From 1909: Republican Outlook Good in Middletown

This is an extract from an article published exactly 100 years ago today, in the Hartford Courant on January 10, 1910.

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Strong Ticket and Party in Harmony

Good birth rate for the past year.

Middletown's battered political pot will boil merrily all this week, for the mayoralty election takes place a week from today. Since the caucuses of last week, there has been but little doing among the politicians, each side preparing for this week's campaign. The democrats have ben planning for the contest for the past month or so and the leaders claim a victory, but there seems to be nothing to substantiate this claim; indeed, judging by the rupture in the party caused by John L. Fisk's turndown, it would appear as if the democratic vote will not be as strong as usual.

The republicans have named what is conceded to be one of the best tickets ever put up. There isn't a weak nominee on the slate, and it's a ticket that will be voted straight. The party is in a most harmonious condition and the town committee is planning to get out the biggest republican vote polled in years. Tonight, there will be a meeting at republican headquarters on Center street and organization will be perfected of a young men's volunteer club, composed of a number of young republicans who will help get out the vote next Monday.

Mayor T.M. Russell, chairman of the republican town committee feels much encouraged over the outlook. The town committee has been receiving bouquets from all sides since last Friday, over the excellent ticket put in the field. Alderman Eugene J. Clark, the nominee for mayor, has always been a big vote getter and it seems likely that he will poll a bigger vote than ever, Monday. The republicans have talked of Mr. Clark as a candidate for some time, but it was not thought that he would accept on account of press of other duties; so when he decided to run, there was much elation shown. His experience as a banker as well as that gained as chairman of the finance committee of the common council for a number of terms, should assure the city of a sane, business-like administration.

No Race Suicide Here.
During the year 1909 there were 503 births in Middletown, an increase of 25 over the previous year. The birth rate is considerably in excess of the death rate, which was 450, so it would appear as if there is no race suicide here. An analysis of the birth rate shows that each child born was on the average the third in the family, the days of the old-fashioned families of a dozen or more being on the decline. However, there were several families where there were over ten children, but these were mostly in families of foreign nationalities.

Yale Freshmen Lost
The Middletown High School basketball team had an easy time with the Yale freshmen at the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium Saturday, winning 43 to 17. The locals led at the first half, 13 to 6. Sage played a star game for Middletown, throwing ten field goals which was within thirteen of the total number of points made by Middletown in the game.

Scientific Association Lecture.

Professor E.L. Thorndike of Columbia University will lecture before the meeting of the Middletown Scientific Association at Scott Hall, Wesleyan, Tuesday evening. His subject will be "Experimental Studies of Animal Intelligence." The public is invited.

Notes.Professor William North Rice of Wesleyan University made the address at the fireside talk at the Y.M.C.A. yesterday afternoon, his subject being "St. Paul's Counsel for a Good Life."

Local ice men report that they have nearly completed harvesting the crop for this year.

An adjourned meeting of the common council will be held tonight at which the work of the year will probably be wound up.

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"Race suicide" was a great fear in the first part of the 20th century, and judging by this article a concern in Middletown as well. Dr. M.S. Iseman wrote in 1912 (in a book entitled "Race Suicide", The Cosmopolitan Press, NY), "... if the American republic is to remain Anglo-Saxon and stand for the civilization of the West instead of the East, her women, particularly those of the old native stock, must become its mothers."

Professor Thorndike was 36 years old in 1910, he would later become quite renowned for his studies on animal behavior and learning. During World War I, he developed tests for determining qualification for enlistment in the U.S. Armed Forces.

William North Rice was a Geologist and Methodist Minister who wrote about the intersection of Science with Religious Faith.

Ice harvesting was from a pond on Toll Gate Road in Middletown, the picture above is of a Massachusetts ice company.