New Britain herald., 1922-02-25
THE OBSER YER
Makes Random Observations
 On the City and Its People

1t is apparent that the friends of Mayor Curtis do not Intend to allow him 10 he lost sight of in the race for mayornlty honors, even though he has not declared openly whether he will be candidate for rCnominatlon' fhe most interesting political development of the present week was the announce mcnt that Mayor Curtis admirers are passing the hat with the expectation that they will be able to finance his campaign for rcnomination and re- election. Although the mayor has dls- pleased a large number of the cleo toratc he still enjoys the confidence of small circle Of friends who be- Iievc that he would he Justified in seeking to be sent bac4S to the Ma hogany Room in the City Building, and upon these he must build the nucleus of his drive.
 According to rumor, among those who have been approached by the solicitors are number of city of iicials. This, Mayor Curtis has denied. At least he has gonc so far as to state that he has not authorized anyone 10 button holo" office holders and ask them to contribute toward his cam paign expenses. Thus far, no confir- nation of the rumor has been forth coming and it may have been cir culated by someone who dislikes the Mayor and would be only too happy to start a story that would prejudice the public mind against him.
 New Britain would never counte- nance such poIitical tactics as shaking down" office holders If savers too much of Tammany practices. II is q polite form Of blackmail, to give if it's proper term. and if is pleasing to Mayor Curtis that he does not approve of it.
 All public officials in a self-respect- ing community should be immune to assessments made to further the poli- tical fortunes Of individuals and parties although it is an open secret that most office holders do rebate part of their salary to the. war chest of the party under whose pennon they labor.
  touch" of an influential individual who is desirous of being returned to his position because in the latter case there is always the concealed threat that those who decline to help need expect no appointments or favors in the future.
 Men in office should conduct their
 
 straining strings in the hands of those higher up and without being under such obligations to their supcriors. If this unwritten law is not enforced, we would soon find ourselves taking the next step and waking up to find that appointments are for sale to the high est bidder. II is notorious fact that big parties dispose of national posts in manner that makes one think of the auction block and in great many instances during our his tory men who have been entirely un- qualified for positions of such tre- mendous responsibility have been ap- pointed to national offices and to foreign diplomatic posts as Il reward for their generosity when the 'sinews of war" were needed. Fortunately, this condition has not gained a foot hold generally in American cities been found in large centers of popu- lation.
 The unverilied allegation in the newspapers this week that the Mayors friends were approaching of flee holders with requests for financial aid caused quite stir It was the first instance in the history of New Britain that such story had gained ground and had become so widely circulated. If any commissioner or office holder has been approached he has managed to keep the fact a secret, The formal denial of Mayor Curtis will be accepted by many as the closing chapter in the affair, we hope.
 The fertile minded Mr. McMahon made a suggestion during the course of a statement to the press the other day which, while not unique, is so un- usual that it has commanded wide spread attention It was simply this: that the man who is elected mayor should turn his salary into the char ity department to be expended in be- half of the needy.
 If Mr. McMahon should ever be so fortunate as to be elected Mayor he will be in position to follow out such a recommendation He is reported to be d man of wealth so that d paltry $500, the mayors salary, would be as interesting to him as peck of Russian rubles.. His income from other sources is said 10 be large enough to keep him in caviar and pate de foi gras, not to mention foods which appeal to the plebeian pelatc (speaking of ourselves). He is known to have prosDered in his theater ven- lures and has the reputation of own ing large amounts of stock in various local industria enterprises.
 But, there are many others who might aspire to be elected mayor who could not afford to toss their salary aside with such lavishness. They would need it either to promote their family fortunes or for other purposes. Therefore, when Mir. McMahon says in such positive tones that whoever is elected mayor should give the in- come from the office to the charity department. the Observer will be par doncd for suspecting that the astute Mr. McMahon has chosen a novel way to announce his own candidacy for an extra edition of the safety