Norwich bulletin., 1922-11-08
.DANTESON3

.Bruokeaas grand old man, < wanton ek9r.s. ,Iho win be 109 years of age k0EenAar 25, participateds in the vot- thg in f1at town on Tuesday and possi- Sy vaB the oldest citizen in eastern C-ou1ae3eut to deposit a ballot if not tas olaust In the state.
 2M4. Briegs was taken in a motor car enmas kis home on the West Side to the pSINAg pAses in East Brooklyn. His dRff is 6iuEnmg and it was necessary sh6e he have the assistance of his son, EsSH. Briggs, in marking the ballot, but IAhsrWGse he got along very well and Ieefned to be interested in the experi- ln6o of ence more casting ballot in an sl6seAsn of such widespread interest.
 4 Nr. Briggs could not definitely recall Tuesday afternoon for whom his first bGflOt was cast in q presidential cleo h6n. though it would appear from the lmke. of his birth and the record of cleo dots that 1t was James Knox Polk, Olected in 1945. Mr. Briggs does renem- Der very clearly, however, and recalled the fact on Tuesday, of hearing crowds eheeFing for Andrew Jackson. This was when Mr.. Briggs was little boy with YEATS to wait before he could enjoy the tights of voter. He also remembers sAS Martin Van Buren election in 1887
 
 Since the organization of the repGrb- liean party MT. Briggs has voted for its candidates and added his bit to helping the party in the voting of Tuesday. In addition to experiencing falling eyesfgH- MF. Briggs also is a bit deaf. He gets about his home and out about the grounds and bids fair to live well be- yond his 101st birthday, now only a little more than two weeks away.
 FEdnS Sheldon Blair of Washington, D.! C., addressing a republican rally in the town hall on the eve of election, included in her remarks some comment relative to independent voters that stir red the ire of some who heard her. Be- ing an independent, as one might ga- LheF from what she. had to say abou; this group of voters, is one degree from Selng nothing.
 Blind allegiance and dumb obedience b party programs and party discipline vas, set forth as the speakers view. 1oIht of what constitutes good citizen ship insofar as it applies to exercising the right of franchise. thoroughly Prussianized electorate was set up a: Mrs. Blair's ideal. No individual thought or liberty of action should en ter, into ones action. but only unre, IsrVed afiliation with some establish sd party, preferably the republican.
 z It so happens that a great many o Einingly's citizens, as elsewhere throughout the country, are in complett disagreement with Mrs. Blair's view point as to this. These voters, wht concede nothing to anyone in thorougl Anerfcanism, are not yet ready to as gasa their rights or viewpoints as cleo tpPs to any party or set of leaders Hneh after the manner that one migh fst parcel of real estate with al GgeHt for disposal and it seems prope thht expression should be given to thi chet. at this time.
 f Independent voters at least think fo themselves. They do not accept thei apinions ready made. This may seen wholly repFehensible to such an arden 3campaiCner as Mrs. Blair, but it is
 fact nevertheless and recognition of may be profitable to those who, lik Mrs. Blair, would by ridicule. attempt [ atSsuade them from any other course i politics than. one in which "a kaise might put them in uniform, and sen them forth. to do his bidding, whateve penalty obedience might entail.
 notwithstanding the best efforts bsrty managers to get out as close a possible to 100 per cent. of the votin StreHgth of the town in Tuesdays cleo tion this was not accomplished. Thef were many that did not vote altRoug the stay homes did not number a heavy a percentage of the total vote ( ti1e town as was the case in the tow eteetion in October. There were man