The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-09-10

Political happenings in two of the New England states hold the center of the state today and tomorrow. One is the Maine state election, which is now taking place. The other is Connecticut's own g. o. D. state convention, which opens tomorrow in Hartford. As Maine goes, the political dopesters have always said, so goes the nation. Therefore, when the returns of the poll ing in Maine are announced in time for the opening of to- mOrrOw'S g. o. p. state conven- tiOn the Connecticut repubii- cans will go into session either much encouraged or much worried. In Maine today they are electing a U. s. senator, a governor and three members of the house at Washington, D. c.
 Just before the democratic state convention took pace last week at Eastern Point there were many gloomy rec ports out, to the effect that the fight on the makeup of the ticket would be a bitter one. All predictions fe;l fiat and all candidates on the ticket were nominated unanimously. The same predictions are now being made concerning the g. o. D. state convention but already the smoke of pre-con- vention battles in beginning to clear.
 One of the first steps towards harmony, of course, was the withdrawal from the gubernato torial nomination race of ex-Senator Albert Lavery of Bridgeport. This cuts the num- ber of possible candidates down to five with more with drawals on the way. It Is ex- pected that ex-SenatOr Layery win seek to swing his support to Lieutenant-G Governor Roy Wilcox of Meriden.
 The Meriden man appears to have all or at least a majority of Waterbury's eight votes in the state convention. Congress- man E. w. Goss of this city is especially interested in the Wilcox campaign. Attorney Cornelius J. Danaher, veteran lebar counsel, will offer Will cox's name. It is still believed that the real fight vii: be be- tween Wilcox and States Att tOrney Hugh AlcOrn of Hart ford.
 The socialist party's plat form, adopted at the state convention of the organization in Bridgeport on Saturday, is an interesting one. It provides for reduction of mortgage in- terest rates, public ownership of basic industries, thirty hour week with no pay reduce . tiOn, collective bargaining for workers and farmers, state control of electric power sys- tems, relief of the tax burdens on property owners, sOcializcd banking, elimination of un- necessary state jobs, establish ment of merit system and rcE resentatiOn in the legislature according to population and abolition of the child labor amendment.
 The democratic party has long fought for relief of the tax burden on property owners and has a plank of this kind in it's platform this year. It has also champiOned more direct representation in the house. One of the methods the social ists suggest in raising the tax burden from the property owners is to tax all individual includes above $5,O0O a year, in other words, establish an in- come tax.
 Within a few days the local socialist organization is cx- pected to announce a program of rallies that will bring the issues of the campaign before the voters. Several prominent speakers of the socialist party will visit Waterbury.
 Following up the tax reform movement, the Connecticut Federation of Taxpayers as- sOciatiOns, meeting in Old Lyme on Saturday, decided to send questiOnnaire to the candidates of both. parties for the legislature to ascertain their positions on tax matters and to urge the local associa- tions to appoint political com mittees within each party to support the candidates fayOr- able to tax reform. It was also decided to recommend that ''white collar" workers of the EZRA be employed in making tax surveys.
 The old age pension drive received added impetus Sat-, turday when George w. DOug- lass of Philadelphia, national. . president of the Fratenral Or- der of Eagles spoke at an out ing of members of the Organi- zatiOn in New Britain. He stressed the organizations campaign for old age pension legislation, urging the aerie members throughout the state to do all i'm their power to have the bill that Is to be presented passed.
 Dr. Joseph s. PaladinO of Hartford has announced his candidacy for the senatorial nomination in the third dis trict on the republican ticket. He is a prominent member of. the Order of Sons of Italy. He recently returned from Flor idia. Italy. where he attended