The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-26
Major Tom" Horriga,,
Recent Appointment of Second Battalion Com mander Revives Story of Unsuccessful Candi- dacy of Captain Dan Fitzpatrick -"Insde Poli-
 tics' Blocked Merted Promotion.

the Mexican border, and later went over seas during the World war. We have always liked this young and active military man; we often wondered at his abality to keep within the border, even during the drilling of raw recruits, a work which has endeared him to all of those who served under his leadership. He never seemed to lose his patience or to be dis pleased; he just carried on, talked . pleasantly, and made the best of it all without in the least of- lending the boy just starting out to do his bit in behalf of Uncle Sam.
 Old Armory
 But when we were over in the old Phoenix avenue armory many years ago, we were kicked about quite a bit. not bitterly, of course, but we had to step lively, every time we made a wrong gesture in front of the top kick" Then, much of our play was for review before the public down at Mantle or at the annual battalion drill held at the close of the drill sea- son. Our military dress was then in colors, blue and white, and the night of the Battalion drill, we desired and did look our "pret- tiest" in front of our best girl, and the many others present. Oh, but they were great days, we mean our military activities. The whole town turned out for this affair, with the mayor of the city review ing the troops, lined up on either side of the old hall. The Ameri- can band supplied the march music.
 And then when the drill ended, partners were chosen for a dance that lasted throughout the re- mainder of the night. Open house was held upstairs in the parlors of each company; if you were 8 Company A booster you visited that part of the building; if you were a follower of old Company G, you lined up with the fellows of that unit. Captain Henry R. Carter commanded Company A; the late Captain Alfred J. Wolff, and the present Captain Daniel E. Fitzpatrick were the officers of Company G, under whom he served.
 Inside Politics"
 We shall never forget the can- didacy of Captain Fitzpatrick for a majorship; he was entitled to the position, they said, but he never got it. Inside doings kept him from being advanced. Our memory is that New Haven, Meri- den, Middletown, and Waterbury military companies comprised the second regiment. Each company officer was entitled to vote. Cap- tain Dan was the logical candi- date, 1t was admitted, but when the votes were counted, it was found he had failed to receive a majority vote; some of the Water- bury officers, it was said at the time, voted against him. We could never understand, why it was, but there were others who did and who later explained the inside causes, as the years went on.
 For the reasons set forth then, it IS most gratifying to learn and read of the promotion of Captain Horrigan. And we'll bet Captain Fitzpatrick is a well-pleased man after these many years; forty years ago, Fitzpatrick couldn't get the much desired plu.M, even though entitled to 1t, as then ad- mitted.
 But he lived to see a Waterbury boy named Horrigan elevated to an office, high in military circles, and greatly sought by the average run of company officers in the Second or any other battalion of the present day army unit.