New Britain herald., 1924-03-08
1.-THE OBSER YER
Makes Random Observations On the City and Its People

1 Dense clouds of steam are rising
 from the political pot.
 At this writing both democrats ant republicans have their sleeves up ant
 have settled down to the grind of tho
 campaign.
 Out of an apparently clear six,
 came two bolts of lightning this
 week. While the city had its atten.
 tion riveted on the Teapot Dome in
 quiry at Washington, the New Brit
 ain kettle blew up.
 The first indication that a battle
 was pending came with the announce
 ment that Frederick M. Holmes, presi- dent of North & Judd Mfg. Co.,. would try for the republican nomination for mayor. Hardly had the reverberation l died away than Mayor Paonessa de- | clared formally that he would be a candidate for renomination. The Paonessa pronouncement was anticipated although the mayor had held back so long that it was not sus- pected he would declare himself so soon. But he had achieved his end he had smoked out the enemy-and when he learned that the organiza- tion had come forward, he did not hesitate to make his own intentions plain.
 It looks like fine fight with no odds asked and none given.
 It is expected that this will be a clean campaign, if the opponents are Paonessa and Holmes.
 Neither is given to the practice of singing mud, so the voters will be spared the anguish of seeing rival candidates for office trying to black en each others regulations. Mayor Paonessa is conservative, responsibil- ity has made him so, and will prob- ably be satisfied to explain his ad- nlinistration to the voters and sit back and wait for results. Mir. Holmes is not of the type which believes in attacking an opponent in the dark. He's fighter but he believes in win hing by honorable means. If he is nominated he may resort to criticism of what he believes have been faults in the present administration, but he probably will not let his zeal. carry him beyond that point
 How about "Peck's Bad Boy" known in private life as George A. Quigley? Despite efforts of the or to pooh pooh him. he re- fuses to be pooh poohed, and if the truth be known he has some of the organization leaders scared pink.
 George A. is in his element when he is taking the skin off the backs of republican organization chiefs. It is meat and drink to him. Give him his choice of chance to make some money on a real estate deal and hurl- Ing harpoons at the chiefs-say, Judge George " Klett, for example.-and he win reply: Pass the harpoon."
 Qnigley is going to make it as un- as possible for the organiza- lion this year. It was only two years | ago that he was sent merrily on his | way on the toboggan by the organiza- lion, which made no effort to elect 1 him mayor, despite the fact that he | had been regularly nominated by the | republican voters. The organization | shith HilH hoNH Wlll u GFHSn ana | danced on his prostrate form, laugh l ng the while and singing "Yes, we | nave no ballots and if we had any we | give you some" George has ! long memory and tongue that can ash out on occasion. He promises to | ise both in the coming campaign. X
 
 Another member Of the Peek" amily has appeared in the fifth ward. Ie is Peter Pajewsli, republican alderman, who is still smarting from he wounds given him by the organ. ration in the common council. Ald- rman Pajewsid has declared that if Ar. Holmes is nominated he will pub icly take the stump and urge the re- lection of Mayor paonessa. He also eclares that the republican nominee, he is suspected of being allied with he organization, will get very few otes in the fifth ward which, he avs. is almost solid for paonessa.
 Alderman Pajewski was candidate or president pro tenn. of the common ouncil last spring. But Alderman c. {. Dehm was preferred by the organ sation and Pajewski was left In the lrch. He believed he was the loei-