The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-06-04
THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1881
Troubled Waters

The impression is gradually being spread around the state that the serenity prevailing in democratic ranks following the upset victory of Governor Cross and his cohorts over the much vaunted republican machine last fall
 is disappearing. If so, it is due chiefly to desire upon the part of our republican neigh bors to spread far and wide dissension in the ranks. The choice of a new chairman to succeed Judge P. B. O'Sulivan is a matter of concern. because it was His Honor who gave the party the first state victory that they have had since the days of Simeon E. Baldwin. Naturally democrats want to succeed Judge SO'Sullivan with the best possible candidate in the field for the office. A fight for the va cancy would suit the g. o. p.
 From time to time the Democrat has sug- gested that Governor Cross should figure prominently in naming the new state chair lman. It was he who picked both Judge Sul- s'livan and State Labor Commissioner Joseph Tone to lead his campaign in lo30. If the governor is to succeed himself in l932. and certainly there are a majority of Connecticut voters who hope he will then he should be allowed to indicate once more the men who will run the party's affairs. As far as we can see there is no need to replace any other state central committee officer. Both Mrs Fannie Dixon Welch, vice chairman. and Joseph Tone secretary, can carry on their duties without conflict with the new appointive positions in which they were placed by the governor.
 As State Labor Commissioner Mir lone should not be compelled to give up his secre- taryship unless he so desires. If he believes the duties of the two offices would conflict he is better qualified to state so than any man. If he can carry on as state secretary and labor commissioner, all we'll and good. We see no complaint against him holding the two jobs It was nothing for republicans to have three of four such when they were completely Tn control of the state. And isn't Raymond A. Johnson of Manchester the classic example of the citizen who serves in all three branches of our state government? He is representative from his home town-legislative; serves as judge of the Manchester town court = judi cial: acts on the staff of the attorney general executive. Furthermore. Mir Johnson was House Leader and house chairman of the leg islative judiciary committee this year. What more could any man ask?
 Republicans hope to make political capital of the fact that Mrs Welch and Mir Tone will hold two positions, one their connection with the democratic state central committee, the other in Mrs Welchs case. the tuberculosis commission. and in Mir Tones case the labor commssionership. Fie. fife! It is to laugh. We don't see how the democratic party can possibly lose the hold that it now has on the state government unless it permits internal dis sension to wreck it. It has leader in Gov ernor Gross; Judge OSullivan and Mir Tone laid the foundations for a fine organization; the recalcitrant republican Legislature gave the democrats the arguments to further their cam paign in l932. The outlook is bright if few surly ones can be muzzled and republican propaganda discounted.