New Britain herald., 1929-07-23
THF, MAYOR AND THE COP

THE MAYOR AND THE COP
 Reports, rumors, declarations and confidential information brought 10 rs that Mayor Paonessa will not run for mayor again seem 10 be borne out by the present ructions between him and Harry Mount. supernumer- arv officer over a question Of author itv in a polling place last election day.
 such controversies. regardless or their merits. invariably elicit sym pathy for the under dog. In this case the policeman is the under dcg' | There no doubt are plenltnde of strong willed Democrats in the city i who cannot understand how the | mayor might be wrong in this ruc- ton; but there are many continually | straddling the political fence who will permit easily acquired prejudice to be their guide, and who will see it in no other light than puncture of the bubble of lese majeste.
 The worst that can be said against the supernumerary is that he told the police board he did not recognize the mayor. The weakness about this statement is not that every super numerary should know three-term mayor at sight, because it does re main possible for a substitute police man who is employed by manufac- turing concern not to have the op- portunity of making a mayors ac- ouaintance. We say that is possible. and are not specuiating on us probability. The weakness of the statement lay in the inference that had the substitute known the mayor he would not have told him 10 leave the polling place. AS Mir. Mount in sists he has nothing to apologize for. having been in the right in telling the mayor to vamoose. it stands to reason he thought that was the proper way to act toward all inter- lopers who were not there to vote.
 The law does not allow anyone access 10 such a place unless he Is an election official or is voting. But the mayor, as head of the city gov ernment, the police, the fire de- partment and everything else, with the power to hire and fire commis sioners, etc, seems to have the right of visitation, according to the city charter,
 What is more probably ihe case, however, Is that the mayor was in the polling place 10 see how the Democratic ticket was getting along. Unless our guess is not worth a cent he was in the polling place for no other purpose than this, not to see that the election officials earned their money. If he was in the poll ing place for any other reason. since when did he get that way on an elec- ton day?
 Perhaps Supernumerary Mount noting the stranger, got tired watch ing him and communicated his emo- tions The mayor returned; and ther there was an additional communica ton of emotions; mutually, so tt speak. It is said for him that the supernumerary is not one to over. look his authority when he is sup ing; and the mayor. as is widel, known, is not backward on sayinI what he thinks, Especially when ; supernumerary lets fly with author ity.
 The entire matter should hay, been dropped after it happened. Tn policeman perhaps could have beel given a reprimand. and that would have satisfied public curiosity as t what happens 10 d cop when he acci dentally sasses the mayor
 This no douht is what the mayo would have done had he hgured O. running again and was intent upo conserving votes and taken n chances at spreading unnccessar irritation,
 Or the mayor could ha>r put on first class show hy publicly com mending he supernumerary tor dc ing his duty, or trying to do it. Tn whole town would have talked abou 1t and all the applause would hay been with the mayor, while the cop friends, too would have been force to smile and like it.
 Of course, the whole thing
 much ado about httle," "a storm teapot and making a mountai out of q mole hill" What both sid' need is little good humor.