New Britain herald., 1929-12-04
MERDEN CLEANS HOTSE

of a sleigh drawn by reindeer.
 MERIDEN CLEANS HOUSE
 The city election in Meriden, held yesterday, was one of those overturns which come in municipal politics when the rank and file becomes peeved at something or other for which the party in power is blamed. Not only was Francis T. Maloney, Democrat, elected mayor in a most decisive manner, but the whole Democratic ticket likewise went into office. Incidentally, the Con- mon Council for the first time in many years will be dominated by the Democrats, as will also the Board of Education. The earthquake in Meri- den seems to have been of a pro- nounced character, yielding the Re publicans painful mental injuries.
 Yet MT. Maloney, who ran ahead Of his ticket. had fewer votes than Al Smith got in Meriden in Novem- Der, 1928. Mr. Smith gained a total in that city of 1929, while Mr. Maloney secured "only" 7,277. It is when one examines the reduction in q Irl 1tnD m mayoralty candidate with that ob- tained by Herbert Hoover in Meri- den that further analysis of the re- suit becomes unmportant. Mr. Hoover obtained S.904 votes in Meriden, while Horace r. Doolittle, the Republican mayoralty candidate of yesterday, received 5.521.
 There seems to have been much dissatisfaction with the Republican administration of Mayor Wales l.. deBussy. This gentleman. related to an influential family in the city. is said to have had d species of high hat administration. NIr. Doolittle of course was not to blame for what deBussy administration, but he was on the same party ticket and that was enough.
 The Republican machine in Meri- den got topheavy with factionalism. The danger sign was Up some time ago. and for weeks the grape vine rumor factory from Meriden was loaded with dire reports that some thing like an upset was under way. Various politicians resigned from office. but that did not stem the inclination to place responsibility where it doubtless belonged, upon the party,
 "Weary Of four years of q mayor de jure administration remarks the Meriden Record today, "the voters of Meriden declined to be dcCeiv't by so-called resignations and refused 10 vote for repetition of a figure head administration. An aroused civic conscience administered the most stinging rcbuke that any admins tration in the history Of the city ever received. Pointing with pride to policies and achievements was not sufficient to overcome the tre- mendous effects Of cheap political hossism and reckless disregard ol salient features of good govern ment."
 Mr. Maloney vas elected and the general clean-out of an unsavory municipal situation came about largely through the cooperation oi independent voters in the city who do not feel themselves tied 10 any party. It was the fellows on tho fence" who concluded it was "timC for a change And they were aided by some Republicans too who plac, ed the municipal proprieties above party This IS most often don" in { municipal election and it indicates the majority of voters cannot bt herded into political camps indeti' nitely.
 Mr Maloney and his horde 0 Democratic aides go into office witt the knowledge that what happened to MT. Doolittle can also happen tc Nir Maloney if he runs for re. election, or to the candidate who follows, unless he puts forward z first class administration during tho next two years. With enough inde. pendent voters in the city an ad. ministration is forced 10 be good ol get licked.