The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-19
An Unfortunate Flare-Up

Y What difference few months make.
 Throughout October and the first week ot
 November the republican press of Con-
 necticut was very carefully picking to
 pieces the reputation achieved by Cover nor Wilbur l.. Cross throughout his regime as chief executive of the state. COP. ora tors did their utmost to convince the state that the governor had not been the jealous guardian of the public interests he was Supposed to be. That was before the election.
 Today it's different story. The gover- nor is all that is good and holy in this state to the republican press. The reason = schism in the ranks looms by virtue of the recent caucus of the democratic state senators at which Raymond J. Devlln of New Haven was nominated for presl- dent pro tenn Unanimously; William E. Hagearty of New Britain defeated John c. Blackall of Hartford for floor leader and chairman of the judiciary committee, 9 to 8; ex-Senator Joseph P. Cooney ot Hartford was nominated for Senate Clerk Unanimously.
 Prior to the caucus Governor Cross had suggested publicly that Senator BlackaJl be accorded the honor of party leader on the grounds of being 'best qualified. It remains to be seen whether or not the result of the caucus deserved the severe attack that the governor then directed against his own party, the same party that nominated him and strong ticket at East ern Point last September - III fact. the first democratic ticket that ever accom- panied Governor Cross into office.
 <. In principle Governor Cross will win the support of the state for the stand he takes on judgeship deals. But he has not chosen the best means of making firm his stand. There are plenty of means at the command of the governor that could be used to voice objections to planned party set-ups without washing the party's dirty linen in public. That's the unfortu- nate thing about this caucus. It was Unfortunate that the democrats nominated for Senate office two of the men who engaged in the 1883 judgeship ideals" But we realize at the same time that one of these Senator William E. Hagearty, was thought well enough of in his own community to be returned to office. Sev- .enteen democratic senators considered former Senator Joseph P. Cooney well .qualified by his prior experience to be the .clerk of the Senate M As long ago as September, Gov Cros could have envisioned what might follow in the wake of the new associations he was content to make for his own success and that of his party. He might have made his plans accordingly at the time or imme- .diately after his election and that of the entire state ticket. There had been ap- .parently nothing wrong with the demo- scratic outlook for the future, even includ- ing the plans for the advancement of Mayor Frank Hayes two years from now, .rntil the Senate slate was mentioned. 1t .Mas not enough that Governor Cross Should send word publisly, as he did, that his choice for one office differed from that of the one group in the democratic Senate membership that could boast ]. .inajority of the democratic senator's ss We have the utmost respect for Cover i. nor Cross and high regard for his opin- ions. That does not blind us to the fact that for the next two years, at least, he { must work side by side with representa- lives of his own party, men elected to office on the same ticket with him, and not endeavor to persuade republicans to { See his line of reasoning all by his lone some. We hold no briefs for any judge ship ideals" that may have been consum- 7 mated in the past or are contemplated Tn the future We criticized as harshly as any the switch of the three democratic senators in 1888. We cannot, however, Sump to the conclusion that the caucus of Monday night was forerunner of more Of these not with the democratic party in the strategic position it is in our state government.