New Britain herald., 1924-01-12


 for an increase in salary will be final s The firemen have many champions 1T l the common council who can ps
 counted on next Wednesday when the
 subject of salaries comes before the l council.
 , When the two-platoon system was
 inaugurated in this city the pay o'
 firemen was reduced 50 cents day 7 and some of their privileges were re- r stricted. They ask that their wages
 be put back on the same basis as pe- fore the reduction and this does not i seem to be an excessive request. only a government statistician can show
 where the cost of living has come
 down, and you can't hand the land- lord a table of statistics in lieu of the
 rent, nor can you swap statistics for
 meat and potatoes at the corner store'
 A man who devotes his life to the
 protection of property is entitled to
 recognition and wage that will al- How him to provide his family with
 the essentials and some of the com- forts of life. A reduction in pay Is a hardship which directly affects the entire family unfavorably and an in crease correspondingly affects the family favorably. When a mans pay is raised his wife and kiddies get a little more sunshine out of life and the Observer wants to see everybody get all the sunshine possible. That's why he is in favor of seeing the fire men get their 50 cents day back. A progressive city shouldn't haggle over such & small amount. especially as 1t is being sought by loyal em- ployes who are ever ready to risk their lives to protect others from harm.
 | It is possible that the salary com- mittee decided to let the common council decide the question instead of making report on the subject. From | what the writer has heard, 1t is likely | that the majority of the common council will appreciate the logic of the firemen's petition and grant the | increase.
 Whats the matter with America? someone persists in asking. To which we might suggest several answers, among them being silk stockings, de- mountable consciences, S12-a-quart booze. afternoon golf. rouge and lip sticks, a scarcity of home made bread, late retiring and late rising, six-cyl- indor appctites and kiddie car in- comes. movie maids, steam from the political pot, jazz hounds of both sexes, speed ways, speedy manners, homes and everything in them bought on the installment plan, complexes, neurotic wives, a craving for front page position with photograph, con tempt for law by officials and the public as well, unearned fortunes in the hands of unbrained young men, parking parties in the park. betting parties in the dark, bobbed hair and bobbed mentalities, sons and daugh- ters who look with condescension on their parents, mothers and fathers who look with toleration on their children, an alarm clock -be-damned spirit, low life in high places, high fife in low places, affectation, bluh, ignorance. the loss Of the art of sweat ing and being proud of it, moonlight and moonshine, slang, lack of respect for religion, scented fine cut instead of good old fashioned plug. late suppcrs, sunrise services in the dance parlors, | knees that won't bend, sneers for the | boss, jealousy, hate. rage. white col lars, whispered stories, lack of chiv- airy, fool optimism, fool pessimism, | etc.
 There may be a few other things forgotten them.
 
 New Britain republicans were dis appointed upon learning that cir- cumstances made it necessary to transfer the scene of the annual ban auet of the Mckinley association from New Britain to Hartford. At the an- nual meeting last year in Waterbury, New Britain's delegates persuaded the association 10 hold the 1924 din- ner in this city because they thought the Elihu Durrjtt hotel would be completed. But the best laid plans of mice and men aft gang aglee, the bctel is not ready for occupancy and tbe dinner will be held in Hartford.
 The officers of the Mckinley associ- ation are all New Britain men. Er- nest w. Christ Is president, Judge B. W. Alling Is treasurer and Richard Covert is secretary. In spite of the fact that the banquet will be staged in the Capital city, arrangements will be in the hands of the New Britain {, officers and they intend to give to re- pubiicans who assemble from all parts Of the state the best Harry Bond can produce.
 The list of guests at the Mckinley dinner reads like a Who's Who" Of the republican party In Connecticut as someone has said before. From the governor down, they all attend this function even If they are never present at another. It is gala event in e. O. F. circles. Hands are shaken. backs are slapped and all the of a political gathering is In evidence. All the talking is not done at the banquet. That is reserv- pd for loud talking exclusively. There is an abundance of sotto voce conyer- sation in the hotel lobby and most of it has to do with the chances of this one or that one at the next elec- lion. Attending the Mckinley associ- stion meeting is part Of the c. Q. P. ritual in this state. No one who pre- tends to be anyone misses if although 3 lot who think they are someone and really are no one. so far as in- auence goes, get out the dinner coat and armed with ticket sally forth.
 The dinner is probably one Of the most pleasant functions on the poii- ticsl calendar. Everyone is in spien-