The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-09-28
Fighting Alderman
 Faces His Record
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will look up tho recoru ior tho other two years. But l don't think 1t is necessary. What have round conyinces me that I don't care TOT Mir Cooney's particular brand or economy.
 T have decided that I am quite content to go on as nave since 1880, knowing that my taxes nave been steadily reduced, that my city ia on tho financial up- grade, and that my affairs are in tho hands of men who have shown their de- sire and their ability to glvo tho tnxpayers q square deal by getting real results during time when nearly every other city has boon in much worse straits than Water- bury.
 II would rather havo perform. ance than promise, any timo. Un- dor tho present administration, I have been getting something for my money. tho right kind of some- thing, which I can translate into dollars and cents at . time whom the dollars count moro than ever.
 "That's the kind of performance I want, and that's why l say that the Hayes administration Is the ono which ought to get,--and VIII get, my vote and the vote of every citizen who looks facts squarely in tho face." ,
 No Abuse
 "r am about to disappoint any body who came hero tonight to hear mo abuse my opponent" stated Mayor Hayes in opening his remarks. That's not in my lino. I nm running on my own record, not on somebody else's failures. Four years ago I made certain promises, I havo kept thcm and am proud of my record. There were two principal promises, ono of them to reduce taxes 50 that you who own your own homes would And 1t easier to hold on to thom. declare that during the past four years there has occurred tho most rapid decrease in taxes in tho history of the city.
 "when made those promises we were living in c different land. Two weeks after took office Q great change came over tho coun- | try and tho people began to starvc and have starved for tho past four years. However, in tho face of many obstacles the taxes were re- duced.
 "The other promise was to roc dueo tho city's debt. In the past four years tho city debt has been reduced by over s3,6oo,ooo. Let our opponents prove otherwise. When tho depression came upon us I resolved that nobody in Wa. torbury would freeze or starve while was mayor and am proud of the fact that that resolution has been kept.
 Kept Promises
 "r am proud that have kept my promises and I only regret that nm at q disadvantage in that I cannot promise everything. A couple of days ago wo city officials and employees were referred to as loafers by tho opposition. resent that very much.
 "Thcro arc no slave gangs con- ducted under my administration. | Working conditions are fair and the employees. in return. give q fair days work in reutrn. :. streets of Waterbury ever in as "Last year tho electorate picked l " Hthu hVA BiS5Adtht WAVp uAhSG nv | ing into office, has brought about great changes. He will go down | In history as the greatest president the United States has ever had. Everybody's Q little bit better of due to his great work. Everybody's l eating Q little better, earning q lit- tie more. feeling Q little better. we owe President Roosevelt something for this and we should do this one thing next Tuesday at the polls by giving the democrats ] an overwhelming victory and help in building up for the presidential campaign four years hence" Has No Apologies
 Controller Leary stated, in his opening remarks, that he Is not apologizing for anything connected with the financial affairs of the city of Waterbury. ''In fact" he de- clared, "I am justly proud of the handling of the financial matters. I made a statement week or so ago that the debt of the city has been reduced $3.700,000 in the past four years. The opposition has practically admitted that. That, claim, is some achievement when it is remembered that at the same time the taxes were reduced from AZ mills to 32.5 mills, the greatest reduction in taxes of any city in the state.
 "I am not afraid to have the financial affairs of the city studied. That's what want to do. talk poli- tics. play with the opposition in their own alley this time.
 "The administration could have made a better showing. possibly, had not the handling of city affairs been tempered with mercy, justice and good. common horse-sense. Tax collections were not up to par l'but there was a limit to the pres sure that could be put on consider ing conditions.
 "It is quite noteworthy that no employe or creditor of the city had to wait any undue length of time to receive their money. Payrolls were kept right up to date and the bonds were paid on time. which is something HOO other cities in the United States cannot say. The employees of the city voluntarily and gladly took a 20 per cent cut in pay to help their negihbors.