Evening star., 1933-03-30
LONERGAN, NEW u. S. SENATOR,
IS AMONG WETTEST OF VETS
Connecticut Democrat Heads
Party Faction That rivals
Cummings.
Patronage Battle Looms,
With Farley Siding Against
Bingham's Successor.
BY GRACE HENDRICK EUSTIS.


Proving that wet Democrat is wetter
than a wet Republican. Augustine Lon
ergan, new Senator from Connecticut
defeated Hiram Bingham and Is the first
Democratic Senator from the nutmeg
State since 1875.
Senator Lonergan was nominated last
September winning In the primary from
Prof. Harry Morgan Ayers. who repre-
Connecticut Democrats. Although Mr.
Lonergan has always been an Al Smith
enthusiast, he forewent any public DEM
onstration Of loyalty and became what
the State wanted, a neutral candidate
with legislative experience ana drench-
ing wet.
The political position of the Connec-
ticut Democrats Is precarious. There
are two camps. Senator Lonergan and
his followers, including Tom Spellacy
former Democratic National Committee
man, are members of one wing. The
other is composed Of three men who
have recognition in the present admin
istration: Homer Cummings. Attorney
General: Archibald Mcneil. Democratic
National Committeeman, and DR.. Ed
ward G. Dolan, friend Of Postmaster
General Farley. Both Mr.. Cummings
who was the first man to organize q
Roosevelt bloc in the Spring of 1882
and Mr.. Mcneil are strong Roosevelt
men.
Patronage Showdown Near.
The situation is coming to a head in
the patronage battle. On one side is
Senator Lonergan saying that Patron
age should 60 through but one funnel
and on the other is this powerful and
organized faction which. with the as
sistance of Postmaster General Farley
wants to build up a political machine
which will eventually break the back OF
the Republican boss.
The Senator Is naturally somewhat
worried. He is faced with much knot
tier problems than looking after the
interests of his constituents. which was
one of his occupations when he was
serving in the House. He IS on tw1
important Senate Committees, Finance
and Interstate Commerce. He is align
ing himself with Senator Joe Robin
son, the Democratic leader, but until
his patronage fight is over, life will
be no bed Of roses.
Mr.. Lonergan is devoted family
man He marAed Miss Lucy Waters
Of Washington and they have four
daughters ranging from S to 10. The
story goes that as he was walking with
the children to the John Eaton School
one day he became so incensed by the
Washington traffic system that he Or
dered survey made of the distribu-
ton of traffic lights.
Graduate Of Yale Law School.
He was born in Thompson. Wind
ham County, Connecticut He went
the public schools in Rockville and
Bridgeport and was graduated from the
Yale Law School in 1902 He was ad-
mitted to the bar and started practice
in Hartford. He began his political
progression by becoming member of
the City Plan Commission in 1910.
In 1918 he was elected to the Sixty
third Congress. He was an unsuccess-
full candidate to the Sixty-fourth and
was elected to the Sixty-fifth and
Sixtyf1r Congresses. He did not run
for the Sixty-seventh because he was
defeated in the senatorial election.
Then he resumed his law practice
until 1928, when he again lost the
Senate race. In 1880 he went into th2