New Britain herald., 1929-08-14
It has been said by politicians in

the know that MT. Bartlett really 1 made a weak run against MT. , Paonessa in 1928; that in this city it should not have been difficult for a Republican candidate to defeat the then ex-mayor in his come back. Such political backs, it is pointed out, are exceedingly rare and difficult of accomplishment Had MT. Bartlett been the right" candi- date, it is claimed, he might have had difficulty in defeating the present mayor. But that, after all, is matter of opinion; and is what the moguls whisper among themselves when the discussion Neers around the name of Mir. Bartlett and the next mayoralty race.
 But what Mir. Bartlett is said to claim, and with some degree of logic, is that the political moguls should have helped him to become better known and more prominent in the city's affairs. There can be no ques- ton that q man aspiring to become mayor of the city must be something in the nature of household word. Mir. Bartlett realized this more after the election than previously, it is said. Consequently some time ago, when the opportunity came to be at the head of the town committee, his friends thought it a good chance to put the third warden where he would be well and better known as a party leader. But the mogUls didn't see the point at all.
 From that time on, if not before, MT. Bartlett has shown evidence of possessing a certain degree of inde- pendcnce that could not do other wise than alienate him further from the bosom Of the party leaders. For instance, he voted "against the churches in the Franklin square gasoline and hot dog stand con- troversy; and he voted against the erection of q fire station in the West End at this time-the latter act a losing thing in his own bailiwick. No alderman, it was felt by the in sidcrs would have done this had he been confident of honors to come. It gave the impression the alderman had seen the handwriting on the wall and could decipher it perfectly, so that he was not encouraged to play politics any longer.
 In addition, there was the opposi- ton of J. Gustave Johnson and the bloc with which he has been identi- fled. One rumor, heard persistently, has been that if Mir Bartlett were to be the mayoralty candidate the Johnson bloc would bolt the party. Although only rumor, it's existence at least indicated the extent of the strained relations in political circles. And it at least suggested that elec- tions could not be won under such conditions.
 Mir. Bartlett, of course, is busy man; more so now than ever before, according to his own word. He has been forced to miss important meet ings at City Hall on account of in- l creased duties with the Stanley Works, and the future indicates he will have even less time than at present. This of course is a logical reason for stepping out of politics: but many very busy man has re- mained in politics if the outlook seemed good for political prefer ment. After all, the possibility of be- coming mayor of the city is no small honor; and most mayors in their private affairs have not lacked the need for being on the move.
 Mr. Bartlett has been business man with a flair for politics; and ! there is little doubt in the minds of | anyone that, if he could have been nominated and elected mayor, he would have given good account of himself while in office. But under present conditions there are many hurdles between the aspiration for office and the actual endowment thereof. A man must go through much training in subsidiary offices and thus become thoroughly conver- sant with city business: and then he must play politics, toady to the in- siders, and try to become a public | character and known to everyone as he-man Of political activity for the good of the public All of which i. something of a large order.