Norwich bulletin., 1919-05-13

tendance Of probably nearly fnouS- and men, of whom 513 voted when 1t came time to indicate their preference for either Walter W. Lang, who is at present president of the board of water Commissioners jor John J. Sl1ugrue, who had the backing of considerable con tingent for the nomination.
 Mir Lang won the nominat ton by 35S votes to 154 for Mir. Shugrue. The de- feated candidate at once moved tomake the nomination unanimous, and was joined in tho motion by Myer Blum euthal who had nominated MT. Snug. rue.
 The nomination for water commits sioner was the last on the list in the caucus, and was the only one to cause any. extended burst of oratory Norn- nations for aldermen and councilmen made before this were. passed over with just a brief mention in most cases but Meyer Blumenthal and Ed ward T. Burke did the extended speak ing when it came to, the contest of the etvening.
 When this point was reached and Mayor J. J. Desmond. the presiding officer, called for nominations. there was just little political jockeying to see who would make the first start. d. two until Mayor Desmond again re- minded the caucus that tho chair was listening for Q naming of a candidate.
 Then Mir Blumenthal took the floor and said that he had in mind for not1- iiaation a man who was democrat, not only a democratic voter, but a democratic worker one who had left his business and his work to work for the interest of the party and the ticket The present incumbent, said MT. Blum enthal, has been water commissioner for eight or ten years and democrats and citizens alike appreciate his Ser vices. This is 8 country of liberty and opportunity and equal rights, de- elared Mir. Blumenthal, illustrating his point by telling story about a school boys answer to his teachers question of why he liked America. We have been through a great world war to abolish autocraey and no good dem ocrat would think a man ought to hold office for life. We should have equal rights, said Mir. Blumenthal as he nominated John j.. Shugrue, a demo- cratic worker
 There was a burst of applause for the nominee as he concluded his speech.
 Attorney Burke then took the floor and said that he, too. proposed to non- mate democratic worker, and he wanted to explain the present situa- tion.
 He too had story to tell about a school boys answer and then went on to read from the special acts of 1917 by which act affecting Norwich made the position of superintendent of the water department a job for, life dur ing competency. Two years ago, said Mir. Burke, we elected our ticket and supposed we had all the offices; but a man we supposed was a democrat voted with the republicans and gave them to on the water board and that is how MT. Burnap got the su- perintendency. A majority of the voters disapproved of this. Phe mayor and the common council were busy with other matters, but Walter Lang took it up and tried to find way to get rid of MT. Burnap. At that time said NIT. Burke, MT Lang had no idea of administering the affairs of the wa ter department az he has been doing but it was Mr. Burke who gave him the advice that it might be possible tt abolish the office of the superintendent So it was by the charter that Presi-
  tion of the water department. There is nothing sure about it that the mar 1 nominated here tonight will be presi- dent Of the board again. He must bt elected by the board and approved by | the common counctl. There is tho l referendum vote too. coming, in June which is voted in the affirmative tc i repeal this charter amendment will pu l things back just where they were anG 1 then it won't make any difference what the supreme court desides. MT Burke said he could not see how and democrat could conscientiously vote against Walter Lang and the1 1 vote for the referendum for that would | be 3 fepudiatien and a snub to thu ! man who had labored with the re. | publican legislature for the repeal O. 1 this charter amendment
 I In his closing words Mr. Burke car | ried his audience to Flanders field b, | reciting verse from that well knoy1
 war poem. and declared that in .
 smaller sense it would break faith witt the principles of the party of fair pla, l to vote against MT. Lang.
 | The. vote was taken by passin: around in front of the desk while tn, two clerks Of the caucus, J. A. Des mond and c. J. Downes, recorded th. vote. It took fourteen minutes for tin l big crowd to file past the clerks. While the clerks were figuring III 1 the vote, Mayor Desmond took the of l peftunity to renew the suggestion tha he said he made last year that al l possible attention would be given b, | the city government. i'll the comin; year to criticism and suggestion tha were honestly given for the improve ment of the city; but there will be Il place for the groundless kicker. H thanked such citizens as had mad suggestions in the past year and sai he wanted to make Norwich greater better and more prosperous with tn help of all good citizens. He was viz
 orously applauded.
 When the meeting opened it wa
 called to order at o'clock by Vii
 liam H. Callahan, chairman of tn democratic town committee. Mayo
 Desmond was at once elected chair
 man on motion by Attorney Thoma
 J. Kelly.
 The mayor took the chair and sai
 that he saw in the large gatherin
 present an indication Of great inter est in the city affairs, which if con tinued at the polls would result in til f election of the ticket. He said til promise made a year ago to condut the city affairs in an honest and eff s cieiit manner had been kept and not 7 penny had been spent wastefuliy in year that had been full of difflcuItie : because Of the special conditions ere ' ated by war times.
 5 He reminded the crowd present ths no one was entitled to vote in Ii t caucus unless they are electors in tt : city, and said they were there to st fleet men willing and able to face af
 solve tie problems that will be pfe
 eeiited.
 Milo F. Waters. at present an alder man. was iiominated without conte; for the same position on the tick.