The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-21

Young Democrats. The text of his
speech follows:
We have gathered, primarily.
my friends, to play a large meas
ure of tribute to our friends who
have been honored through appoint
ment to the internal revenue serv-
ice of Connecticut. In them has
been reposed a special confidence
and trust. Their selection followed
strong recommendation from bus
mess and political associates. For
them we can wish no more sin
cere good fortune than complete
happiness in their new work, and
the genuine hope that their tenure
may be productive of loyalty and
devotion to the best traditions of
their offices. This assembling of
friends and neighbors is truly indi-
cative of the fact that those who
know them best love them most.
But this dinner, with it's pleas
ant surroundings and associates,
would not justify its purpose COM
pletely IL it did not afford an OPP
portunity to speak of common
problems; an opportunity to ana
lyze our frailties and failings as
individual democrats; and an op-
portunity to reflect upon the posi-
ton which the democratic party
must take If it is to maintain the
continued support and allegiance
of Connecticut voters. In a sense
we can combine the pleasure of the
evening with the somewhat pain
full but profitable task of exam
lining our shortcomings and the
weaknesses of the party which we
believe we represent. I know !
express your feeling when 1 say
the interests of the democratic
party are our interests; the fate
of the democratic party is a matter
of common concern; and the or
derby advancement of the demo-
cratic party is a real problem, de-
handing our best thought and at
tention.
Connecticut democrats, we must
admit, have allowed themselves
to divide into two second-rate
schools of political thought. First,
among us who manifested no
whole-hearted desire for victory.
They have been content to revel In
defeat - they have maintained q
crumbling shell of party organiZa-
ton to impress the public and to
leave themselves stamped with the
seal of democracy in the event
spells of war accrued from an ac-
cidental victory. They have per-
mitted a general lassitude to mott
vate the conduct of the party Il
theirs has been a philosophy of de-
featism, whereby defeat for the
party brought corresponding
measure of personal power ana
satisfaction. For this type demo-
crat there can be neither excuse
nor justification. A political party
under such control Is not respons-
i've to the will of it's sincere ana
fortnight partisans. More I'M
portant, the party represents noth-
ing in public estimation, and, as a
logical consequence, Is doomed 10
sterility, and it's activity repre-
sents a complete nullity.
Likewise, there has been a sec
ond type democrat whose political
creed was so antiquated as to teach
him that bombastic campaigning.
heavily laden chests of gold, ana
all the uncounted offshoots OF our
political system are sufficient 10
assure the party of an appeal TO
the electorate and ultimate sue.
cess at the polls. I concede, OF
course, that organization, cam
paigning, and funds are all ele-
ments Of success, but you and
cannot follow any chain of reas-
oning which says these factors are
of prime or paramount import
ance; they are necessary but sec,
ondary. We are as far removed
from the day when orators ana
money alone decided elections as
we are from the outmoded dress,
habits, and customs Of the eigh-
teenth and nineteenth centuries.
1t is true that we have taken
some long steps away from these
schools of political thought, but our
progress has been slow and our
steps unsteady. We have yet to
attain the perfect realization that