The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-20

within 84 hours.
 First Called In Years
 This will be the first primary con- test in Democratic ranks since 1881 when Mayor Frank Hayes engaged successfully in contest with Will liam E. Kennedy, erstwhile superin- tendent of streets in the Guilfoile administration.
 Question now is raised over the financial aspect of such contest, with the burden of proof on suc- cess of the Culhane group to raise the funds sought for this eventual ity. The cost of the primary ticket submission is $500, with several hundred dollars more necessary for mailing of lists to the 22,000 Demo- crats registered on the primary lists, much more expense for organiza- ton.
 During the weeks of the confer ences seeking for harmony" or- ganiZation of the districts has been attempted by members of both con- ference groups Meanwhile, the f town committee has been preceding in unusual prediction method, making new voters, planning the enlargement of the committee from 20 to 32 members.
 Increase Completed
 This increase in the town commit tee is practically completed and special meeting of the town com mittee today, it was learned, may see announcement of the full com mittee membership. This member ship is reported to represent fur ther recognition of the younger ele- ment in the party, principally the Young Democrats, which is seen as a factor in the primary issue. A statement from the Young Democrats on certain phases of the delegate issue is expected after meeting to be held the first of the week.
 The earlier statement by Chair man Smith follows:
 In view of certain misconcep- tions as to our purposes and meth- ods that have recently been cir culated and printed, we think 1t ad- visable to review briefly the history of the movement undertaken by the Democratic Voters committee. We wish also to report on the present situation.
 AS we have stated and wish to repeat emphatically, i've are inde- pendent of, but not antagonistic to, the previously organized groups"
 Feeling that the public and par- ty welfare would not be served by a contest for authority between the regular" and the independent Democratic organizations, we have attempted to provide an agency through which proper representa- ton of the thousands of Democra- tic voters could be assured and con- flict possibly avoided. This was not done on a compromise or trad- ing basis, but on the basis of of- fering what we believed to be fair and reasonable proposals. Briefly stated, we proposed to draft lists of delegates to the various conven- tions which would be free from ad- ministration or factional control.
 This we have done, and, while we know that the result of our ef- forts is not perfect, we are certain that our fundamental objectives have been accomplished. No dele gations are controlled" by any group. None have been "set up" for any candidate. The represen- tatives of the Democratic reorgan- ization committee have expressed their willingness to accept the re- suits of our efforts. The slate has been presented to the representa- tives of the town committee.
 They having previously agreed to accept slate drawn up in accord ance with our stated purposes, must now agree or disagree that the slate as presented is so drawn. They indicate to us certain questions concerning the failure to include certain prominent members of the party who are not in any way aligned with the administrat ton. They point out also, that lack of any knowledge about a number of persons whose names were includ- ed make difficult @ determination on the question of freedom from factional control.
 Undoubtedly some conclusion will be made promptly. Regardless of the outcome, we wish to state clear ly that our purpose is to face the realities of the present situation and to deal with them firmly and openly in the interests of the party and the public. We are not, either ny ourselves or in conjunction with others. engaged in attacking any one. We wish to help the situation. and not to aggravate 1t.
 RTC NAVAYNr4 nonuS