New Britain herald., 1923-04-17
THE COMMON CofNCm.

when the mayor pro tenn, and various committees were chosen at a rcpub- lican caucus called for that purpose. Cornelius Dehm, he of irreproachable ''regularity' was selected over the more or less violent protests of Alder man Peter Paiewski. the independent Alderman John F. Gin. a friend of Paiewski's. Dehm was elected with for the powers that be in back of republican politics here and there fore the dictating powers of the city. as it is normally republican. Political observers had no difficulty, several weeks ago, in predicting the election Of Dehm, it is TO secret that the balance of power remains in a few hands and that those who hold it will have their way as a matter of principle even if they have nothing else to gain. Looking over the list of candidates recently elected it took no particular wisdom to place their affiliations, it was obvious which ones had the backing of the machine and it was obvious that the independent republican had no chance against the handpicked candidates. Oh yes, the formaity of a ballot was gone through, but for all practical pur- poses it would have been asNadequate to ask the republican machine to name the officials as to have taken the time of the "representatives of the voters' and asked them to come to republican headquarters for the sake of placing a ballot in a box, In fact it might have saved a little dis comfort for some of the candidates who were subjected to the rather un- deserved ridicue of Alderman Gill and little of the same to the re- publican machine because of Alder .illdU ldJeNshl tHTcdlS lo DOll Lit party. His activities may not count for q great deal in the Fifth ward certain that his resentment will have some effect.
 There is one consoling fact in the caucus and that is that seven, at least, of the republican members of the council are inclined to be inde- pendent. Alderman Dehm's vote was 1G, his opposition got seven. There may be a few of the Dehm adher- ents that were in his favor and so voted, because of their conviction that he should have the job, There is one thing certain and that is that the seven who voted for Pajewski did so with the foreknowedge that they were beaten and were ready to stand up and take their medicine like men, There will be an attempt made to 1. spank" them in council meetings and elections hereafter because of their lack of adherence to plans as they are made. Although the vote was by ballot it will be no trick to find out who voted for Pajewski. through a simple process of eliminat- ing the 16 who voted for Dehm, all of whom, the chances are, were known before the caucus was called. Whereupon the irregulars will be due for much the same treatment that other independent republicans in tho council have received, some of them as late as the last election.
 But there is cause for cheer, there is q growing spirit of Independence of the machine in this city as was demonstrated last evening, Inde- pendence is the first requisite to good government in city affairs and, some day. the city will realize that, as we believe it is starting to now Then political leaders will be chosen for the virtue of the plans and their eN- cellence in public spirit. Whereupon the city will benefit, more so than it has done through the administra- ton of a few men who, for some reason known only to themselves. keen the reins of government in their own hands and move their pawns in the game of politics about the field as they will.