The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-04-07
GUILFOILE HEADS NUTMEG DELEGATI0N
City Manager
 Flop In Stratford
Miss Margaret M Bowes Tells of Unsuccessful Reign
 Debt Increased

ITO so into detailed description of the plan would consume consider able time, and no doubt you have already heard much about tho sys- tenn. mention the foregoing meager outline as Q basis for short discussion on some of the So called merits of the plan.
 "Let us first consider the council. which as have said l. the only elec- tive office. The council man is the only one for whom you have a chance to vote.
 "The council is supposed to be ncn-p partisan and therefore is nom- mated by petition. There is sup posed to be no party organization in existence under this plan so candi- dates cannot be picked at the party primary. If person desires to run for an office he must have a petition circulated in the district which he expects to represent and have 1t signed by certain number of e1ec- tors and have 1t duly filed with the town clerk.
 Consider for moment what may happen under these conditions. The lack of party organizations to place nominations and conduct campaigns places this burden on the candidate 0. his friends. But, what man cares to spend his time even if he can af- ford to. to campaign in city dis trict without some type of organized support? We do find isolated cases where independent candidates do this thing but they are very rare. And here Is whero danger turks.
 What is the political organization which this system will abolish, have you ever considered that?-What will replace 1t If you destroy 1t? Will the new system be better or worse :? Let us appraise the political organ- ization and weigh It's good and evil. IL has been tried and we have more than mere theory on which to base our observations. Is 1t not true that political organization is based on dis trlct clubs. which are made up of the voters in the district, Is 1t not so that these clubs become q center for the people to meet in social activity and to meet to discuss local government, thereby keeping acquainted with what Is going on. Is 1t not true that from these organizations men can be selected who are well known to the voters and who know their needs and their views. Is 1t not so that these groups of voters support the campaigns and assist in conducting them. Is 1t not true that many out standing public servants in the coun- try to-day have risen to state and national positions from and through the district political organization.
 Under the new plan this system Is done away with. Is t not possible that the prospective candidate for office of council man may be given the support of some organization or corporation that is not supported by the electorate but by the individual or corporation seeking special favors. Would 1t not be worth while for the ones seeking the advantages of plac- ing men on the council to make an effort to gain control of that board, because under this system the power Is so centralized that 1t is much cas- fer for the few seeking special priv ileges to gain control of 1t. A ma- tority in the council is all that Is nec- essary, for the council appoints the city manager and between the two and their appointees lie all the pow CT and authority in the government in their hands rests tho welfare of the city.
 Perhaps private interests do not gain control everywhere but the sys- tenn invites 1t because it removes the