New Britain herald., 1923-11-17

| sonality plays no part in the present l proceedings. The captain of the crew
 has run out the plank and Mills has
 been directed to walk to the end and | drop off. The Herald" news story
 early in the week predicting the res | ignation of Mills and Alderman Cor
 nelius J. Dehm is said to have an-
 noyed the board of strategy of the
 G. o. P. They would have pre- ferred to let Mills and Dehm sink out
 of sight quietly-but such is the
 spirit of the press that the expected designations could not be passed over lightly.
 The retirement of Alderman Dehm is still in the air. Naturally, he does not wish to relinquish his position
 but the same forces which have served to hurry the resignation of Mills are
 at work in the Dehm case. Dehm
 was involved in the Southington Inn
 raid and although the charge pend- ing against him is not as serious as
 that against Mills. public opinion
 holds that his resignation would be
 acceptable. His retirement may be
 delayed as long as possible by the
 machine" but inevitably 1t will be
 forthcoming. The republican party cannot risk its fortunes at the spring
 election and the wisest move it could
 make would be to clean house as
 early as possible.
 So certain are many republicans
 that Dehm will retire soon, that his
 successor as president pro-tem. of
 the council is already being discussed.
 The person whose name is most fre-
 quently heard in connection with the
 position is Alderman William H.
 Judd of the third ward. Judd is a
 machine" man through and through.
 From the standpoint of being 'regu-
 lar" he is an ideal selection. He is
 hand of the republican party and is
 in sympathy with whatever the
 machine" proposes.
 It has occurred to the writer that the party leaders will think twice be- fore elevating Judd to the position of
 president pro-tem. Judd was re- sponsible for the recent council furore caused by the affront to Capt. Thomas J. Bsnnigan, who came to this city to speak in behalf of rehabilitated ex- service man. It was Judd who virtu- ally prevented Capt. Bannigan from addressing the council. Whether the republican party would care to elevate him to the office of president pro-tem. of the council is 8 question that is causing some of the party leaders to stop and ponder. Many ex-service- men resented the affront to Captain Bannigan and they might still fur ther resent the heaping of honors on the head Of the man who was rec sponsible.
 Within the past few weeks there has been discussion among servicemen of running a ''soldier ticket" at the election next spring. It is difficult to understand where they would gain any advantage by so doing.
 The names of several candidates have already been suggested among them being an aspirant for the posi- ton of tax collector. That position is now held--and filled--by Bernadotte Loomis, whose stewardship has been a credit to the city. A survey of the | records made by tax collectors | throughout Connecticut, shows that | Mir. Loomis has done his work well. | He is a man who attends strictly to | business and, so far as is known to | the writer. never plays politics or al- | lows politics to enter into his admin | istration of the office.
 Politicians must think first of the | city's welfare. Unless they do this, | they should be ridden out of town on | a three-cornered rail. To think of | supplanting Mir. Loomis is to put per sonal ambition or partisanship ahead | of civic pride. Mir. Loomis has proved | that he is the right man for the office. | He should be renominated by the re- publican party which should be proud | Of him, and endorsed by the demo- orats and all other parties in the field.
 Chief Noble of the fire department called attention this week to prac- tice which should be stopped at once the practice of racing fire depart ment apparatus responding to an alarm. If there is one time when Bremen need to concentrate all their attention on their jobs it is while they are on their way to a fire. De- partment drivers should not be ham, pered by grinning idiots running alongside and cutting in ahead of them. They should have clear road their purpose being to reach the scenc of the blaze in the shortest pos sible time.
 Every effort should be made 10 ap- prehend drivers of private sutomo- piles who try to beat" the apparatus Perhaps a stiff fine in court on sharge Of reckless driving would suf- lice to bring this criminal diversion te an end by serving notice on others hat the city will not stand for it.
 The defeat of ex-Mayor Daniel ]. Donovan of Meriden in the primary ace to carry the flag of the party at he next presidential election was not unexpected although some of his most ardent enthusiasts insisted in he face of everything that he would Je nominated. It is said that he re- ,eived the news of his rejection with 'Ut conceaiing his chagrin and gave .ent 10 his disappointment in no un- certain terms.
 Time was when Dan" Donovan vas popular hero in republican .ircles in the Silver City. But it must be assumed that his star has iet and that he must be content to it back among the ''hss beens" and watch the favorite of the moment trance by in his gay trsppings.
 Donovan vas snothered. That is