The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-15
Cummings, SpeIIacy

Cummings, SpeIlacy
 Cummings backs McNeil; Spell lacy IS backing Connery-thus two leaders of the party who in past years have been allied are now bat ting one another. The former is claiming Q hands-down victory for McNeil. Mayor Spellacy predicts a majority for Connery by at least 190 votes.
 The state convention tomorrow, 1t must be understood, Will not elect the national committeeman and woman. It will merely elect 22 dele- gates to the democratic national convention which will take place next month in Philadelphia.
 It will be within the power of these 22 delegates to recommend to the national convention the election of Connecticut'S two members of the democratic national committee.
 Center of Dispute
 Therefore, the state convention contest will be centered around the makeup of the national delegation. Tn other words the McNeil forces will seek to name a majority of del- egates favorable to the reelection of the Bridgeport man. The Connery forces will likewise seek control of the delegation.
 Connecticut is entitled to 16 votes in the state convention. They will be divided as follows: From each of the five congressional districts, two delegates; for the Connecticut congressional district at-large, two delegates at-large; for the states two U. s. senators, four delegates at large.
 This means ten district delegates and six delegates-at-large. The votes of the six delegates at-large will be distributed among twelve each one having one-half vote. This make a total of g dele- gates who will go to Philadelphia from Connecticut and who will be selected at the state convention.
 Voting Comes Saturday
 The actual voting on the national delegates will not take place until tomorrow morning. This afternoon at 5 o'clock Town Chairman John H. Crary, Senator Joseph II. Law Tor, Mrs. Gertrude Corden and Town Clerk Dora A. Egan were scheduled to sit in at a meeting of the democratic state central com- mittee. State Chairman J. Francis Smith will preside at this meeting which is called primarily for the purpose of approving the temporary roll of delegates to the state con- vention.
 Tonight, however, the convention will pick the permanent committees on rules, resolutions and creden- tials. Before the latter committee will go several fights over the seat- ing of delegations from small towns of the state.
 Fight Opens Saturday
 The contest between the McNeil and Conery forces will be thrown on to the floor of the state con- vention tomorrow when Q motion is made to endorse either man for the national committee post. So great is the work of recording the balloting that will ensue expected to be that William M. Greene, secre- tary of the state central committee, who will be secretary of the con- vention, has named three assistant secretaries, among them Frank J. Hodson of this city. The other as- will be John L. Sullivan of New Britain and Ruth B. Bondy of Lyme.
 Local democratic leaders. as they left for the state convention this afternoon, were doubtful if the bat tie between Spellacy and McNeil would be cleared up before a floor battle tomorrow morning.
 Will Follow C0nnery
 However, Town Chairman Crary said that the local delegation would follow the leadership of the Con- nery generalissimo. Mayor Spellacy. If a compromise is reached during the nights deliberations the Wa terbury delegation will vote accord- ingly.
 The local delegation is bound by the unit rule. Mayor Prank Hayes, prominent "old guard" leader. and Town Chairman Crary are both ena- powered by vote of the local city convention. to cast the votes of the local % delegates.
 Red Hot Session
 New Haven. Conn. May iS--tUP) A peppery democratic spring cons ventlon appeared ln prospect tonight as party leaderg prepared. # neees- nary. to hFlng their wranRilng oyer