New Britain herald., 1924-04-09
THE WHY OF IT

-hahs pNpPiS hii a'i o AS"P tSNes W account for the majority by which
 Mayor Paonessa was reelected yes- terday. Some of those who voted for him themselves are unable to explain the victory of an individual without any appreciable backing with no real organization helping him, and with a harmonious and well organized ma chine against him. George e., George K, and Orson F., with their satellites, were all gathered on the bandwagon, there was no split in the republican ranks. the party presented what was hailed as a united front and there had never, seemingly, been better func- tioning machine collected to bring out voters in town normally republican by majority well over thousand. It seemed as if there was nothing to it" even to those who privately hoped that Paonessa would win.
 Judge filings personal popularity is unquestioned, his ability, if elected, would probably be mp to the mark, he was the choice of the entire party. Mayor Paonessa had good record for two years back to point to. He had little else to aid him. fewer automo- piles at the polls, not any sort of an organized democratic machine-and the element for which We search. And ii was that element which elected him. His record helped. his personality helped, his conduct in office helped, but none of them enough to overcome the normal lead Of the republicans. The truth of the matter is that there was large protest vote cast yester- day, a vote that implied that the peo- pie of the city of New Britain arc dis pleased with the dictatorial methods of the republican organization in the city. It was evident week or so ago that the only man who really wanted to run for mayer in the republican ranks, one John Gill, did not have a chance for the nomination. 1t was more or less evident that search had to be made for a candidate and the whole Holmcs-Alling situation was to be read but one way. The republi- can organization did not want Gill, for reasons best known to itself, it did want filling, and Allina was nominated as it had decided. It is high time for the organization to pay little more attention 10 the wishes of the people that it pretends 10 serve. The people have ceased 10 follow a slight wish on the part of the dictators.
 There is no intention of implying that there is any graft in the city of New Britain. We do not believe that there is. But the ring that has been in control has been so for so long that fl has become absolutely careless Of the voters. It does not care what they think, want .or believe, it simply wishes to dictate. It is never willing to lay it's cards on the table and play the game, it pussy-foots and dilly-dallys all the while posing as a group which can not make mistakes and which knows more than anyone or any group. Yesterday the democrats had a good candidate, a good record and a hopeless job, so it seemed. Today they have the mayor Of New Britain and the opposition has nothing to thank for it but it's own refusal to play the game in full sight Of every voter and in the light of day instead Of over a pinochle table in back room. New Britain has grown too large for that kind of politics and as soon as it is learned the better of the republi- can party will be.