New Britain herald., 1926-04-12
CALLS
 OPPONENT UNFAIR
Insists Weld Refused to Co.
 operate on Coal Question

"Untalr and misleading tactics were charged against the republican town committee by Mayor A. NJ. Paoncssa Saturday night al street corner rallies. The mayor produc- ed copy of q political advertise ment In which there was a letter from the mayor to Candidate Gard her Weld thanking him for his CO., operation. The letter was dated November 12, and tho mayor pro- duced a letter dated November 23, II days afterward and read passages In which Weld refused to come to the mayors office for a discussion Of coal prices. He also produced n copy Of n letter sent by Secretary Gould of the Chamber of Commerce asking Weld 10 come 10 that office for discussion Of coal prices. Dis cussing the latter meeting. the mayor said Mir. Weld failed to ap- pear and he added:
 Was that cooperation? Was that acting in the interests Of the city over which he now aspires to be the mayor? Was that acting in your intercsts?"
 In his series Of rallies Saturday night, Mayor Paoncssa discussed tho same subject
 Mayor Paonessa's statement was IS follows:
 Many of you no doubt read in tonights papers an advertisement in which there was letter sent 10 Mir. Weld from my office thanking him for hts cooperation, the mayor "The letter was sent under date of November l2, a few days after Mir, Weld had written me promising his cooperation during the coal strike. I thanked him for his promise and, relying upon his sincerity. I went ahead In my efforts to give you bet ter and cheaper coal,
 But, to my surprise on November 23, less than two weeks after he had given me his word that he would as- sist. I received from Mir. Weld 2 flat refusal 10 come to my office anu talk hf coal prices, I learned that coal had dropped s2 a ton. Knowing as I did, that the retail prices of coal were already produ2inz T much greater profit than under normal conditions. l felt 1t was no moro than right that you should get tn" benefit of that sH reduction. didn't believe that any merchant would take advantage of q critical condi- ton to obtain an extra profit. And, so, recalling Mr. Weld's promise, announced through the press that l planned a conference on coal. 1m- mediatoly came Mir. Welds refusal 10 attend. Eleven days after he had assured me Of his willingness to CO., orera'c there came a complete re- versal of his policy.
 "Not only that. but five weeks la ter, at my request. Mir. Gould asked him 10 come 10 the chamber of com merco for the same purposo. JudC" Alling was there. Councilman Dona'l Bartlett was there. Mr. Thor1aa Jarkson was there. Mir. Toteot of th" Stanley Works vas there. Mr. A. A.. ltlis was there; hut where w0a Mir, Weld? He was not there Was that cooperation Was that fullilmen. of his promise" Was that acting in the interests Of the city and ifs citi- zcns"
 "The republican leaders hay" charged me with making misleading statements. ask you, is il fair or is it misleading to publish 'ht letter which appeared in those adN"rtiS"- ments tonight and in which Mir. Weld was thanked for q promise which he refused to live u1 to. and "a publish t without explaining tho conditions under which il WAS sent"