The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-05
Sen. DONOVAN
DONS WAR TOCA
EARLY IN GAME
His First Verbal Assault is
Aimed at Democratic Col
leagues in Caucus
AGAINST MAHAN SELECTION
Democratic Senators ReSenting
Onslaught Say Donovan Will
Regret Remarks
AGAINST MAHAN SELECTION
Especial to the Farner.)


Hartford. Jan. 5-That Senator Jere-
miah Donovan of Norwalk. is not con-
vinced of the sincerity of some Of his
Democratic colleagues is evidenced
from the attitude which he has al
ready assumed towards some OF them.
Senator Donovan is certainly not elat-
ed over the action of the Democratic
Senators in selecting Bryan Mal1an OF
New London as a leader. He mani
tested his displeasure over this parcic-
ular selection in no uncertain terms
at the Democratic caucus held in the
Allyn House, Tuesday evening. Whlle
an effort has been made to suppress
what actually transpired at this meet
ing enough has become known to war
rant the assertion that 1t was
stormy session
The Democratic Senators had prev
iously sat down to dinner. with Gov
ernor Baldwin as their guest. Fol-
lowing the repaSt an adjournment
was taken to one Of the rooms where
of the meeting was to- select a can
dfda-e for the presidency Of the Sem
ate and appoint committee to in
form the president of that body OF
the several committee appointment
which the Democratic Senators favor
ed.
During the afternoon several Of the
Democratic Senators had talked MAJ
ters over and practically agreed that
the leadership on the Democratic side
would go to either Mahan, or Speliaey
Of Hartford. When the catfcIls cOr1-
Mahan was the choice. This action
met with the strongest dfsapprovai
from Donovan He favored neither
Mahan or spellacy.. II he had "a
choice he did not indicate it. In the
debate, that grew oalt of the differ
ences between Donovan and his col
leagues bitter words were used. Dom
ovan is said to have charged that the
special interests dictated the action
Of the caucus. This the Senators fi1-
dignan,ly denied and demanded proof
They considered the charge made by
resented it. t.s.s..e;. s..
Donovan not only refused to modify
his remarks but persisted In his
charge. More than one Senator pres
ent assumed a menacing attitude, ana
it appeared that blows 2 would be
struck. -. sas-e.<-
During the debate Donovan alleged
that at least one Sena or had Iobbied
in the last session of the General As
sembly against the public utilities bill,
having in the Democratic State con-
yention last preceding participated in
clared for the passage Of a public.
utilities bill at least as drastic in its
provisions as the New York bill. Dom
ovan also asserted that a. Democratic
candidate who violated the platform
pledges of his party was guilty Of
high treason to his party and the peo-
ple. and should - punished as a trail
tor. So. -. .--cess
So hot did the debate between Sem.
ator Donovan and Senator Mahan be-
come that they almost came to blows.
The difference was only ended when
Senator Donovan 1ptOrily left the
caucus.
While the Democratic Senators de-
clined to discuss the matter in any
of it's phases. yet one of them said:
eve believe that Senator Donovan
was unwarranted in making the
charges that he did. Even assum-
ing that some. one; Senator had. as
private citizen, Iabored against the
public utilities bill. the rest of us had
not. Therefore no accusation should
have been made impugning our good
faith. Our actions in office will be
the criterion by which we: should be
Judged. T believe that Senator Dom
ovan will realize his mistake before
the session is over, and that he will
deenly regret his present attitude to-
wards u.s."