The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-10-19


Politically, on the eve Of the prim-
airy was this:
Culhane-The senator won many
friends by his outspoken opposition
to the city manager plan; he has
well-oiled organizations working for
him in every section of the city; he
makes an appeal to the voters on
his battle against the Hayes-Leary
regime. On the other hand, he is
handicapped by the fact that he ran
as Republican and Independent
Democrat two years ago, that he is
credited with being political OPP
portunist, that it is claimed that the
organization behind him has no
great number Of substantial citizens.
Scully-The corporation counsel
has a reputation for honesty and
level-headedness; he has pledged
that he will make no promises of
jobs or patronage and hence appeals
to the independent voters; he has
the backing Of both the town COM
mittee and the reorganization
group; he IS loyal party member.
On the other hand, he Is handicap
ped by the fact that he held city Of
flee during the Hayes administra-
ton, that he is backed by State
Chairman j. Francis Smith, whom
many Democrats dislike, and that
he Is not spectacular candidate.
Democratic voters on the party
primary list numbered 1881 only
a week ago, but the ruling that
newly-made voters can 60 on the
primary list and are eligible to vote
tomorrow has Swelled this total to
more than 10000.
Never In the city's history has
such intensive organization work
been done for Q party primary. The
vote Of 2,700 cast in the Republic
can primary short time ago will
certainly be far eclipsed.
, The contest for the mayoralty
nomination took on a new signi-
ficance today as a result Of the Re-
publican spit which leaves that
party without q candidate for city
clerk and which promises to send
many Republican voters flocking to
the Democratic side. Democrats
chances of victory In the city cleo
ton Nov. IA, which were almost at
the zero point some weeks ago,
are now extremely bright.
Party to be United
Whichever candidate wins the
primary tomorrow will have the
support Of a united party. Both Mr..
Culhane and Mr. Scully have pledged
themselves to support the victor in
the primary.
The contest has been conspicuous
thus far for the absence Of any
serious personal feelings. Both sides
tacitly admit that the primary battle
may be a good thing for the party
In that it will serve to clear the
air and allow the majority to de-
eide who will be in control of the
organization for the next two years.
Opinions on both sides as to the
way the vote will go naturally differ
very much. Each faction proclairns
publicly that it viii carry every dis
trict.
What They Know
However, 1t Is known that one
group the leading Culhane lieuten-
ants feels that his best chance to
win the primary Is to capture the
first, second and third wards. These
men corcede the fourth and nth
wards to Mr.. Scully. However others
claim that the East End section Of
the fifth ward will give Culhane
enough votes to counteract expected
Scully pluralities on the Abrigador
and Washington Fiji.
Some Of the Scully strategists, on
tn. other hand, express the opinion
that their candidate Is certain Of the
nth ward, will win the first and
third easily, and has q better than
even chance in the second. This
group holds that the fourth ward Is
about even.
Other Scully hackers say that the
fourth ward as well as the NTH will
give Scully majorities, and hold that
the only doubtful ward Is the third