The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-10-14

one OF the most pefpiexlng
questions you could ask any po-
liticO these days is ''Who are the
Independent Democrats and where
do they stand?" Perhaps the best
answer to this query Is to say that
the voters generally Jumped to-
gether under the name Of Inde-
pendent Democrats aren't quite
sure themselves. Or, to put In an
other way, any, number of those
labelled, for corvience's sake, IN
dependent Democrats, would an
rwer it IN any number Of different
Ways. r.
The Independent Democratic,
party entered the local political
arena in 1895, offering . slate Of
from the Democratic Organiza-
candidates after breaking away
from the Democratic organization.
The Independent Democrats prin-
cipal claim was that rank-anA.
Sile members Of the regular party
we're not being given recognition.
They nominated Roger v. Conner
for mayor, and were given scant
consideration by the leaders Of
the major parties. On election day
four years 'ako, the Indepen-
dents amassed no great total Of !,
votes, but enough people voted
for their candidates to put an ap-
preciable dent in the regular DEM
npr1fac VINO ioviSv
During the ensuing two years,
the party built up quietly In prep
aration for the 1897 campaign.
After lengthy discussion, the par.
ty threw in its Lot with the Re-
publicans, and the two parties
formed fusion ticket headed by
Senator George T. Culhane for
mayor. The Republican -Indepen-
dent Democratic candidate for
mayor lost by only IS votes, and
prospects for the Independents In
the future seemed extremely
bright. It appeared, shortly after
election day inA937, that the In
dependent Democrats, even with
out the aid Of another party,
would be major force to reckon
with In 1899.
But, even before the end Of the
1887 campaign, internal dissention
had set in. The split in the party's
ranks grew wider in the state cleo :.
ton campaign Of year ago, and
since that time the party has been
broken up further.
Which brings us up to the pres
ent and back to the question at
the head of this column. In The
Democrat this week there was
published a primary call for MEM
hers of the Independent Demo-
cratic party, signed by Chairman
James Hartley and Secretary Les
ter Lonergan. The primary is TO
be held the 23d, after those Of
the two major parties, and the
lateEess Of the date indicates an
obvious desire to see what the 9TH
sts are going to do before the In
dependent Democratic party
makes uD Its mind. The term, In
dependent Democratic party ID
used because Mr.. Hartley and Mr..
Loncrgan are officially the leaders
of the party
Much of the Independent DEM
ocratic vote of two years ago is
now split several ways. Some have
gone back into the organization;
others are active in the reorgan-
ization wing of the party. Some
are backing Corporation Counsel
Vincent Sculy for the Democratic
mayoralty nomination; others are
supporting Senator Culhane; still
others have remained with the
Republicans since the fusion ticket
of two years ago.
The party's leadership, rs typi-
fled by Mr.. Hartley and, In the
background, Attorney John F. To-
bin, Is definitely and determinedly
against Senator Culhane. This
group, and its supporters, are 50
completely hostile to the Indepcn:
dent Democratic candidate Of 1897
that IL is said they win enter .
ticket in the election only In the
event that Senator Culhane should
win the primary and gain the
Democratic nomination. II the
senator is defeated in the prim-
airy, this group will no doubt back
Mr.. Sculy In the election cam
paign.
All this seems confused, and It
is, rs Independent Democrats OF
two years ago will testify.
A most entertaining feature Of
the early stages Of the campaign
has been the build-up for the
for the mayoralty nomination be-
ing given Charles C. Foster, for
mer city purchasing agent and
now secretary to Mayor Patrick
M. Perriello, by the Republican,
American. With sledge-hammer
subtley the two papers have been
singing out Mr.. Foster In their
new columns for special praise
and have draped him with every
laurel this side Of Greece.
The ballyhoo at times has been
almost painful and has made
even staunch Republicans shade
their eyes lest they be blinded by
the glare of the halo. Democrats
presumably should concede the
election to this super man and
take to the storm cellars.
To Mr.. Fosters credit, let 1t
be said that this super press
agentry Is probably embarrassing
him as much as IL Is making
others squirm. He may or may not
be the candidate Mayor Perriel-
los hackers won't let themselves
be counted out yeti but II he Is,
then the extreme praise Of the
Pape newspapers may prove to
be q liability in the campaign.
The Republican and American
have rather gfiraciously consented
to mention other possible Repub-
lican candidates for mayor with
...I n~;kinivis,r fta,Sa (avnavHt for