New Britain herald., 1924-10-15
PAPE WINS BUT BY
 A NARROW MARGIN
Town of NeWington "AII Stirred Up",-' Wells Loses by 17

In one of the hottest political bat ties the town of Newington has seer for a long time, with probably more votes cast than ever before, ElmeI W. Pape, president of the Adkinl Printing Co.,, defeated Miss Mary G Wells for the republican nomination for general assembly last evening b, a majority of but 8 votes. MT Pape's total was 22s while Nils. Wells received 221.
 Not for long time has Newing. ton been the tattle ground of g political contest which aroused the interest as did the Pape- Wells cam. paign. The old fashioned door bel campaign had been reverted to and the majority, If not all of the voter. in the town, have been approached at one time or another by both can. didates or their friends.
 At the town caucus a few weeks ago the impression had gone forth that choice of candidates for the general assembly was to be made a, that time and where heretofore 6 town caucus has brought out but 25 or 30 voters that night saw 15O votes. Farmers from the outlying districts, fearful that if Miss Wells were elected on the goth amend. ment platform they would be pro- hibited from hiring their own boys under IS for working on the home farms, drove in to vote for Pape while others, believing that there are states which need federal super. vision to entirely eliminate the evils of child labor also turned out in force to vote for Miss Wells.
 As the date for the final .caucus approached things began to take or the appearance of an extremely spir- tied contest. Strenuous efforts were made to enroll new voters and as the new citizens were enfranchised clev. CT guesses indicated that the final result would be close. Old time poli- ticians in New Britain who have been behind the scenes where the wires are pulled for years and who did not want to sec Miss Wells elect ed because they claim she is more or less of a lobbyist, a long time ago advised Mir. Pape that his only hope was in taking off his coat and going to work.
 MT. Pape who is but ss gears old was assured of the business vote and that of the farmers, while Miss Wells, 63, and a lifelong welfare worker, was backed by those who believed in the child labor amend ment, by the old Newington fami- lies. her folks having been residents of that town for generations, and by many of the women.
 The climax of the battle came within the past two days when Mir Pape issued hand bills setting forth his platform and containing the statement, Vote for Pape-father of three children" Miss Wells i'm mediately retaliated with a similar document saying Vote for Mary G Wells--have no children, but have taught thousands" ..
 It was not until long after fO o'clock last night, almost an hour after the final returns from New Britain were in that the Newington vote was known. Both candidates were at the grange hall until the last vote was counted. While Mir Pape was surrounded by his friends when the result became known. Miss Wells and her campaign manager Miss Brimley. left the hall without comment or extending their con. gratulations.
 The republican nomination ir Newington is equivalent to an elee. ton.