The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-01-16
(BY THE OUT EASTER)

The inauguration of the Mayor of Waterbury, in conformity with charter regulations. took place in the city hall on the first day Of 1946. This means that the present administration will hold over for another two years, based upon the figures in the election held in Mo- vcnber last.
 It was the first inauguration we missed in over a period of 40 years. We saw the distinguished John P. Elton enter the office on the first Monday of January, 1904; we re- member the day; it was very cold, and the Democrats who had lost in the previous city election of Octo- Der 1903, left the old city hall in a body, somewhat downcast. We joined the party which stopped at Hodson's, and temporarily drowned its sorrow with 8 good and sub Stantial drink of well distilled whis- key. Then they all scattered, and were not seen again until two years later.
 No Floral Tributes
 In those days the Mayor was sworn in alone in his office; there were floral pieces and the like in the front office of the old browTlstone building. into which the other of- flee holders filed. also to take the oath of allegiance to the office to which they had been elected. But while the day was extremely cold, the proceedings also seemd cool ana chilly. There were no ward lead- CTS, no politicians, no followers, no outside organizations, and none Of the so-called individuals who ran the affairs of the Republican party. You see Mir. Elton only accepted the nomination because the manu- facturers and the Waterbury Club demanded; he was no politician, and had made no particular study of municipal government. But he was drafted and won the election by one thousand votes or so. We had mad a trolley strike, a serious riot, and then a murder. The people, it seemed. wanted change, and they got 1t; strikes, in those years were not very popular, ,anc besides the manufacturers were anxious to discourage them, and spent plenty of money to accomplish this pur- pose.
 But the lively part of the pro- ceedings was in the night season during the first meeting of the board of aldermen. Nominees for the various boards had to be sanctioned by the Aldermen, and of course, as in after years, the general pubic appeared more interested in the Board of Public Safety t!.an any other Board. Louis N. Van Keuren. holding title of general from the Connecticut National Guard was among those named by Mayor El- ton. He was connected with the Colonial Trust Company, but had not been here very long, and few know him when he was nomin- ated. His two Republican associ- ates were George M. Beach as al- derman, and the late George A Driggs; the two Democrats were M. J. Daly and John B. Moran.
 sHoly 6m0ke!"
 Holy smoke, cried some of the spectators when they heard the names, ''the police and fire depart ments are due for a real shakeup. And this happened within a short time. Gene Van Keuren declared in the open that many of the po- lice were too fat and In addition had flat feet, Through his efforts, a physical examination was deter mined, and dozen or so or the well known police were transferred to the Vet'sans reserve force, un- der the statute that allowed for the creation of the first police pension fund. These men were required to sit around headquarters for a half day, for which they were paid half the wages then paid regular patTolmen. Young men replaced them. And one of these young men was Lieut.. John P. Dunphy, just retired by the Board of Po- lice Commissioners. We well rec member the words of Gen. Van Keuren, in his address to the then young ney' policemen, including Dunphy. Ja Stevens. Jimmy Mad den Jlm Magner, and others just like them.
 You men. are young. active. and in the best Of condition: you are bound to make athletic policemen Perhaps, some day you will be old and younger mon NlA replace yon