New Britain herald., 1923-06-02

) The difference OF opinion existing
, between 6heriff Dewey and the re-
publican machine IN New Britain u
one Of the most Interesting political
. rows in years, u IL all the more as
lnnishing because OF the influence thai
New Britain Legislators are supposed
10 exert al the state capitol and which
, one might conclude, would be Of sur
fieient weight 20 carry any New Brit
ain organization project through 10 q
satisfactory conclusion In Hartford
county,
Twice have the q, q, T., leaders IN
New britain told sheriff Dewey that
they want former Police Chief VIII
liam j, Rawlings appointed deputy
sheriff, Twice has sheriff Dewey told
these selfsame leaders that he does
not intend 10 grant their wish, lie
does not disclose his rea sons, but he
stands squarely on his feet with his
arms folded, fgurattvsls speaking.
and says IN Just so many words that
he cannot he moved,
Here Is a situation without pre-
eedent in eaunty politics, New Brit
ain IL q stronghold OF republicanism,
y
republican majority AZ a state election,
thanks 10 the splendid organization
and the fact that funds are never
wanting. Other cities may turn their
political coats but on state and ma
tional election days New Britain al
ways reports In favor of republican
candidates
Because of the foregoing facts
New Britain leaders usually ask and
are given. This time. however they
/ have received mo" for an answer and
criticism into the bargain, Sheriff
! Dewey doesn't like tho insinuation
that states Attorney Hugh NJ. Al
corn ~ leading me around by the
nose" TO express II IN his own lam
euage. OF course no one said that
Mr.. Acorn was lealing Mr.. Dewey
around by the nose. but II was rum
ored at the capitol this week that
Mr.. Alcorn was successfully objecting
to the appointment OF Mr., Rawlings
as a deputy sheriff. This, Mr.. Dewey
promptly denied.
Mr.. Dewey finds that he is sailing
his ship on troubled waters the first
day he takes office. Twas not like
that In the olden days, when smiling
skies and calm course were the lot
of the republican navigators. Mr.
Dewey Is known s persistent man.
Perhaps the New Britain republican
machine will be forced to change its
tactics, or Its candidates before long
The old order changeth A year
ago the complaint was frequently
heard that interest in school affairs
was falling off. This charge cannot
be truthfully made today. The very
opposite is true. The school question
is occupying larger share Of atten-
ton than any other subject. 1t Is
dominating the field of politics and
It is discussed freely In homes and
wherever men and women gather.
Parents and teachers associations
are taking an active interest in school
accommodations Nearly every asso-
citation has adopted resolutions in
which it demands improvements in
the respective districts. The cry
seems to be for gymnasiums and
auditorims which are included in the
socia tions are also vocing remon-
STRANGE against the use of portable |
buildings which seem to have fallen
into disfavor and insist on permanent
building suitable for the accommoda-
ton of growing boys and girls.
It will be impossible for the board
of education to grant all requests for
new buildings. Even though they
realize that modern structures are
needed, they know that funds are not
obtainable and that the taxpayer, that
mysterious and intangible parsonage
who is supposed to rise in his might
and howl when public funds are be-
ing spent, will protest. Some day, we
hope, circus man will capture this
yowling taxpayer. put him in a cage
and let us see him. We have often
thought we were on the point of see
ing him on his native hearth but after
stalking our game we have bounced
upon it and found II to be a meek
hammered sort of man who works
eight or ten hours a day in a factory.
goes home and eats supper, then trims
the lawn and If he has the price of
some gas goes out in the Ford. Yes,
he does wish public officials would he
more careful in spending his money,
but he guesses that they are doing the
best they know how and probably a
little better than he could do.
No doubt, the professional taxpayer
would howl nightly If all the school
associations got what they want in the
way of new buildings. And as they
can make more noise than all the rest
Citations must wait.
The two oldest men in the New
Britain fire department in point of
service, Captain William ]. Watts of
No. 6 Engine House and Assistant
Chief Eugene T, Barnes, will observe
the 37th anniversary Of their entrance
into the department in the near flu
ture.
Captain Watts entered the service
Of the department July /, 1885, hav-
ing previously worked at the Stanley
Rule q Level Co. as mechanic,
From stoker on a steamer he became
acting assistant foreman in July, 1899,
A position which he held until March
/ 300. From March, 1902 until July.
905, he was a call foreman, being
appointed permanent foreman in July
l906. He was foreman until August,
Il 0s. He was then transferred to No.
Engine House, where he remained
from November Is, 1908, until Octo-
per- 1911. In that same month, he was