New Britain herald., 1921-12-24
TIE OBSER VER
Makes Random Observations
 On the City and Its People

By mcddHug in the prosecuting at- torncy affair Mayor Curtis has crcat-
 ed a situation which leaves everyone Iconccrncd dissatisfied with the re i sult In obedience to some of the | C, O. ?. leaders who have had a grip
 on the local republican party for some 1 time, the mayor set about to pick a successor 10 A. A. GrccubCrg. Word
 went forth, if Is understood, that As- sistant Prosecuting Attorney Joseph | G. Woods, who was the logical can
 didate for Grcenberg's post, was not Acceptable to the inner clique, the
 same clique that engineered the now | famous dinner al the country club as ] d preliminary 10 Grecnhorg's election
 and which eventually elected him. AL though he attempted to cover his
 tracks, the mayor was not successful ! lin hiding his preference and 1t was generally known in City Hall that he
 was trying to dig up q candidate who
 could successfully oppose Woods. The names of two other candidates were mentioned but when the hour Of the republican council caucus arrived, | Hi2zoner saw storm clouds gathering
 and rccfed his sails creating the i'm
 presson that he was not unfriendly
 to the Woods candidacy. The truth
 of the matter is, so the Observer has
 been told by republican member of
 the council, the Woods support at the caucus was so strong from the begin
 ming that any attempt to name any
 one else as Greenberg's successor would have been voted down immedi-
 ately. The Observers informant said
 that a number Of republicans in the
 council are tired Of being dictated to
 by Mayor Curtis and are determined l that his dictatorship shall come to an
 end "The clique is against Woods
 he claimed. The fact that Woods was
 not opposed should be counted as | defeat for the element opposed to him.
 | However, independent republicans
 should not allow themselves to be lulled into a state of false security
 The anti-Woods faction never sleeps and it will put forth every effort to suppant MT. Woods after the new
 council is elected and takes office in
 the spring. In fact, it is expected | that the powers that-be, through their
 control of the primary machinery, will lattempt to nominate only candidates
 who are hostile to the idea of Mr. | Woods becoming prosecutor to fill the complete term, which does not expire until 1923. This is a danger against which Mir Woods friends should be
 on their guard. Under present ar | engagements, he will serve only until the next council takes office. His enemies will busy themselves between now and that date to secure ma jority against him in the council. Mayor Curtis mystery over the Greenberg resignation is best describ-
 ed as an opera boufle For several weeks he has given eVasive answers to newspapermen and city officials when questioned about the reslgna- | ton on the plea that any resignation,
 if there was one, should be transmit ted to the common council first. Yet, Hizzoner has not hesitated to take the public into his confidence when other officials have resigned. The explana- ton which seems most acceptable is that the mayor was playing politics and was trying to line up support for i an anti Woods candidate, hoping to gain his end by withholding the news that the resignation had been tender ed. It is said that several politicians were quite annoyed when the news | papers published the fact that Green | berg had resigned.
 Mayor Curtis desire not to alienate the friendship of these politicians is easily accounted for. He has aspira- tions to succeed himself in office and | support and friendship from any quartNr will be welcome. He is making | q stroNg bid for the support of the
 powers >hat-be, or at least one wing of the riNg, and, no doubt, will get 1t because there are men whose in
 1uence counts in the republican party |