New Britain herald., 1926-04-14
POLITICAL STRATEGY IN THE CAMPAIGN

IN THE tANiaiNN
 When q political campaign is over, tho winner has been con graduated and tho loser is glad 1t is all over. summary of how the battle was conducted and what contributed to tho result is always of prime interest to the voters who furnished the ballots; and also the citizens who failed 10 take adyan- tago of their prerogatiyes
 Weld seemed to show disposi- ton from the first to stick to his own knitting, not starting out with an aggressive campaign against the records ot the Paoncssa ad- miniStration. But the mayor be- came the aggrcssor in making statements and forced q smart in- terchange Of political pcrsiIlaGc which cannot bo said to have re- bounded to the advantage of the mayor.
 The charges regarding a G, o. ?. slush fund failed In effect be- cause such charges must be proven 10 gain votes: and when they arc not proven they lose votes, Such charges have been made in so many elections throughout the country and having their reflection in the newspapers, that the novel; ty has long ago worn off and the voters are apathctic except where 1t is shown that money Is being used freely and illegitimatcly,
 The mayors charges involving conditions during the coal strike had q popular appeal up to q cer- 1 tain point, but their main object. it would seem, was to awaken i popular prejudice against his op- l ponent. But the voters could not ! help inquiring, mentally, why the mayor didn't make his dope pub lie at the time instead Of saving it for the campaign. while the re- plies ofgWeld undoubtedly carried conviction 10 many who mistook such q matter for live issue. The coal situation during the strike had nothing to do with running the city in the future.
 The Paonessa attacks - regard ing them purely as political strate- BY were of a more or less per sonal nature, or at least reflectng upon the Republican candidates fitness to ba mayor, and as such paid Weld the compliment of be- ing q strong candidate,
 There are thousands in the city ~ wha think Paonessa's best strategy wdaid have been to have stressed in detail every advancement made by the city during his two terms in office; this was done to a certain extent. but most frequently in gen eral terms. The mayor had genu- inc achievements to his credit and it was necessary for him to remind the public about them without stint, and had he done nothing else the strategy would have been far better than the attacks upon his opponent, which caused some voters to think of mud singing.
 The issue should have been "sit tight with Paonessa," or "keer cool with Paonessa," or some such appeal to the electorate strcssing the advantages of letting well enough alone.
 The defcction of strength in the fifth ward was sufficient to turn the tide against the mayor; and the reputation of the building depart mcnt of the city did not help him The building department admitted ly was the weak link In the ad- ministration, yet, as things turned out, in all probability would not have spelled defeat had the fftl ward remained intact
 Weld is fortunate in not need. ing to build up from the depth: in which the machine left the city four years ago, He can build upor the firm foundation left by the Paonessa administrations, He need! only to continue good city govern ment and attempt to improve it He has little ahead of him tha1 entering office and continue pad ding the civic canoe in the direc ton 1t is going.
 Our President made nic speech about newspapers and thei relation to the public, and the gov