Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-16
DEMOCRATS SPLIT
IN CONNECTICUT
Organization Puts Over Only
One Candidate at Con-
venti0n.
Special Dispatch to rh. Star.

special DISPATCH To Inc ObdTs.
HARTFORD, Conn.,, September Is
The Democratic party of Connecticut
enters the campaign with the handicap
Of an unfortunate division in its ranks
which may have an aftermath election
day. The organization championed the
causes Of two candidates for major
places at the recent convention In New
Haven and was able to land only one
of them. Former Representative Angus
tine Lonergan of Hartford, who was
opposed by the machine, led by National
Committeeman Thomas j. Spellacy Of
Hartford and State Chairman James j.
Walsh Of Meriden, was easily winner
in the contest for the nomination for
United States Senator with. Ala out Of
a total of 1913 votes, or a majority Of
100 over all.
What makes the Lonergan victory Of
importance is its. decisiveness as far
are his organization opponent, Robert
?. Butler of West Hartford. is concerned.
Mr.. Buffers candidacy was an eleventh.
hour effort to defeat Lonergan and he
managed to secure only 1875 votes, Lon
ergan thus beating the machine candi-
date by 229. Organization leaders would
doubtless have been glad TO select their
representative earlier in the contest, but
we're apparently unable to draft man
who looked at all likely to defeat Lon
ergan, who got quick start and made
rapid progress with his candidacy.
+ Strength ProbIematical.
What strength Mr.. Lonergan will show
at the polls Is problemaeical. Another
problem is the question of what sup
port the machine will give the man 1t
didn't want and in fact bitterly opposed
Five times a candidate for the ma
tional House of Representatives In a
Republican district, Mr.. Lonergan was
three times successful, although one
victory was in 1912, when the entire
Connecticut delegation in the House was
Democratic, owing to the Bull Moose"
movement splitting the Republican
party. He was defeated in 1910 and
1914 and elected In 1912; 1915 and 1918.
In 1920 Mr.. Lonergan was the Demo-
cratic candidate for United States Sem
ator against the late Frank B. Brande-
Republican landslide by $4,000, he ran
far ahead of his ticket and led the DEM
ocratic presidential candidate, James
M. Cox, by IL, 900. While that indicated
that he was then stronger than his
party, 1t is only matter of conjecture
whether that strength remains today
after nearly eight years in private life.
His easy success in the State con-
ventioh contest gives reason to believe
| that he has much of his old following,
but, on the other hand, Ii the machine
| should be lukewarnn and give his can
| didacy only half-hearted support or
less, .lone-hsrd fight would be seri-
BUS handicap to him. That he can de-
| feat State Senator Frederic G. Walcott
| his Republican opponent, even If the
old-tilne Spellacy-Lonergan feud could
| be patched up, is altogether unlikely.
g IT,, Controls Gathering. -
On the other side while the Repub-
| llcan 9rganizatietp took q hand ~ the
| choice OF candidates ar the State CON-
| Vention, it was able 20 control that
gathering without trouble, Senator WAL
colt, lis choice for Senator. and State
/ Treasurer Ernest E. Rogers. its selection
for lieutenant governor, easily defeating
their rivals, Tax Commissioner William
H. Blodgett for senatorial nominee and
State Secretary Francis A. Pal!ottt for
ton of the convention is in marked
contrast with the only partially Sic
cessful attempt of the Democratic ma
chine to control its own with Lonergan
winning by a large margin and Charles
G. Morris, machine candidate for the
gubernator.al nomination, pulling
through by much smaller figure In a
contest with William z. Thomas. In
fact If the Lonergan and Thomas forces
had effected the strong alliance posi-
bic. the organization would have gone
down In both cases,
With the Republican organization In
complete control. despite the belief in
certain quarters that the 1ast-ditch
stand of National Committeeman-State
Chairman j. Henry Rohrback and his
associate delegates at Kansas City for
the Coolidge candidacy would be re-
buked, the Republican outlook seems
much better than the Democratic with
a ticket more or less diStaSteful to the
machine leaders.
1t Is true that the unsuccessful candi-
dates for the Republican nominations
for Senator and lieutenant governor
have a following that may resent the
defeat of their favorites, but both Mr..
Blodgett and Mr.. Pallotti will support
the ticket and 1t Is doubtful If the dis
affection Is found to amount to much
| by election day. The soreness in the
case of Mr.. Pallotti Is more serious than
that in Mr.. Blodgett's.
H. I. HORTON.