The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-11-23
Peter J. Shea

name. He was that type of man. Once you knew him you never could forget him. Men of higher stations in life have died and have been promptly forgotten. For long years we know that Waterbury will recall "Pete" Shea and for just as long years tales will be told of his many ac- complishments and of his varied career in Waterbury. His death has proved shock, because "Pete" never seemed to be one of those men who would find time to lay down his earthly tools and answer the Masters call
 It was only last week that the writer stopped at "Pete's" nod to be regaled with one of those typically Sheaesque stories. Nobody could tell one with the same voice infection or proper degree of color as could "Pete." He was raconteur of note, an after dinner speaker of considerable ability, an announcer par excellence, a drum major of imposing mien and reputa- tion, gentleman, and fine friend. More than this what would you say of any man. His passing, as we said above, will be marked by all for years to come.
 We don't know how much time and ef- fort he spent in the interests of other peo- pie and organizations Certainly he never refused his services. He was available at any and all time for duties to which his particular talents fitted him. Oddly enough a good many people never linked him with the trade that was his for so many years, even until the end. 'Pete" Shea was a printer and always had been. He sold newspapers at one time i'll Wa terbury and the smell of ink entered his nostrils then and remained there until the end. The trade has lost two old timers this week in Pete" Shea and Pete" Ma lone. No Guttenberg ever labored more faithfully over the stone as did they.
 The recent winning of suit by the Apothecaries Hall company, brought against it by Southington farmer, gives us chance to stress a point that has been one of our favorite topics for months. The local drug house was sued by the Southington man because he claimed that a preparation he bought there to kill Mex ican bean beetles killed his crop of beans instead. However, judgment was found for the defendant after it was proved that the powder in question was one suggested by the U. s. Department of Agriculture. We are not so much concerned with the damage action as with the Mexican bean beetles As the name suggests they are not of American breeding. Still we have them with us in ever increasing numbers. It is impossible to raise string beans with out using some form of spray or dusting powder. And one application isn't enough. It has to be continued throughout the bearing season as the bugs keep coming in successive generations. Some day we hope a scientist will discover a real method of exterminating the numerous varieties of insect pests that now ravage gardens. He'll be life saver. In the meantime some form of pest control could proftably be inaugurated by Uncle Sam as means of giving work to thousands of unemployed. We're all for attacking these beetles with every known weapon of mankind. That in- cludes man power and money.
 State political circles, both democratic and republican, are much agitated these days by all sorts of fumors about Cover nor Cross plans for the future. The trou- ble is nobody seems to know just what he \ will do next year when it comes time to discuss the democratic ticket The chances are that he will seek another term, but just mention that out loud and half dozen people will tell you that he has no intention of seeking the gubernatorial nomination, but will run for the Senate against Senator F. c. Walcott. And if he does that you can just bet that there'u be a grand influx of candidates for first place on the democratic ticket. We're inclined to think ourself that Mayor Hayes may be gubernatorial timber in 1884 and we know others who think the same way. But there are host of names already be- ing mentioned in well-informed circles.
 We didn't think that Robbins B. Stoeck- el, former head of our state motor vehicle department, could remain out of the lime light very long. We note that he has ac- cepted call from Yale University and