The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-22
Plenty of Advice

Looking at the speech of Attorney John
Cullinan of Bridgeport, delivered in this
city Tuesday night at testimonial din
ner of the Roosevelt-Cross Club to two of
it's members Price and James Mon
aghan-new agents of the internal rev.
enue department, in non-partisan light
there is plenty of advice for any person
intent on political career. Perhaps
without intention the speaker laid down
some principles that could be guide tc
any man, irrespective of party affiliations,
who desired political advancement.
Naturally the speaker devoted his dis
course to the democratic party and main
ly to the party right here in Connecticut.
Whether or not he hit at the real solution
of party troubles remains to be seen.
However, we cannot let the opportunity
slip by without adding the thought that
the democratic party is not the sole Of
fender along the lines mentioned by At
torney Cullinan. Of recent years we
have witnessed within g. o. p. ranks SUI
preme effort to restore party equilibrium
by vesting leadership where many say it
should be placed.
So long as the republicans were content
to accept the present chairman of the
state central committee, J. Henry Rora-
back, as the supreme arbiter of their fates
all was we'll. Mr. Roraback was a good
political adviser, organizer, and what not.
He got what he went after without much
fuss or notoriety. AS result the re-
publican party grew fat and sleek In Con-
necticut 1t was not bothered by minor
troubles nor did the opposition, provided
by the democrats, demand unusual prep
alations for any balloting. Things have
changed. The democrats not only threat
l,+ ho
government to considerable extent
We Judge that Attorney Cullinan as
cribes the success of the democratic party
in the last few years solely to their own
efforts That isn't quite SO, as most OF us
must admit if forced to do so. All the
democratic votes in Connecticut today
couldn't elect one state officer. But II re-
publican votes are separated into those
strictly republican and those Independent
we can find cause for democratic VIC
tory or two. 1t is true that such demo-
cratic candidates as Governor Cross have
attracted independent votes. 1t is true
that other democratic candidates have
been elected solely because they have per-
fected a strong organization within their
own respective territories. 1t is true that
the democrats in Connecticut must appeal
constantly to the Independent voter Tor
support II they wish to continue success
full
Independent voters can be made from
both democrats and republicans. In dis
cussing principles and policies Attorney
Culinan spoke about 'reawakened vot-
ers." This "reawakened' class constl-
tutes very small group as compared to
the thousands who vote for party and
man, trusting that his principles will
measure up to those of the particular po-
litical organization he may represent.
This is an age in which strange things
happen at the polls to be sure, but there is
still such a thing as putting united demo-
cratic strength behind men and women
who are: first, popular with the voters
second, good party men and women; third,
intelligent enough to perform such gov,
eminent functions, as may be entrusted
to them, with zeal and honesty.