New Britain herald., 1929-10-18
THE LOVE TO WELD POWER


 Some men merely like to become rich, while others would be rich and powerful-in politics. There is a tra- dition in this country that a rich man has as much difficulty in being elected to important office as he may have if he were a camel and tried to crawl through the needles eye. This being so inexprcssibly difficult it has been found that it is easier to hold the needle and have some poorer deputy crawl through it.
 Which is the orchestral prelude to the eighth act in the drama of J. Henry Roraback. who crawls through no needles himself but has a way Of getting his assistants to do the crawling. J. Henry merely wields the political power, He couldn't be elected to office, but owns all the of ficos to which others are elected.
 That's one way of yielding power, and with a vengeance. With right, perhaps, he has been called the liking of Connecticut" There is nothing illegal, irregular, illcgitimate or unlawful in the process. He plays the game because he likes it, just like some others prefer to play chess or golf,
 The reason j. Henry usually has his way is because he las way about him that commands success. It will be remembered that Congress- man John c THson once had aspira- tions to run for the vice-presidency and that he had q good chance for the honor. But J. Henry doesn't like some things about Mr. Tilson, es- paci9lly his aspirations, and "he set himself in opposition." An opposition operated by J. Henry usually wins. and Mir Tilson had to content him. self with remaining Q congressman. For some unexplained reason J. Henry is unable to prevent this honor; perhaps he made the mistake of allowing MT Tilson to become too popular before he began to be in op- position to him.
 J. Henry also is not so strong na- t!onally the party receiving his SUD- port considered, He couldn't pre- won't Mir, Iioovcr from being nomin- tied, but did prevent the Connect. cut dc'~gr'.on from considering a7y one but Mr, C0ol'1ge until the la"t minute. Then Mr. Roraback jump od on the Hoover bandwagon and said he would carry Connecticut. MT. Rorabacll had the sense not to carry his opposition too far. Some fine day he may be foolish enough to do this, but not yet.
 Through the operation of a pccu- liar combination Of circumstances he is able to prevent Mr. AIcorn from being named assistant attorney general of the United States. He can control Senator Bingham, and with out the senator's consent to the nomination an ancient relic of the Republic known as senatorial !. courtesy would prevent the other senators from considering a presi- dontial nomination of a Connecticut citizen unless the senator gave it his OK.
 This is playing the game in q na- 5on2l field through the control of inc Connecticut senator. Were it not for senate "courtcsy" AIr. Roraback wouldn't possess the chance of an ajcm in space to control the action Of President Hoover in the premises There is a growing disposition to believe that Mr, Roraback cn:~yr welding his political power and feels as happy about it as the anna teur golf player who wins. or the chess player after checkmatine an adversary. To the Nutmeg power marnalo it is pleasant ayocation to play with polittcs-althouzh it Is moi to be overlooked that occasion- ally within his state it becomes d matter Of primo business importance to the utilities with which he is con- nectej.
 What good it does 10 others, how eFar is a 1,oatablo question. MT Horabarh during several of his .oray@ into the realm of wicldine I'.t-'"- power for tho fun Of t has =o'e contrary to the rr.pona,ratine Seo'im"a' Of the state. yet na, shown TO noj.nauon to change his ua1;~.
 II. "oHH hot function in this man. a"r ina @'..a "d,r" political partfo, ",Hr l.ar. .sea.y matched s,audine a' '" D..1 o. 'ho -sa.as Republican o.-or.@..on a" can afford 10 mau, "-'...S and omaa arsmad thc, "I.. "a, D. r...ea..! in tn, eIoetfor '''.r"s That tA aa.tl is tbr secret 0 J. Ii.a.sa saao.ss Ituudamentau, u Is tao rsoll of a ready compliance ny 'h" mgrads Q. voters who habit na's vol" The Republican uckc