The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-07-26

b.EKtLB, WllIlOIL UcuuCJlUR any eH'
penges is less than $4,000. Tht
Sherjff's association, which wa
formed long before took office ane
which Is running the event, has 2
9aid secretary who must be pait
and there will be other expenses II
travelling around the county get.
ting ads and selling tickets"
The sheriff went into the history
and actions of the sheriffs' associa-
ton In a statement, which follows
In which he cited the work done bJ
the organization and reiterated thai
plans for the meet were announced
last December in The Waterbury
Democrat, not three months be.
fore the campaign for reelection
as alleged.
During seven days Of steady
rain, apparently some one has
been brooding that the National
A.A. ". track and field meet 10
be held August 7 at the new mu-
nicipal stadium in Waterbury ac-
cording to present indications will
be success.
indications were given Mon
day almost simultaneously with
the first sunshine in a week that
that as soon as the band stops
playing at the meet August T. I
will tear off my false Whiskers in
the presence OF the cheering thou
sands, and turn 1t into Demo-
cratic rally in behalf Of my re-
election as sheriff Of New Haven
county.
On Soap Box?
Another worry appears to be
that I, personally, am construct
ing the new stadium, and that l
intend TO wrap the American flag
around 1t, to conceal the fact that
am standing on soap box.
"In answer to some Of these in
ferences, / welcome the occasion
to go into a little history, both
personal and in connection with
the track meet.
This track and field meet Is
being sponsored by the New Ha-
ven County Shcrilfs' association.
IT / not a personal enterprise on
my part. The association Is COM
posed Of my regularly appointed
deputies In New Haven county,
and the members Of the New Ha-
ven county jail staff. This organ
iZation meets once a month,
nh mt Il 10 A1a
not. 1t conducts It's business in
the same manner as any other
organization, with either Jailcr
Mona or myself presiding.
"A county sheriffs' association
did not originate with me. IT has
existed In previous adminlstra-
tions. However In former years
It's most vital contribution TO So
cial welfare was an annual clam
bake. We decided in our aS8ocia-
ton to be little more progress
sivc. AS result during the past
three years we have held an an
nual field day.
Sources Of Expense
The net returns from these field
days have been used for free the
alter parties for children badges
and pledge cards for members,
and outings such as the one held
in Waterbury, June IS, at Hamil-
ton park, when approximately
5000 children were given free ice
cream and entertainment, as
guests of the association. The
boys and girls present also took
the pledge that they would not be-
come first offenders against the
law. Moving pictures Of these
children taking that pledge were
taken and displayed IN moving
picture thcatefs throughout New
England. They reached thousands
Of boys and their parents.
"Thc New Haven County Sher-
IFS association holds membership
In the Connecticut Amateur Ath-
letic Union. AS president OF the
association / regularly attend the
monthly meetings OF the A. A. u,
presided over by President James
M. Roche OF New Haven, former
Metropolitan A. A. U. track star.
and now prominent New Haven
business man,
"At a meeting December 2, 1887,
the franchise for holding The Ma
tional Women's track and field
championships was awarded to
the New Haven County SherilfS'
association by the A. A. u. Ver-
ilication of this conbe found by
consulting the files OF the Water
bury Democrat, December 3, 1897.
At that early date Waterbury well
coined the proposed meet with
enthusiasm.
Nationwide Attention
National ami teur athletic
meets such as this one are eager
ly sought after by cities all over
the United States, due to the ma
tional publicity given the city
where the meet Is being held. /
felt somewhat proud that through
my own humble efforts, and those
OF the association, we had been
able TO bring the meet to a city
In our own county. l am elated
that through our efforts we have
been able to give Waterbury far
flung advertisement as a progress
sivc community. We have natur-
ally attracted the attention Of the
sports world throughout the
United States.
Answering the street-corner
inference that am holding the
meet in Waterbury three months
previous to election, for political
purposes That just somehow fails
TO make sense. ! personally fail
TO conceive how can convince
anyone that they should vote for
me by watching these national
women track stars In the after
noon. Neither do l believe that
the quips OF the vaudeville head
liners at the evening how will
be freighted with Democratic po-
lltlaaI ,arataa m a ARIA