New Britain herald., 1927-10-01
RUN FOR OFFICE BUT DON'T KNOW IT
Candidates Find Names on
 Machines on Election Day

When the fall approaches the boys up and down the street begin to think more seriously of politics than during the summer months. 1 Discussion of elections brings out in teresting little anecdotes of cam paigns and of subjects not immedi- ately associated with politics but just naturally fitting themselves into the conversation.
 Right now in New Britain it Is be- lieved upwards of 50 men could be induced to run for mayor. This is the claim made by an experienced politician at a gathering of men in terosted in the subjec.. On came a discussion of the benefits and the disadvantages of office seeking. and q smile of general concurrence came ever those who had been in cam paigns in the past when one of the party quoted 8 favori'e expression of Senator Edward F. Hall:
 If anyone wants to know whether his -granfather had been a horse thief, just let him run for political office-hc'll soon find cut"
 Sometimes a man runs for office and is one of the very last to know il. Several years ago John J. Me carthy a veteran democrat, went to the polls to cast his ballot. He had 1 been busy with private affairs dur ing the months just preceding cleo
 ton and had not followed the pro- C sses of making up a ticket h. side the election booth curtain he paused for a moment.
 Guess it wouldn't be a bad idea councilman in my ward" he unused. He Was somewhat taken back to see that his party's nominee was 1 himself and he didn't know Of it un- 1 til that moment.
 Several years ago John l.. Ross
 was very active in democratic cir Cles and had been a member of the | board Of relief for time. He was renominated by his party. and it i being in the days when there was no great rush for places on the con- | stabulary his name was also placed ! there although he did not plan to exercise great many of the func- | tons of q civil officer When lt came to the selection of council i manic nominee for the second ward. 1 "Jack' was present and his name
 was suggested. On it went. AL i though he is perhaps the only man
 in recent years who has run for 1 three offices in one election, Jack , didn't vote that day. He was out of 1 the city on business and couldn't get 1 back before the closing of polls.
 Closely allied with elective office | is city service in other avenues. one
 IS the fire dcpartmet, and heres a | brand new story Jack HenneSsey,
 one of those wearing the blue uni
 form, tells on himself: Jack attend | ed the 'Shipman school on Stanley street when a boy and admits that ] he very often expressed wish that
 the school would burn down. The school didn't, however, and after
 many years of service was abandon
 ed in favor of more modern con-
 struction. Eventually it was decided
 the ground should be cleared and
 the building was taken down i'll sec
 tions, being removed to Allen street
 where it remained in a pile on opei
 property. In the years that had ln- tervened, Hennessy became a mem ber Of the fire department, leaving
 behind his school days and his wisE that school buildings would burn.
 One morning about 2:3o o'clocf
 the firehouse gong changed! CT
 jumped the fire laddies, away they !tugeed at their boots and raincoats
 down the shiny brass pole they sllc and onto the roaring apparatus they
 jumped: Behind the moaning siren the fire truck cut this corner anc that corner, swung out to pass thl' car and that car and finally with {
 wide sweep turned into Allen street
 From his position atop the truch Hennessy could see flames rising. H' looked closely. scratched his head moment and said: sure enough
 that's just what it is. The olt
 Shipman school was burning. but in
 stead of relieving Hennessy of labor it required his getting out or Det
 at 2:3O o'clock in the morning tt