New Britain herald., 1922-09-23
THE OBSERVER
Makes Random Observations
 On the City and Its People
@lHis.

In contrast with the smoothly roll
 ing convention of the republican par | ty, the democrats seemed to have a
 hard time getting a state ticket out
 of their system. When their organi-
 zation did get steam up 1t ran true to
 the course mapped out by the geode- tic engineers of the party who had
 been over the ground to notice any
 hillocks that might protrude. To
 paraphrase a saying by one of our popular comedians: "The hillocks are
 all gone, there aren't any more.' Tom" Spellacy had things about his own way in about the same pro-
 portion that J, Henry Roraback had things his own way at the republican convention. J. Henry's margin of ner than Spellacy's. The Hartford democratic boss turned his thumbs down when he wanted sacrifice made, and the sacrifice came along right on time. Never has demo- cratic convention been so completely under the dominance of an individual.
 Spellacy gave Lonergan a sound thrashing in the contest for the sen- atorial nomination. Even his friends must have been surprised at his over whelming victory because, while 1t was known that his forces were we'll organized and that he had support pledged to him from many quarters, it was not thought that he would snow under his rival whose personal popularity throughout the state made his stock look like fair investment.
 In the fight for the gubernatorial nomination Mayor FitzGerald of New Haven, had the field to himself. rhoms of Waterbury, was hardly in the race. his only support being from the delegates from his home city. Again the Spellacy organization was in evidence, its support going entire ly to the side of the New Haven can didate.
 The opposition to Mayor Paonessa of New Britain, for secretary of state was so feeble that 1t can be checked off in the analysis as a trace" Our Angelo won without trying. Again, the hand of Spellacy is seen. Those close 10 the mayor knew that he could rely on the influence of the Hartford strategist who is said to feel that the presence of Paonessa on the ticket will give it strength among the vot- CTS of Italian birth or extraction all over the state. Whether he will off set Judge Palotti of Hartford, who has been named by the republicans for the same office, remains to be seen.
 It is "big city ticket The large centers of population incline to make it top heavy. New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport and New Britain get the plums. Nearly every man on the ticket is city man, a "slicker" as the yokels would say. For that req son it may not attract much of vote from country districts.
 In other respects as well it is a "city ticket" In the platform ap- pears plank favoring the election by popular vote of the members of the public utilities commission. This will find favor in the cities where the suspicion has been allowed to flourish that the present board is too friendly with the transportation trust and pays
 little heed to what the people want. AS the democrats see it. the only way to make them behave Is to put them up for popular election. Then, per haps, as in the case of the Arch street line patrons in this city, it would be possible to get service.
 It might also be observed that the plank in the platform aimed at the Volstead act is something to warm a city dweller's heart. As he sits around his flat O nights with nary thing in the cupboard or the coal bin except emptiness, he envies his coun- try cousin whose cellar is redolent with the fragrance of various wines, cider and (shh!) maybe little cider brandy and perhaps he may decide to vote the democratic ticket if he thinks it will hasten the day of five per cent ] alcoholic drinks. No doubt about 1t, this plank does please the folks in the | city (perhaps because we're all so wicked) while 1t will hardly stir the | imagination of Uncle Josh of Bygosh | Corners.
 It seems to have been a serious oversight to have no Waterbury rep resentaton on the ticket. The Brass City was hardly recognized. Prophets 1 are beginning to say that Candidate Templeton, who is leading the G, o. P. charge as candidate for governor, |