The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-01-16
':Silk Toppers" Graced
 Inaugural Ceremonies
"Out Easter'' Remembers Time When Republi- cans Elected Mayor in Waterbury-Recalls Personalities at John P. Elton's Inaugu-
 ration.

just as you are taking the place of uthese older men,"
 What true words; how often it has occurred; the members of the present administration are young, in years. and also in municipal experi- ence. Their desire to get rid of The old fellows" may come home to rooSt in their individual case, too, as the years start to roll in on them.
 Silk Peppers
 But the striking thing about that particular meeting of the aldermen was the presence of so many silk toppers on the part of the various members. An alderman in olden days was considered a parsonage Of some renown. He was a ward representative; he was independent, because the voters of his district watched his every move and action. He was big with his constituency and they wanted him to dress in accordance with the prominence of the office he occupied. At various board mettings we recall the plug hats" of the well groomed Warren L Hall, Ralph N. BlakeSlee, Ed- ward O. GoSs and James H. Filling, of the Republican side, along with those worn by the late Senator John Hurley, Dan Began, Dan Foley Jimmy Murray, the first real Demo- cratic leatA' by reason of his nom- ination by the newspapermen of the day, Dan Mahaney of Brooklyn, Charley Boylan, the big butter and egg man" Dan Harrington, and others. Democratic aldermen of I35 and 40 years sayo were never fear fll of wearing topper at every in- auguration, and the Mayor appeared likewise.
 Mayor Elton was accustomed to silk hat. He came from an aristocratic and fine family, and everyone in Waterbury respected not only the Mayor, but the name it. self, which stood and still stands for so much in the interest of tine city and it's people. Mayor Will liam E. Thoms. a Democrat fol- lowed Mayor Elton. He sported a topper at his inauguration; so did Bill Hotchkiss, the Republican who followed him in 1910 and 1911. When Prank Reeves defeated Hotch- kiss and took office on the first Monday of January, 1912. He wore an extremely "plushy'' silk hat Bashful Martin Scully hesitated at first when he took charge in 1914, but finally adhered to the wishes and such head-gear of his two inaugurations and also at the of- ficial opening of city hall. Labor day 1916. Billy Sandland. Republican, elected by Democratic votes, also sported a topper at both of his inaugurations, day-time when he was sworn in, and at night when he read his message to the board of al- dermen. Frank Guilfoile did the same and so did Frank Hayes. But We cannot recall We ever saw Pas quale Perriello. the late Vincent Scully or John Monagan with a high hat. It was Mayor Guilfoile who switched the official cere- monies from the night to the day season, after consultation with yarl- ous democratic leaders. And one or two Guilfoile Democrats of the Board of Aldermen apperaed with nigh hats.
 Custom Changed
 We do not unS2l 2 and the idea of the present Board of Aldermen, but they do say that not one of them wore a plug" hat when they assembled for the first time on January 1 last. We are not very conyersant with the present set oi aldermen; We know few, but We dc know that in the years that have gone by. we saw Alderman James M. Lynch wearing morning dress high hat and all, on his way tc divine worship, and at various meet ings that brought him before an as' sembly of distinguished citizens. Il was not uncommon for us to notice Alderman Lynch in this garb in thu many years we have known eaet other. He certainly knows thu proper dress for state occasion.
 But there is one member of thl new board of aldermen We woulG like to see in evening dress, includ ing the silk hat. He is Pete Ward. the sole representative of tn Independent Democrats. Our frs chance meeting was the other day He has the build and appearance tor an alderman. just as Tam many used to exact from it's candi dates before New York city did ava with lts Board Of Aldermen. Ml Ward ls tall. well built. with Eounl