New Britain herald., 1916-03-25
ToWn Topics

That the present mayorality fight in
 the republican ranks is more than a
 simple contest for purely local hon
 ors is not doubted for a moment by
 the shrewd political observers. Nor
 do they for a moment believe that 1t is
 essentially a contest between George A. Quigley and OrsOn F. Curtis. On
 the other hand they see in the cam 1 paign a fight for existence between the
 old line republicans and the c. A. Q republicans for political possession of 1 the city. It is a case of the survival of the fittest and the goal towards 1 which each of the contesting parties 1 is battling is the coveted chair allot- ed to this district in the national : House of Representatives.
 Republicans feel that after his term
 is up r. Davis Oakley is to be cast into
 the political discard. New Britain, i always a G. o. P. stronghold, is anxious i to send one of her native sons to Con- 1 gross. George A. Quigley is believed 1 to have the Congressional bee in his i bonnet Senator George w I<lett, it ! is understood would also like to be ] congressman and even two years ago ] his name was prominently mentioned 1 but for some reason, which may be-
 come apparent next fall MT. Oakley ! had first claim. And herein is be- ! lievod to lie the issue of the present i struggle.
 1 Senator Klett Automatically does ! not seem to be pledged to the support | of either Quigley or Curtis but it is not difficult to read between the lines. | klett is a one of the old line repub l licans. He was chairman of the old
 republican town committee that fought | Quigley's advent into politics and tried 1 to prevent his ascending to a place of 1 power in the party. In the initial 1 clash two years ago Quigley won first 1 blood by beating the old timers and securing the mayorality plum. The old timers gritted their teeth and wait ed patiently for two years. Their hour has come and it is now a fight to the finish. Briefly, the idea is that New Britain, politically, is not big enough for the old line republicans and the new line Quigleyites With ever an eye on the Congressional cleo tion the fight between the two is being Waged. If Quigley is defeated it will mean the return to power of the old liners, the overthrow of the present : mayor and his following, and a fair 1 chance of the election of George w. Klett, leader of the old liners in past cam mpaigns, to that position of honor which he aims, Congressman. On the other hand, should Quigley win it may mean the complete overthrow of the old liners and the permanent possess SdiOn of the local republican party by
 the G. A., Q. followers. Thus, as head of the new machine and head of the republican party in New Britain Quig- ley would be in position to dictate.
 Then what would there be to hinder him from attaining the goal of his ambitiOn-a seat in congress? The genuine issue of the present campaign is obvious.
 1 there are many who see in O. F. Curtis something other than the ambitious politician. They see him a willing pa Wn in the intricate game of politics Admittedly strong QuigIey threatens
 the existence of the old liners and the
 political future of their old time lead
 CT, George w. KIett, they have set
 about to vanquish him. A problem
 arose of who to pit against him. The possibilities were not many or anxious
 to enter the race. Here enters Curtis the astute, the clever, the scheming and crafty old timer. A personal en- emy Of Quigley, no one would enjoy defeating or humiliating him more than he. Likewise, all flaws of omis- sion or commission (and they are many) in Quigley's administration arc 1 known backwards by Curtis. These 1 black marks can be shown in a better l light by Curtis who knows they can be l presented to the public with more ! Slaring effect than by any other man
 and in so doing he will serve the old liners. Will he discredit the Quiglev ] regime? He will try to prove to the 1 satiSfaction of the voters that the 1 present mayor has been pulling the | wool over their eyes and attempt to
 stimulate enough opposition to defeat him at the polls. A republican vic
 tory favorable to the old liners would be sweet indeed. But the downfall of | Quisley even at the price of a two | years democratic rule would not eb | too crushing for the old liners. How l ever, a general victory would gain for l Curtis the goalof his years old yearn-
 ing,-the mayors chair,--and for the 1 old liners return to power and all
 that goes with it.
 
 That Mayor Quigley is really afraid 1 to debate with Councilman Q. r. Cur
 tis now seems to be an absolute fact | This gives ground for some unfavor- l able criticism of his honor, especially | since it was in his brain that the de- l bate idea was born. At the Fifth Ward 1 Republican club smoker several weeks 1 ago he publicly remarked his regret | that Curtis was not present that thev
 might debate. Now that Curtis has 1 seen fit to call his bluff, his honor
 after first accepting, has now exhibit l cd d distinct aversion to a verba1 1 cilash with his enemy. Is it. as Mr. ! Curtis claims because he is agraaid to