The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-16

A question that must be faced
frankly by the new city admintstra-
ton headed by vincent A. Scully 10
lust how prominent q role Will be
given Democratic state Chairman ].
Francis Smith. WIN he have an i'm.
portant part In the handling OF city
affairs for the next two yearsp VIII
he be given only minor recognition
and consulted only when absolutely
necessary Or win he be relegated
entirely to the Sidelines, insofar as
the city government Is concernedp
To those not familiar with the
complexities that make up Wa
terbury politics, the obvious AM
swer would DO that the new mayor
would be only too glad to consult
The state chairman Of his party,
grant him public recognition, and
follow whatever advice he gave.
But the obvious answer Is not me-
cessarily the true answer; actual-
ly the obvious answer Is entirely
wrong In this case.
AS the leader OF the party IN this
vtate, Mr.. Smith is industrious and
conscientious. There can be no ques-
ton Of his sincerity; be believes
whole heartedly In any cause which
ne espouses. Insofar as waterbury Is
concerned, and waterbury affairs,
Mr.. Smith does not WELD any par
ticularly strong political influence.
He Is admired by many Democrats,
and by o number OF Republicans.
The wire services Of the state,
many political writer's and some
Of our pontificatlng observers de-
cided after the city election q few
weeks ago that II was q personal
victory for Mr.. Smith, that II was
largely through his efforts that
the election here was won BY the
Democratic party despite the tu-
multi and upheaval Of the past
two years. II Is easily understood
how this impression could come
about, since Mr.. Smith Is the &C
tive head Of the party In the state.
But any Waterbury politician,
Democrat or Republican, would
tell you otherwise, would tell you
very plainly that the election OF
Mr.. Scully was due 10 three Inn
portant factors, In none Of which
Mr.. Smith figured prominently.
You would be toid that Mr.. Scully
won despite the conspiracy trial
and It's disclosures, because: II He
was personally popular, had
high reputation for honesty and
was the SON Of an admired faith
or; ~ The Democrats had an ex.
cellently planned and smoothly.
fmctioning party organization led
bY Town Chairman Joe Mulville
and former Town Chairman Blu
Dunlavey; 81 The Republicans
ahunned Q candidate Of Italian
extraction, chose . comparative
unknown and waged an unimag-
iaative campaign.
Il happens that Mr.. Smith has
The least influence In the districts
which gave Mr.. Scully his heaviest
vote. It must be admitted, neverthe.
less, that Mr.. Smith did work hard
for the election Of Mr. ,Sculy, though
he, obviously on purpose, kept large
" IN the background.
The makeup OF the Democratic
ticket showed that the state chair.
man was not being ignored BY any
means. The eight new Democratic
aldermen, for instance, include
several Smith adherents, two Of
them especially strong supporters.
Whether this means that Mr..
Smith will be prominent In the
new administration or whether II
was simply o final concession TO
him o. state chairman remains TO
be seen.
Should the new mayor more or
less ignore Mr.. Smith during the
two years ahead he might find HIM
self opposed by the state party Or
ganisation, presuming that Mr..
smith defeats any runored efforts
TO unseat him. Should the new may
or allow Mr.. Smith to have q major
say" In his administration he faces
the angry resentment Of many Of
those who worked hardest for his
election.
The question Is not one OF
whether or not che feeling against
che state chairman In some cir.
cles Il justified. II Il rather one
of whether the sentiment IL strong
enough 10 warrant RELOCATING him
10 the background.
Mr.. Smith lost prestige about the
state when the Democrats lost the
last state election. IT'S insistence OF,
the nomination OF Col. Thomas
Hewes for Acknowledgement and
his refusal to accept labor candi'
date, such as Joe Tone, was, and Is
blamed by many Democrats for the
loss of the election. Privately Mr.
Smith insists that such was not the
case, holding that the conspiracy
trial here cost the Democrats the
state election.
MVCn Ut VIC hUcht DesWvSsesS
feeling against Mr.. Smith Ia be-
cause Of his conservatism. which
has led him 10 oppose President
Roosevelt q number OF times.
There Il still bitterness because
he went TO Washington to speak
before O Congressional committee
against the Presidents court re.
form program. There Is. too, the
feeling that he Il not In sympathy
with many Of the accomplish
ments or aims Of the New Deal
Much Of this sentiment n IN the
ranks Of labor, which In recent
years has not only become bet.
ter-organized In Waterbury but
much more articulate.
The problem Of what to do with
Mr.. Smith Is further complicated by
the belief of many OF Mr.. Sculiy's
supporters that the new mayor Il
ready to take the step into state OF
national politics. Consequently, they
argue, nothing should be done Il