New Britain herald., 1930-04-05

IllUIUnlU DAlILLU SPOT LOCAL ANNALS Victor and Yanquished Have
 Helped to Make Political Lore
 There may be places somewhere, though followers of political events doubt it very much, in which more gloom to the square foot settles it. self at certain times, than in the headquarters of a defeated candidate for a nomination when the sad tid- ings come in, and it is also possible, but again greatly doubted, that the joy that pervades the gathering place of the successful competitor and his supporters under the same circumstances, is exceeded.
 Locality makes no differences; hu- man nature is the same among poli- ticians the world over. as travellers can attest. and in New Britain, with it's close and hard-fought battle in primaries and at the polls. concrete examples of high registration of happiness and sadness may be found every time there is a fight among candidates. Thousands of voters who never think of presenting them selves in a municipal office the year round because they have no particu- lar reason for doing so, look for ward from election to election to the thrill they derive from visits to the meeting places where the big and little, important and insignificant in "a political way, shake handsaeHfi in- dulge in shoulder skipping to their hearts content.
 Comes the Verdict
 Gathered around tables with vot- ing lists before them and telephones at their elbows, the candidates and their lieutcnants assemble to receive the returns. The fruit of weeks and oftentimes months of careful plan ming, hard driving, nerve rackinG campaigning is about to be plucked Sometimes it is sweet. luscious fruit blooming with ripeness that tempts the palate and pregnant with the promise of satisfying and soothing flavor; often it is bitter, as dry and wrinkled as a motorman's glove rough and furrowed as a ploughed field, but it is there nevertheless and must be caught as it drops from the political tree.
 The telephone rings and someone hastens to answer it. "Who won?" an anxious voter wants to know, but nobody can tell him because mo- body knows. More checking and theorizing as the lists are hastily to be checked. Votes that have been cast, but for whom nobody knows True, the candidate feels certain that the promises made have been kept but he knows, too, that if everyone who assured him of support stayed true to the pledge. his rival must be beaten. Here and there are names without checks. Men and women who would not take the trouble tc vote, even though fine automobiles could not be in town for one reason or another. Some whose absence saved one of the candidates from a vote against him; others who never let anyone know their choice. But all voters nevertheless.
 On the Home Stretch
 A ward checker calls in. The ward went for one or another candidate by a hundred or two votes. It's good news, encouraging, and it sharpens the interest. The fight will be close but there's good chance for both rivals. The room buzzes with excite mcnt. Pencils and paper are pro- duced from pockets and tables Nasty figuring. Whispered predic. tions. Another ward comes in, and another and another, until definite figures are available. The decision rests with one district. It should be for one man but it may be for the other. Call headquarters! Call the newspapers! All lines are busy. The vote is heavy and the counters are careful. It looks like this man but nobody knows, and then-the fight is lost.
 The defeated gladiator stands up with a quizzical smile on his fea lures. His manager and lieutenants are beside him. Good fight, old man. Tough luck on all sides as the atmosphere clears. He is thankful to the friends who supported him. He shall never forget their loyalty It was hard fight but clean one, and it is the duty of all good party men and women to work for the success of the ticket. And away he goes, probably to the party head quarters, possibly to the camp of his conqueror. He makes statement to the press. Congratulations and best wishes to his rival, and then to his home. beaten, tired and perhaps dis. couraged.
 Post MOrtcms
 Inquiries pour into his headuuar- ters. Anyone can answer the telc- phone now. The place is in disor-