The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-18
Eats, Parade High-Lights For
 Bremen
BY TUCKER McGRATH Waterbury Fireman

F11ty WaterDury IreIHeH, OH duty under a double working hour system adopted for the purpose will banquet at MerWins inn, "at the foot of Laurel beach" Mill ford tomorrow night at o'clock after the first days session of the Conn. State F'ircmen'S association opening in Milford in the morning On Saturday a big firemen's pa rade will be held in the after noon.
 Waterbury delegates always "eat well' at these annual conventions They love their lobsters; and ev- erything proper that goes with this particular favorite dish.
 line convention this year will be most interesting inasmuch as 1t is expected John Fl. Graham will be elected to the presidency. His el- ectlon will be the second to that office Waterbury has enjoyed since the organization was established 50 or so years ago. Lieut.. James c. Mccoy was the president some years back.
 Mir. Graham, or Brother Gra- ham" as the firemen refer to him. will be in "the pink of condition" we expect, as he ascends the ros- trum, and assumes control. His clothes will be the dream of the day, copied in way from the noted Berry Wall of years ago, except that the passee ascot tie will be replaced by one of the summery type, with a red flaming effect, somewhat in keeping with the spirit of the convention itself, and the position to which he is to be advanced by reason Of "faithfulness Of duty" No mem- Der has worked harder for the success of the state organization than has the same MT. Graham.
 We expect great things from his reign, not that we claim a superior complex for him, but be- cause we feel he'll be active, jump ing about bit, and little more on his toes than some of us hap pen to be.
 A state firemen's convention al- ways bring well known firemen together. For instance, there s Mike Souney up New Britain way. He's great big fellow, who once wore a mouStache that almost went around to both ears. But that was at a time when we all liked the handle-bar kind. MT. Souney is our treasurer and. holds on for dear life because the dele- gates wouldn't allow him to give up.
 The secretary Is David M. liar ford Of South NorWalk. Years ago before Dave was secretary, he was just as active as youll find him in theSe days. He's an exception ally fine officer, who enjoys the . friendship and admiration of hundreds of firemen in all parts of the state. His speeches may be long, but they are interesting to those who desire to study fig- ures and know something about the real inside of the association. There is opposition to some ex- tent this year, but the Waterbury delegates are expected to be loyal to him.
 Big Tommy Wagner, a cap tain of the Bridgeport fire de- partment and the recognized hi8- torlAn of the association may mix" with the Waterbury dele gation on account of his birth over Brooklyn way less than 40 years ago Tommy jumps around like a "bell hop" is quick on the go. and gets things going at q convention that in the end proves of value to all. He thinks Mag ner alley was named after his grandfather, but 1t wasn't.
 Our old friends from Wolcott will be down Saturday in full numbers. They all parade, too, headed by their own brass band. Chief Pracncy, and his 40 aids will all carry old fashioned trumpets, with wild flowers picked from the wilds Of old Spindle Hill, or some other such section Of the now famed Wolcott.
 The Waterbury delegation will carry brass canes, representative of the city. But they won't march, except Brother Graham who will wear fiery red shirt. bearing the name, Cracker Hill"
 Various guests, or brother and visiting firemen" as the term iS applied, will napkin" with us at Merwin's, known even before Laurel Beach was created as a summer resort MT. Merwin" if that is his name, says every nan who eats a lobster should have q bath towel as napkin: finger bowls, nicely lemoned inside, will De at our finger tips all night, we expect.
 Anyway, we expect one fine time.