The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-17

JOD CepeQQeQ OH HIS OWL el1CIl Us lle becomes jealous of that job" and works for it, feeling that no one is going to replace him by political prestige.
 For the most part, Mayor McLevy talked in general terms, waxing en- phatic to the point of hoarseness during his appeal to Waterburians to follow the example of Bridgeport and to establish system of good government" He described the sit uation in Waterbury today" as simi- lar to that in which he found Bridgeport" when he took office.
 Mostly, too, Mayor McLevy en- phasized the theory of the merit system as he claimed to have ap- piled it to his city and he arraigned the citizens of Waterbury as culpa- ble, individually and collectively, for their government of yesterday, to- day, and tomorrow. Reference to the plight in which he found Bridgeport when he took office, fol- lowing Republican administration, was treated with the terminology, "the other fellow.
 Socialist Senators Lauded
 Reference to the work of three Socialist members of the senate at Hartford was laudatory, Mayor Me- Levy remarking that these members had obtained more legislative aid for Bridgeport "than any city in the state has been able to get in his tory" He did not comment on the coalition of the Republican minority in the senate with the Socialist members who were responsible fol the re-appointment of Highway Commissioner John A. Macdonald now involved in the Merritt Park way grand jury investigation al Bridgeport. Nor did Mayor McLevJ mention the Merritt Highway probe which currently is attempting to de- termine facts of $6,00O,00O in lanc deals and whether there were "kick-backs" to various Republicans organization men and officials.
 It was "Waterbury night" in the sense of criticism of the govern ment of this city and shame" wa' cried at the approximate 1000 per sons at Temple hall flor Water bury", by one speaker and another with an appeal for membership Il Good Government Association Suc- ceeding this arraignment by Secre' tary Smith. The Y. M. c. A. off cial built his thesis around the at tack, shame, declaring that tht reputation of the city, it's bushes: and it's character, "are suffering through the publicity in the news. papers, here and throughout the country" because o1 the grand jurJ investigation.
 While politics was the keynote il a sense of the minor chords, the tWt major political parties taking tht "black notes" in a scale of oratory leading to the sweet tinklings of theme on the soprano keys of spring and the merit system, no deflnltt announcements of candidacy were forthcoming. Mayor McLevy ex' plained his acceptance of the in vitation to speak in Waterbury by remarking that he was always will ing to speak for any organization seeking good government.
 Describes Management
 With this prelude, he led his hear CTS through the maze of Bridge ports accomplishments from tht time when "the other fellow, (tht late Republican administration hac plunged the city into virtual bank ruptcy'. He pointed to restoration of pay cuts of city employees, mod ernization of the fire department elimination of a high-cost garbage collection contract. With many O his remarks the Socialist executive outstanding exponent of the part, which was his first basis of election by 6,OOO votes in 1883, drew laugh ter, sympathetic laughter, admir- ing laughter, and laughter which de rived from the fact that the per sonnel of his audience was formed in vast preponderance, by elthel members of the 5000 claimed by thu Citizens Good Government ASSocla ton, some of the 5000 who signet the Merit System Associations petl tion for a referendum last summer and Republicans, including prac- tically all of the Republican official dom of Waterbury.
 This, however, rested beside tn ; point of the meeting in one sens and that: Mayor McLevy made stir ring appeal for an interest in tn affairs of government by every citi zen; laid the blame of mismanage ment of what he called the bigges business of any city, its govern ment, right at the door of his audi ence, as individuals,as members O the Good Government Association or the Merit System Association, ol Republicans, the last being the only major political party so involved in asmuch as the administration of tht city is, in main, Democratic.
 He remarked the workings o! machines" and deplored the inabil. ity of citizens to realize that only by competitive system" and or ganization can such vehicles of gov ernment be beaten at the polls. IT this connection, there was referen<t at the meeting to the speech in Wa. terbury recently of Charles P. Taft leader in the movement for citN