The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-22
Wins Patronage Fight
in Hot Caucus at
New Haven
CUMMINGS TO ASSIST
IN SELECTING CHOICE
Warm Row Nearly Causes Dis
ruptiOn When United States
JudgeShip Caucus Goes Fiji
teen Ballots Without Una
nimity

Con gresham jeremiah Donovan has
won his fight and is going to name
tho collector of customs for Bridge
port. This was decided yesterday at
the caucus in New Haven of the five
Congressman, together with National
Committeeman Homer S. Cummings and
Sheriff George Forster, chairman of
the State Central Committee.
The collectorship question was con-
sidered, after the caucus members had
wrangled three hours over the United
States district court judgeship. The
judgeship question wasn't definitely
settled, though Thomas f. Noone, of
Rockville, was far in the lead when
the last of the fifteen ballots was
taken.
Congressman Donovan, in making
his choice for collector of customs
here, will consult National Committee
man Homer s.. Cummings, of Stamford.
The choice will be in their hands and
the rest of the Connecticut delegation
will stand by them.
1t was contended by several of the
other Congressman that, as Bridgeport
was the only collection port in the
State, the choice should be made in
caucus. Congressman Donovan held
that he should have the selection, as
Bridgeport is in his district and there
is no precedent for any other manner
of appointment.
The question was threshed out at
some length in executive session, it
finally being agreed that the choice be
left to Congressman Donovan and Mr..
Cummings. The basis of the COM
promise was, it is understood, that
other Congressional districts will be
recognized equally in the distribution
of federal patronage.
After the caucus, Congressman Don
ovan was asked if he wanted to talk
al III 1fn11 h
his imitation of the Sphynx and de-
clared in the negative. The appoint
ment, under the reorganized customs
service, becomes effective July 1, of
this year.
The reorganization of the Service
means that Fred Enos will be relieved
OF his duties here and will be sue
ceeded by Congressman Donovan's ap-
pointee, who will be collector for, the
State with headquarters here. The
customs offices in other cities will be
in charge of present deputy collectors
who hold Office under the civil ser
vice.
The judges1ip question threatened
trouble in the caucus. There We're
ten candidates in the field, six of
whom were from New Haven, one
from Waterbury, two from Hartford,
ter Walsh, of New Haven, ; was the
leading candidate from that city.
On the first ballot, Thomas F. Noone
of Rockville started off with three
votes, those of Congressman Donovan,
Mahan and Mr.. Forster Senate
Spellacy of Hartford got the vote of
Congressman Lonergan. William E.
Thoms of Waterbury got Congressman
Kenendy's vote, and Judge walsh got
the votes of Congressman Reilly and
Mr.. Cummings.
A second and third ballot showed no
ri "a in no n &1oa -,
Mr.. Cummings went over to Noone.
On the eighth ballot, Congressman
Lonergan went to Noone, and on the
tenth, Congressman Reilly cast his
vote for Noone, who now had six,
against. William E. Thoms' one, that
Of Congressman Kennedy.
On previous ballots Mr. Reilly had
voted for other New Haven candf-
dates, hoping to present a candidate
suitable to all.
For five ballots the vote remained
unchanged, except once when Con-
in an endeavor to lead his colleagues
to an unanimous choice. =-f
During the five last. ballots there
was a, lot of warm talk. Congress-
man Kennedy persisted in his refusal
to support Noone, even if he were re-
tempts were made to get Mr.. Thoms
on the long distance phone to
straighten out the tang1e, but they
were fruitless. After the fifteenth
ballot. the result was still Noone. six;
Thonls, one.
jcurn until next Thursday, when the
same gentlemen will attempt to reach
an unanimous choice in the matter.
Fairfield county has no candidate in
the race. the name of John J. Guilt
nan. of this city, not being presented.