The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-10-28
REPUBLICANS ADOPT POOR TACTICS IN CRITICIZING
 OWN PARTY MEMBER
Bethlehem, Conn.,, October 26, 1886.

October 26, 1886.
 Editor, Waterbury Democrat:
 The republican rally staged at Bethlehem on Friday night last of- fered strange contrast to that previously held here by the demo- crats, with the republican speakers picturing their democratic opponents as group of dagger yielding ballot thiefs and verbally painting horns and a pointed tail as an essential characteristic of all members of the democratic faith. While we be- lieve our republican friends fared SC differently at the hands of speak CTS at our rally that, a comparison is almost humorous, we are quite willing to accept the republican on slaught as 8 necessary feature o1 all national political elections.
 However, when a speaker at 3 republican rally such as that staged on Friday night feels it necessary to launch an attack upon a local candidate and further presents statements which we know are not in keeping with the facts 1t forces us to publicly place upon record the true facts involved in the mat ter that the interests of justice may be best served.
 Bethlehem has received some pub licity during the present campaign through the fact that the demo- crats of Bethlehem nominated 8 candidate for the state legislature, Mrs. Mary E. Flynn, who is a member of the republican party. This action by the democrats was taken following the republican cau- GUS, where Mrs. Flynn received a number of votes but an insufficient number to secure the nomination.
 In order that the situation may be fully understood it is necessary to state that Mrs. Flynn has a somewhat unique philosophy rela- tive to the seeking of political of fees, in that she refuses to ask any voter to support her for nom- ination or for election. That is not the modern method of either republican or democratic machine politics. It is the older belief that 'the office shall seek the man, and not the man the office," which we seem to have heard before in the history of American politics. While such theories will not be subscribed to by practical politicians, it ap- pears to us that the holding ot such beliefs is no cause for criti- ciSm. ,.,nr
 The attitude of Mrs. Flynn in this connection accounts at least in part for the small number of votes she received at the republican caucus, and also for the fact that 8 large number of republican voters who failed to attend the caucus assert ed that had they known. Mrs Flynn was interested in repfesent- ing Bethlehem in the legislature they would have been present to cast their ballots for her.
 Having no candidates in their own party interested in the nomination the democratic party felt that in the nomination of Mrs. Flynn they would give her many Bethlehem friends an opportunity to make their desired choice on election day The democratic party sees nothing criminal in such an action and has no apologies to make for 1t.
 With these facts established WI may return to the republican rally of Friday night and quote from 2 talk by Rep. Baldwin of Stratford majority leader of the House ol Representatives at Hartford, whs in criticisizing the snomination of republican on the democratic ticke asserted that failing to receive thu nomination in the republican eau. GUS, she sought the nomination iron the democrats"
 Whether Intentionally or other, wise that assertion Is utterly un' true.
 The day of the democratic eau GUS the possibility of the nonlina' tion of Mrs. Flynn was discussed by several Bethlehem democrats who endeavored to secure permis sion from her to place her nam upon the ballot. That permission was not given previous to the eau GUS, however, and at the democra, tic caucus a committee of three wa. appointed to see Mrs. Flynn and .asl her consent. After much per suasion on the part Of this commit. tee Mrs. Flynn agreed to the tsl