Robertson is the only democratic
He was elected on the re-
publican ticket, the leaders of which
partv having expressed willingness to
have him reelected because Of the
excellent work he performed as
Of the board last year.
Since the advent of the Rockwell
Drake company property owners
have been inclined to place an in
valuation on their land owing
TO the demand for building lots.
Whether the assessors will take
similar view is matter for the
future to take care of, the member
Of the board having taken no move
rs yet in that direction. There is OF
course some speculation as to whether
ts xpayers in fling their lists will
+ COST the valuation of their property |
t. compare with declarations made to |
purchasers. Unless human
7ature has changed within a year, |
however, not a great many of the
and owners will take advantage Of |
he opportunity to voluntarily in
crease their annual contribution to !
ne town treasury.
Extend Pavement Soon.
Although the selectmen have not |
ceen officially advised as to when the
state highway commissioner and the
Connecticut company acting in con-
junction. will begin the work of ex-
ending the permanent pavement area,
o the end Of Whiting street, it is
aid that an effort may be made to
set the improvement started this fall.
Owing to the scarcity of labor the
original plan of having the pavement
aid during the summer had to be
given up and the possibility Of hav-
ne to delay until snring is also now