New Britain herald., 1926-06-01
THE FIRST WARD CONTEST

THE FIRST WARD CONTEST
 The aldermanlc contest in the first ward has created intense in terest largely because it is the first time in the city's political history that three members of the council were in the field for an alIermanic berth in one ward.
 Councilman David l.. Nair, Thure Bengston and Clarence II. MaXon are the embattlod candidates to succeed Cornelius J. Dehm, who resigned in order to become chair man Of the fire board,
 It so happens that Nair is the senior councilman. Each time he ran for office as councilman he had opposition in the Republican pri- mary. When running against Dchm, who was seeking renomination as alderman two years ago, he came within 70 votes of winning in one Of the largest primary votes the ward ever experienced.
 Nair is not a slow plodder when it means seeing an opportunity. When Alderman Dchm resigned Nair was first in the field for his seat; his packers claim the honor is due him because of senority, his work as chairman of the ordinance committee, and the fact that he previously ran for the aldermanic berth.
 Bengston, who was chairman of the salary committee, also became financial agent for Mayor Weld. Had he remained out of the alder manic contest there is no doubt that Maxon would have supported Nair; but when BenEston said he would run for alderman, MaXon put forward the claim he himself is as much entitled 10 the alder manic berth as BonEston, conse- quently becoming a candidate. Maxon at present is chairman of the license committee.
 There is tall, in the ward of hav- ing a Republican primary to settle the three-corncrcd contest; but such a primary would not be bind- ing upon the choice of the Com mon Council because Of the char ter provision that inc Common Council must i'll vacancies. Of course, there is the possibility that the Common Council can agree to . bind itself ny .hc decision Of a ward primary.
 Then there is tho possibility 0, selecting au outsider The sugEos- . ton is made that Natr, Rcngston !. and Maxon select a councilman 10 . du tha existing vacancy resulting from inc resignation Of Co4noilman . R. w Chamberlain HOW police commissioner and trn r.w nym- ber 10 nominate -na alderman either crora among tha 'nro- rrc7- ent candidates or Republicans in . the ward. Perhaps needless 10 add, this plan is g I".a too complicated, and smachs too much Of a aaal 10 warrant general acceptance among Republicans iH -ha #srt
 Action of DemocraU coanct members is a problem when The fight reaches ura floor os ,.a rouu- ct' chamber, There are .a.1 pamo- cratic members and they may be able 10 control tna s.roc'ton of al- lerman by throwing their sroue'u to one Of tho candidates. This would he tan.annun' 10 the Demo- cratic members s.H'ur a Ee0uaH- can contest. On ,re other hand 'hoy may decline to take part in rho battle beemso tt is primarily oaa affecting r1o Republicans Prom t moral standpoint this would ba the better plan
 Although tAc situation is uopr- co4on'ei if recalls 'lo action os fourth ward coannn m.mtrrs few years ago when uug n7mmH,l John A. Larson 10 au a vacancy. only 10 have the Council as a whole choose Emil II. Hjcrpn. Hur Larson subsequently was elected to tAe Common Council and is now chair man of the claims committee.