The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-21

we are witnessing at first hand
what Woodrow Wilson described
as a revival of the power of
the people, a re-awakening of So
Der public opinion, the beginning
Of an age of thoughtful recon-
struction."
Connecticut is no different from
the other forty-seven states of the
union. The economic collapse has
been relatively as acute here as
elsewhere, and in these times Of
hardship and adversely, people
have begun to think and to reason.
Under the leadership Of President
Roosevelt, the nation quite prop
erly emissions a new social order
and more perfect social Justice.
Connecticut is portion of this
reawakening nation. Its citizens
are capable of forming sober pub
lie opinion and there will be de-
manded Of any party which hopes
to prevail programs and policies
conceived in ideas and ideals. Ma
tional and state problems have be-
come individual problems. 1t must
be apparent that pots Of political
gold and roaring, rousing orators
have little place in the new order
of more abundant life.
Until the election of President
Roosevelt, men and women were
not thinking in terms of political
sicence - they were occupied
either in making money or in saw
ing their businesses and profess
sions from complete ruin, but with
his coming follow a spontan-
eous, genuine interest in poll
tics and statecraft, until today
the great portion of the electorate
Is trained to demand principle In
it's public men and principles in It's
parties.
1t has been truly said that, ex-
cept in their own estimation, can
dates for political office today are
relatively unimportant. The great
question is, What do they repre-
sent? Are they mentally honest ?
Are they liberal? Are they devoted
to the common good? Are they at
tuned to the tempo of the times?
In short, the public makes small
demands when it asks for honor
able men who subscribe to a plat
form or program predicated on
economic justice and liberality in
government.
And I am fearful that such a
failure to formulate honest poll
cies may bring defeat to Connec-
ticut democrats in the fall. This
task of formulation, to be sure, Is
not one to be regarded lightly, nor
is it one to be performed by a plat
form committee working after mid
night on the day of the state con-
vention, nor is it one to be ac-
complished by a committee select
ed at random from delegates to
that convention.
The immediate need is leader
ship; not leadership that straddles
what it does not muddle; not lead
ership that leads on the tiptoes OF
a pussyfoot; not a cringing, vacll-
lating leadership. We must advo-
cate a leadership that risks all IN
its open, candid, unflinching devo-
ton to right principles. where
there is no vision, the people per-
ish." The survival of our party in
this state depends upon caliber OF
leadership that puts principle
above expediency, that stands up
straight and firm in the forum OF
its own private conscience first,
and after that and because Of that,
stands up in the forum of public
opinion. We desire a leadership
that is not merely a fellowship, nor
a fellowship - we must resolve
to follow leaders who shall take
the position in the van and not
In the rear Of the peoples army.
Our need is leaders who will
make policy and then preach it be-
tween the making and election.
Men who will appeal to the thou
sands of re-awakened voters, whose
sentiment for liberality can be crys-
tallized and made articulate. Our
leaders should be men who will say
that the public utilities commission
is protecting the utilities and not
the people; men who will propose
legislation to correct this abuse;
men who will explain and advocate
the existence of old age pensions.
Of unemployment insurance, of a
minimum wage law; men who will
tighten the burden of the home
owners by formulating legislation
for revision Of our tax system;
men who will revise the lower
court system and raise 1t to the
dignity Of the upper courts; men