The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-12
Minority Leader
Culhane Looms As Logical Choice of Democrats Says Observer, But Leaders Point Thumbs Down-Democrats Facing Lively Contest Over Office.
By EDWARD J. RYAN

The bloc of IT Democratic sen- ators who will represent their party during the 1899 session of the Connecticut General Assem- bly, is very likely to be split on more than one occasion once the session gets underway. I say this because of the manner in which the meeting of the state senators was held the other evening in Hartford and the reaction to that meeting which have gathered from number of very reliable sources.
 The meeting call was issued by Chairman J. Francis Smith and the purpose of the meeting was to plan the action of the Demo- cratic senators during the con- ing session. Only 16 of the IT members attended the meeting. Peter Laramee of Willimantic failed to put in an appearance. Laramee has the reputed back ing of the state organizat tion for the post of minority leader, but so has Senator Joseph P. Downes of Norwich.
 Absence Explained
 Laramee is not anxious for the post and I believe that this feel ing on his part had great deal to do with his absence Friday evening. Laramee is also Mayor of the city of Willinantic.
 In point of years of experience ln the upper house, the Demo- cratic party has only two senators who are about to begin their third terms. One is Samuel Malkan of New Haven, the other is George T. Culhane of Waterbury. Of the two Culhane is far the better legislator.
 However, in the case of Gull hane, it appears that ne stands little chance of securing the nom- nation since the organization is definitely opposed to him and would rather have anybody else get the nomination in place of the Red Fox"
 The opposition to Culhane comes from Chairman Smith on the most part. The word has gone out that Culhane ruined the State Democratic party. Since it was because of his fusion ticket that lead to the election of Re- publican City Controller which in turn lead to Grand Jury 1nves- tigation into the financial affairs of the city and the subsequent impaneling of Grand Jury.
 McLevy's Bullets
 This was the, ammunition that Jasper (The Great) McLevy of Bridgeport used with such telling effect during the recent state elections. The story told some of the Democratic senators has it that Culhane is not in the true sense, a good Democrat, and therefore should not be consid- cred for the pest as party leader.
 To offset this there are at least three of the IT senators who have told me that they want Culhane as their leader. These same three senators also told me in strict confidence that they will bolt the Democratic party and line up with the Republicans so that the G. O. P. might control the state senate and elect their own clerk of the Senate.
 To this I can only say that it will not be necessary for the Re- publlcans to look to the Demo- cratic party to help them organ ize the Senate since I can say with considerable authority that the two socialists senators from Bridgeport will line up with the Republicans.
 But if there should be open war fare within the ranks of the bloc of Democrats almost anything might happen and surely if such should be the case the leaders of the party will have even more headaches than they have at the moment.
 The meeting in Hartford at which time it was thought that there would be attempts to nom- mate 8 candidate for the office of President Protem or minority leader was not a success.
 A dense feeling of bitter inner strife could be detected among the senators who attended that meeting and as I met them be- fore, and after the meeting they told me that everything was not on the Up and Up-' so to speak.
 Interference Resented
 Had there been an attempt to nominate a candidate for Pres ident Pro-Tem the meeting would have ended in an uproar since some of the Boys" resent the in- terference of the leaders of the party since. as they point out, it was through the interference of these same leaders that made it possible for the Republicans to carry the state of Connecticut.
 Today following that meeting 1t appears certain that there will