New Britain herald., 1920-03-27
THE OBSERVER
 MAKES RANDOM OBSERVATIONS THE CITY AND ITS PEOPLE.
VI OBSERVATIONS

What promised to be a week Of political saiety, citywise, has devei- oped into d drab affair with old enc mics shaking hands and going through all of the motions of brother ly love. We refer. of course, to the duel of words and books with Mayar> Qu:sleN~il this corner and Sfr. McMa- hon in this corner (both members of thIs club.) If either has launched a Constructive idea during the week, it has been too vague for the average man. Mayor Quigley has defended his adm in istration and McMa hon has alta cked ii, so there was no surprise or G'Sappointme ent.
 After passing through so many q S. tress:ng incidents born of the war and the return to peace conditions, your American citizen declines to become excited, and so far as the writer has been able to observe. there has been little change in the local political sit uation. If there has been a change, it proba by favors Mayor Quigley, as it seems to be acknowledged that the bellicose MT. McMahon has mada votes for the mayor. His tactics have simply driven votes into the mayors camp. It is the height or nonsense to trail a man around during a political campaign for the purpose of contra dieting his utterances. and McMahon has gained nothing. It is an unfailinS trait Of the American public that it will turn away from the fauItfinder and heckler and transfer it's sympa- to is hoin~ crit icized if childish tactics are pursued by the critic.
 The truth is that New Britain doesn't care a fig what Mayor QuiGley thinks of McMahon or what McMahon thinks of the mayor. We are all in terested simply in securing a good government one that possesses busi- ness acumen. Mere honesty of pur- pose is not sufficient; it must be ba cked up by judgment and vision; itt must be as capable and all-around efficient as the men employed by the corporations to administer their pri- vate affairs.
 Alderman Curtis campaign is being quietly conducted. In fact, it is all underneath the surface. One would hardly know he is a candidate for office A recent bereavement in his family may have some bearing upon the alderman's diffidence. And, then again. he may be keeping his rifle well oiled and his powder dry for later activities.
 The alderman from the Third ward is a hard man to judge Just when his political opponents think he is sleeping he is preparing q blow that will leave them breathless. He is sl quiet worker who campa igns with few trumpets or bass drums and whether he has made any progress toward cap turing the republican nomination cannot be estimated. Alderman Cur tis is not without admirers and there are many influential leaders in the party who would be happy to see Mayor QuiSley go down if his down. fsll would not harm the party. So t is rather carly to say whether the Third warden is becoming stronger CT weaker. If he intends to make #n open fight for the nomination. it, will be necessary for him to make m early beginning.
 By the time this is printed it is expected that Alderman X. M. Paonersa will have announced h;s candidacy for the democratic nomi- nation for mayor. Friends of Alder man Paonessa know that he has long