The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-10-09
G. o. P. Plight Sorry One

The fight in Republican polltlcal
circles between the Perriello and rape
forces is fast destroying any chances
that party might have in the coming
election in which party adherents hao
been hoping for the first success since
the days of Mayor Sandland. Chairman
Upson's charge of political disloyalty
against the mayor means a bitter con-
test and a divided party no matter when
side wins. The Upson-Pape forces insist
on some other candidate than Mayor
Perriello and the latter is fighter poll
tically who sees no good reason why ne
should not be given a chance TO lead
his party to victory with the large sup
port of the Italian voters If he loses in
the primary there is sure to be retaliation
by the Italian people against this obvious
rebuke of one of their people.
There are lot of old-line Republicans
who agree with the mayor and think the
best strategy is not to repudiate but &C
cept him as the head of the ticket and
surround him with good candidates for
the other important offices, particularly
that of controller. The Upson-Pape forces
beat the Perriello- Crocicchio forces in
their last primary fight, but many regu-
lar Republicans have deserted and gone
over to the Perriello side recently. But
MeSsrs Epson and Pape or rather Mr..
Fape, because Chairman Epson Goes his
bidding, will tolerate no interference
with their dictated leadership and doml-
nation of the party or selection OF candl-
Gates and would prefer to be defeated in
both the primary and election than yield
the power they have gathered unto
themselves in recent years.
Win or lose the clamor for change
in the Republican Town Committee is
certain to ensue. Local Republicans for
years have resented Mr.. Epson being
their chairman with only such short
residence in Waterbury and are also
opposed to the one-man dictatorship OF
Mr.. Pape whom they claim, is really a
resident of Woodbury. for the last few
years and has no business in local poll
tics. They point to the fact that the state
party chieftain would not take Mr.. Pape
as candidate at any price in the last
state convention and claim they lose
prestige and patronage because of it.
\ The Citizens Good Government Asso
citation is also regarded as a faction of
the local Republican party which grew
out of disgust with the Pape-Upson
leadership and will have no dealings with
it. Probably ninety per cent of it's men,
bership is Republican and it was many of
these votes cast for the Socialist ticket
in the last state election which defeated
local Republican candidates, such as
Roy Rice and John B. GosS
The conspiracy trial and downfall of
the former Democratic machine gave the
Republicans the best possible opportunity
to regain public favor and support, but
they are apparently going to discard
their opportunity by this intra-party
battle to the political death. Some OBJ
servers also say that the ammunition
provided by the conspiracy trial dis
closures was used up in the city manager
referendum and has lost it's effectiveness
It would have had if reserved for the city
election.
Judge T. E. Conway, choice of Chair
man Epson, has definitely taken himself
out of any Republican primary fight so
it is a case of Messrs Epson and Pape
having no candidate but taking the posi-
ton 1t must be someone else than Mayor
Perriello. Their slogan apparently is
ANYONE except Perriello," and the mayor
and his supporters are not going to for
get the affront very easily.