A referendum on fluoridation of city drinking water appears on the ballot with the awkwardly-worded PR referendum. To save PR voters must vote "no"; to okay fluoridation, "yes"--confusion is expected.

Mayor Joseph A. DeGuglielmo, CAA endorsed, isn't worried about the "threat" to PR. "I don't think PR makes that much difference to Cambridge," he opines. "Under a plurality system I'll get my bulk vote and combine with other strong candidates and we'll have what constitutes a machine. If that's what the voters want--hooray!"

DeGuglielmo has long been a close personal friend of Lyons, whose newspaper office is right next door in Harvard Square. He is said to own a considerable financial interest in the Courier, but this has never been proven.

Although DeGuglielmo has promised the CCA he will not campaign against PR, he will not actively campaign for it either.

Having run unsuccessfully twice before the City Council, Charles A. Watson, independent, says "PR makes it very difficult for a newcomer. In 12 years under PR only 16 men have held Council office, of which four died, three while in office." He believes, however, that PR will be retained.

"I don't think there'd he too much change in Council under a plurality system," declares incumbent Edward A. Crane, CCA-endorsed. "We would still have coalition government in Cambridge. Unfortunately people will go back to bullet-voting which is un-American. It entices people to restrict their franchise." Crane does favor retention of PR.

'Predatory Candidates'

CCA-endorsed incumbent Chester A. Higley thinks there would be a change in Council personnel if PR is thrown out. "I don't think there would be as much say for minority groups; things would be very much one-sided. Primaries make for machine politics. We'd have the same moss as they have in Boston." Higley is a good bet for mayor if the CCA maintains its Council majority--and it should.

Alan Steinert, President of CCA, paints a somber picture of Cambridge without PR. "Primaries will produce disinterest on the part of voters. This is true of all primaries I've heard of People will just not vote twice.

"Only the most predatory candiates will prevail. It will make the task of electing a solid Council much more difficult for CCA, and correspondingly easier for those who want personal advantage from office."

Steinert believes Plan E government would be "emasculated" as "only the politically-minded candidates will go through the torture of two campaigns; only those who have personal gain in mind.

"CCA is solidly behind Plan E, and PR is a fundamental facet," he states. "As to endorsed candidates, we asked them to campaign for PR. Our only request is that no candidate speak against PR."

Former city manager John B. Atkinson sees "defeat of PR as a great setback to council-manager form of government in Cambridge." He does not think that PR will be defeated, however.

Not His Own Man

Atkinson believes that the city is beginning to run down. More especially, he blames city manager John J. Curry for poor management on the sale of certain water department property for $60,000 which had been appraised for $90,000.