Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1900-1903, 1902-11-14
End OF THE REGISTRAR Case
Last of the Evidence In And Ar
guments Made.

Judge Shumway Took the Papers in
the Case and Reserved Decision
The Supporters of Flanagan Feel
That the Case Will Be Decided in
Their Favor-Hynes and His Back
ers on the Other Hand Look for
Favorable Decision.
It was unusually late last eVehlns
when the superior court adjourned lug
hearing of the case of Flanagan W
Hynes, Judge Shumway endeaVorlns
to suit the counsel in the case anu
hurry it along as speedily as possible.
/ chairman Holohan of the democratic
city committee was on, the stand at
press hour yesterday He testined
that the convention which nominated
Flanagan was called by him at the
place duly called for it. Mr. Holohan
said he called the convention to order
by virtue Of the rules of the party. At
torney Root objected to this, where
upon Mr. O'Neill said he would object
to all of Mr. Holohan's evidence. 1t
was certain that the party was carried
on some rules The question was al
lowed thatthere are rules governing the
party and that for the past few years
he has been it's chairman under those
rules. The question of rules was then
gone into and the old rule relating to
the election of the registrar of voters
of the party was read, which was to
the effect that he should be elected by
the oft1ce-holders of the party and the
krxx 49,. n Hon
went into effect the rules were changed
registration law. This change was
proposed in August, 1901, at the time
of the election of the registrar by a
committee consisting of Attorneys Rus
sell, J. j. O'Neill, Slayin and Peter B.
Reeves and Martin Scully, members of
the board of public safety and works
respectively. They were to submit
their report to the town convention to
be held in that year. The new rules
provided that the registrar be elected
by convention of the elective office
holders of the party on the first Mon
lday of each May. The manner of ball
loting was changed from secret to
open. These rules were approved by
the convention. Hynes was nominated
registrar according to the new rules,
was put Oh TIE
ballot in the recent town election.
Nothing was said or done about FIana-
lgan's name, nor was any action taken
by the democratic party recognizing
j him as a candidate. s5sI<
Mr. Holohan then read the new rules
relating to the election of the registrar,
and 1t says plainly that the town con-
Yent1on shall have no power to do any
other business" that is, it shall NOM
mate only the candidates for select
men, justices of the peace, constables
and representatives when necessary.
The rule in operation before this one
was equally plain. This said the town
convention shall nominate the usual
officers except the registrar
There was nothing in the call for the
primaries or the convention relating to
the election of a registrar At the first
meeting of the convention Mr. HoIohan
read the rules of the party referring
to the duties the convention had to
: perform. To Mr. Root witness said he
presided at the convention of the office
holders held in May, at which Mr.
Hynes was elected registrar. p J.
Lawlor was chairman of the town con-
vention which accepted and adopted
the new rules. He remembered that
that convention adjourned three times.
Mr. Lawlor was the next witness.
He admitted the above statements re-
ferring to himself He thought the
new rules were introduced and adopt
ed at the second meeting of the con-
ventiOn. He could not say if they
were read, nor could he say if any
rule regarding the election of the reg
istrar was among them, but he under
stood they were rules drawn up by the
committee above named.
Thomas NJ. Hogan, candidate for Sc
lectman, was the next witness. He
was delegate to the convention which
adopted the new rules. He was GER
tain that one of the delegates handed
the rules to. the chairman, and there
was so much business to be disposed
of that some one moved they be not
read, while some other delegate moved
that they be read. He thought it was
Mr. Bates. He was not sure, but he
thought they were accepted without
being read.
Martin Brophy, chairman of the last
town convention from which arose this
controversy. testified that at the last
meeting of the convention which was
, held October 3. it was voted to sabo1-
Ssh" the rules of the democratic party
Flanagan was then nominated for reg
lSJfar. witness did not vote at the
primaries. There was no preliminary
canvass as to the candidate for regis
srar at the meeting held September
30 He recalled there was a recess,
and after that adjournment was taken.
The motion to abolish the rules was
made by Delegate John W. Burns from
the second ward Mr. Brophy said he
could not say what was the sentiment
toward the rules, and Mr. O'Neill
jokingly remarked that he knew very
well what the sentiment was; it was
TO abolish everything" Witness did
not recall if there wase vote taken to
abolish the democratic party He said
Mr. Lawlor was not delegate to the
convention. (He probably meant P. J.
Lawlor, who had testifiedl
John w. Burns, the delegate that
made the motion to abolish then
stepped to the stand. He seemed to
have brushed up his memory a bit
about things. He said that before the
first meeting of the convention adj
Journed the chairman read the rule re-
Hating to the election of the registrar,
and then the convention adjourned to