New Britain herald., 1920-02-07

complexion of the democratic dcIcya- tion to the national convention in San Francisco. This may indicate that
 there is little interest in the demo-
 cratic campaign, which is an un- healthy condition so far as that party
 is concerned or it may be taken as q straw showing that tho wind is blow
 ing up TO QudrrelS.
 Homer $. Cummings of Stamford
 has put Connecticut on the poIitica |
 map by his accession to the chair
 manship of the democratic national
 committee. He has declared himself
 to be strictly neutral and in d mood
 for watchful waiting in respect to the
 candidates for president although the
 suspicion grows that he would not be
 deeply srIeved ii Governor Edwards
 were chosen to carry the party ban
 ner. He and the New Jersey cXecu-
 tive have been in each others com
 panH frequently. this arousing the ire
 of William Jennings Bryan who
 wants to have something to say about
 naming the candidate. In fact the
 Nebraskan and Chairman Cummings
 have had a tilt that filled the hearts
 of republican leaders with jubilation.
 But Mr. Cummings denial that he
 was seeking to influence the national
 convention or had d preference for
 the presidential nominee was firm and
 frank and rang true. resulting in the silenclng of Mir. Bryan temporar rily at
 least.
 Mir. Gun minSS was stage manager of the state campaign in 1918 when the democratic party caused such |; scare among the republican hosts and Governor Holcomb barely slid into office over Thomas J. SpellacN. Wheth- CT he will be able to work greater charm and weave his magic during the coming presidential election only time will tell.
 The state of Connecticut has been republican Ina abitually, 50 to speak. Since the contest between Lincoln and Mcclellan in 1864 the commonwealth has gone democratic in presidential contests rly four times. Even the great Lincoln received nothing like a sweeping endorsem nnt of his policies, the popular vote for him being 44.693 and against him 42.2Ss. Hartford county went republican that day by a shade, Lincoln receiving S.693 and Mcclellan S.6S3 a margin of ten for the father of the G. O. P.
 Conneclicut's first dcfection from the republican ranks occurred in 1876 wl4an it gave Tilden 61,931 and Hayes 5",03C. Eight years later it returned q plurality of about 1000 for Cleve- land in his run against Blaine. and in l%&> ii was almost recaptUred by the re cpublicdns but managed to give Cleveland 74.922 and Harrison A, JS6. the greatest loss for the democrats be- ing in Hartford county. In 1892 the state showed CleN elan1 il was sorry ho k of fOlIr previous by giving him lead of about ;. 900 over Harrison. In all other years the Land of Steady Habits was consistently republican and gave the candidates of that party in 1900. 1904 and 1908, Mckinley. Roosevelt and Taft. big margins mounting into the thousands. |
 As the average voter is becoming more independe deht--pernaps he is br- only more confused-there is no telling what may occur in the next election. There are many re- publicans who resent the abuse heap cd on the head of President Wilson by his political opponents and who would vote to send him back to the White House should he receive the party nomination. On the other hand his support has weakened in other quarters. Certain it is that the mag nctic Homer $. Cummings will en- deaNor to turn the state over once more to democracy and if he is as spccessful in dealing with issues this time as he did last there is d poSSl- bility that he may succeed.
 Republicans look with trembling on the wound that has been caused by the Roraback- King feud. Mr. King has been treated rough by Mr. Rora- back whose methods of treating 'em rough antedated those of the dough- boys and whose smile and pleasant dcmeanor so clcNerly conceal what is lranspirng behind his laughing eyes. Mir King. no doubt. does not wield the influence that he hoped would he | his but he has not been deserted en- tircIy by his friends. He is iI leader of Il minority against Mr. Roraback's well oiled and organized machine. which includes New Britain politi- t.innS: he has been repudiated by those in charge of General Woods G; m paien for the republican nomina- liol,. If he is human he must smart under these lasheS ahd he may eN- press his resentment in the election ii. lr2s of Fairfield county on election day.
 While on the subject of national politics it would not be amiss to in :. luirc for the residence of the gen lcman who would always be counted 0n to give a tWo-hOur discussion of he tariff when tho subject turned to ; affairs political. It is probable that
 he tariff question will play an insiG- role in the coming fight. Eu- rope owes Us money. In order to get