The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1938-09-15
tomised by the expression:
"A real Democratic convention
No Steam Roller

"A real DemOcrdtlc COHVeublOti'
No Steam Roller
For there were no steam roller"
tactics evident In the noisy caucus
where individual delegates exc
pressed their preferences for can
didates when poll OF separate dele
cations was asked because OF divis-
Ions. Candidates took the floor 70
make personal nominating speeches
IN behalf OF their own ambitions for
office.
Leaders were tolerant Of delay
while one and another spokesman
for candidates OF minority support
reviewed records, pleaded for con-
sideration OF their choices.
Struggle Began Early
Early In the proceedings, AZ the
outset, In fact, II became apparent
that the administration forces OF
Senator Francis T. Maloney, chair
man and keynote speaker OF the
convention; OF State Chairman j.
Francis Smith; OF National Com"
mitteeman David u. Fitzgerald
might have struggle 10 keep the
situation In hand. But they had al
lies whose collaboration gave the
convention evidence OF the probable
outcome OF the contests for the sem
atorial and lieutenant governorshir
nominations before these fights
really had matured In the discus
Slons and oratorical outbursts.
u. s. Attorney General Homer g.
Cummings substantiated personally
his former endorsement OF Senator
Lonergan's candidacy against Rep.
Herman p. Kopplemann ana Attor-
i,ey Thomas r. McDonough, OF West
Hartford. New Deal candidates. For.
mer National Committeeman Ar.
chihand Mcneil OF Bridgeport, with"
drew In favor OF Senator Lonergan.
CoOney Seconded Hewes
Sen. Joseph p. Cooney, OF Hart
ford, successful recently In O con-
tess against Mayor Thomas j. Spell
lacy, potent Hartford county leader,
made the final second" Of the nom
4nation OF Colonel HeweS after Spell
1acy's candidate. Edward r. Ahern,
Of Hartford; labor'S announced
choice, state Labor Commissioner
Joseph M. Tone; and Thomas r.
Ryle, Of Stamford, had been nom
mated.
Thus, success for Chairman Smith
who, with Senator Maloney keeping
rein on q tired army OF delegates,
hundreds OF observers who crowded
the large ballroom 10 capacity,
gained entire victory for his slate,
at the same time handling the con-
testing units with such suavity that
the convention retained appearance
Of complete liberalism.
Delegates Content
Yet the delegates, giving ovations
on occasion 10 such speakers as A..
torney McDonough In his iinpas-
stoned attack on "Rorabackisni", on
Senator Maloney for failure 10
mention the New Deal. appeared
content, for the most part. One del
cgation and another showed the
workings OF the pre-caucus selec.
tivity as the votes were cast In the
two contests. for senator, for leu
tenant governor.
When the Hartford delegation was
poiied In the former instance, both
spellacy and Cooney cast votes for
Lonergan. These two enemies also
cast votes for Ahern for the lieu
tenant governorship but Senator
Cooney earlier had explained" that
he would cast his "drgt" ballot for
his friend ed" Ahern, although, II
II was necessary, he then would vote
for Colonel Hewes.
Many delegates felt that the con.
test over adoption Of rules which
would limit nominating speeches 10
i've minutes was forerunner to an
upset In the program Of the lead
ers. This was at the outset, before
Assistant United States Attorney