New Britain herald., 1920-06-19
THE OBSERVER
 MAKES RANDOM OBSERVATIONS THE CITY AND ITS PEOPLE.
OM OBSERVATIONS


 ocrats. were unpleasantly surprised to read the announcement by Con gressman Lonergan that he would not seek renomination dt the expira- tion of his present term of office. MT. l-onergan has been and still is a fa- vorite in New Britain which feels d sense of ownership quite as much as Hartford. where he lives and where he praculced law until he went to Washington.
 \ During his terms of office Mir. Lon ersan can be said to have served his constituency faithfully, always with the aim of providing his share to- ward good representative government As an indication that the people of New Britain considered such to be the case can be cited his most recent election when t defeated the then Mayor Quigley. the regular republi- can nominee. It will be recalled that Mir. Lonergan overwhelmed MT. Quis- ley right here in New Britain where the latter had. previous to that con- test, been a heavy vote-getter.
 One measure in which Mir. Loner- gan had an active part directly af- Tccted local citizens. When the fed cTal government assumed control of the railroads passenger fares were raised to three cents mile, bring ing the rate from this city to Hart ford to about thirty cents. This was al hardship for men. women and girls who lived in New Britain and worked in Hartford, and tice versa, and it was believsd that the railroad admin istration ruling would upset labor conditions in this part of the state. However, Mir. Lonergan was quick to recognize the heavy burdens commu- ters would be forced to carry and by cutting all red tape he was sue cessful in bringing the suburban train of only one cent over the pre-war rate. This action, as much as any other. won him the gratitude of New Britain voters who expressed their regard in the handsome plurality ten dered him when he last sought their suppo-t.
 Another measure in which Mir. Lonergan took an active part was in securing an increase of wages for soldiers who served in foreign lands. The srale was doubled for foreign duty. During the war Mir. Lonergan kept in close touch with the families of soldiers and offered them every comfort possible while their loved ones were across the sea lighting for democracy.
 An effort is being made in certain quarters always hostile to MT. Lon organ to convey the impression that he decided to retire and thus escape the sting Of certain defeat. This is predicatcd upon the supposition that there is such revuision against the democratic party that no candidate can win under this party's standard. In contradiction of this belief it is only necessary to turn back to the last congressional campaign when there ccI tainly was d strong tide running against the administration. All candidates for congress on the democratic ticket were defeated with the exception of Mir. Lonergan. to whose efficiency the voters of the Hartford district paid tribute.
 Belief that it is all over but the shouting for the G. o. r. is slight iy premature. The republicans can harm their cause and invite de- struction just by following the line of thought that their candidates are certain 10 win in November. II is not assured that they are going 10 have a waIkover.
 One of the remarkable features ii connection with the republican ns tional convention at Chicago was tI
 manner in which NeyE- RrttS2 i3a