New Britain herald., 1930-10-07
PhinviMe News
SPIRITED ELECTION
 JOL7S PLAINVlLLE Democrats Give Republicans Un- usually Close Race This Year |E. ]. PRIOR IS VICTORIOUS

Adjourned Town Meeting to Be Held
 Tomorrow Evening in High School
 Auditorium-Meeting of Plainyillc
 Grange Tonight.
 Plainville's solid and rockbound republican party which has scored overwhelming victories yeAr after year was severely jolted yesterday in one of the most surprising and clos est town elections held here in decade. Prediction prediction by the aroused Jeffersonians, who plac- ed full ticket in the field for the first time in years. that they would give their opponents stiff battle. , were more than fulfilled. Instead of the usual majority of 300 and 400 votes, the republican candidates mar rowly secured office by small mar gins of so and 90 votes. It was T moral victory for the democrats and left the political forces in Plainvillo stunned as it Is well known that the republicans far outnumber the dem ocrats. Failure of many republican | electors to go to the polls Is the reason given by the G. o. P. leaders | for the poor showing of their party. Great interest was shown in the election during the day, both parties having large number of cars busy | bringing voters to the polls. A new record for total votes was establish ad, 933 voters going to the polls. This was an increase of 520 over | 1929 when the lightest vote in the history of the town was recorded. There are more than 2,200 residents in town who are eligible to vote.
 The present board of selectmen was returned to office. First Se- lectman James Simpson was elected to the leading office of the town for the fourth consecutive year. He was given battle by his democratic rival. Edward P. Prior. the margin ot victory being 53 votes. William Downham was again chosen for the office of second selectman. defeating William Cunningham. Downham ran i o4 votes ahead of his fellow candi- date. Mr. Simpson, but this was evil dently due to the fact that some re- publicans split their ticket in order to give Prior a winning margin over Cunningham as Simpson was assur- ed of victory. The contest between Prior and Cunningham was the fea- ture of the election, both seeking 4l~ -r i,t ~@1n Inc republicans were conceded the first | two positions on the board. Prior had margin of 22 votes over Gun ningham. He has been recognized as the democratic standard bearer for the past ten years.
 The residents of the town showed that they are behind Willis J. Hem ingway. tax collector for over 30 years, by giving him Q margin of 106 votes over. his democratic oppo- nent. Charles Elliott. former per. sonal tax collector of New Britain. It was considered vote of conf dence in MT. Hemingway as he was the only republican candidate to have a plurality of more than 100 votes over his opponent. For years the democrats endorsed MT. Hem ingway but failed to do so this year because of their determination to place a full ticket in the field.
 An upset took place within the constabulary ranks with the defeat of Gleason Sanders, democrat, who has held office for several years. He was replaced by Thomas Matteo, well known baseball star. who en- tered politics for the first time this year. E. w. Farrar. republican, who led all the constable candidates in total number of votes also gained the distinction of receiving more bal lots than any other member of the republican ticket. He was given 520 votes, the only man being near him was the tax collector
 A. J. Dresser. democratic candi- date for grand juror, who was in local politics 25 years ago, was de- feated by single vote by William Gnazzo. The winning candidates were S. s. Gwillim, C. J. Conlon and William Gnazzo, who served last year. These offices are in name enly, having actually passed out of exist cnce with the formation of the town court. Grand jurors were given plenty of work in the justice court but practically have no duties now. It is believed that the office will be dropped after this year.
 Charles R. Clark defeated C. O.. Cutting for 8 place on the board of relief while C. R. sherman was vic- torious over John Salomone for as- sessor.
 Peter J. Prior, former selectman, acted as moderator. Despite the heavy vote it was only found neces- sary to use two voting machines al though a third one was available. It is estimated that yearly 50 voters
 came to the polls in the last half
 hour.
 Due to the large vote yesterday,