The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-11-09
Distortion Of Facts
Manifest In Current
Municipal Campaign
Public Being Subjected to Reria Of Conspiracy Case
Charges Democratic MayOralty Nominee;
Newspaper Comments Unfair

dates and particularly from the Re-
publican press designed to persuade
the voters that a vote for me or for |
my associates on the Democratic |
ticket is 3 vote Of approval for the |
so-called "old gang.
have not been attacked directly |
or personally. This I appreciate. I
appreciate the references to me by
the Republican press as 70 decent
citizen and the bearer Of an honored
name" do not appreciate an edi-
torial which says that Scully Is not
so bad but that the Democratic
party is not so good. The Demo-
cratic party is made up Of a large
body Of decent citizens. 1t cannot
be mot so good" If I am mot so
bad, since I have taken full re-
sponsibility for the Democratic
ticket and will take full RESPONSE
bility for the nature of the Demo-
cratic administration that will fol-
low II I am elected. I resent very
much statement by my Republic J
can opponent to the effect that theI
public has its choice between voting
for him and Continuing to wallow
in the mire". very much doubt
If the citizens Of waterbury will
accept the idea that they are faced
with any such poor choice.
Distortion
The burden Of the campaign OF
distortion Is being carried on by
the Republican press Of this city.
The danger is that the public may
not realize the thoroughly political
basis from which these attacks
spring. The press Is ordinarily re-
garded as bystander in political
contests bystander that may be.
and frequently Is, biased toward
one party or another. It's editorial
policy Is ordinarily based on o de-
sire to assist its favored party. But
it is restricted in Its attitude by a
desire to appear intellectually hon
est and reasonably fair.
In other words, the most violently
partisan arguments come usually
from the candidates rather than
than from the press Of either party.
In Waterbury at this time, however,
the Republican press and the Re-
publican party are one and the same
thing. The publisher Of the Re-
publican papers Is the boss Of the
Republican party. This does not
make him q dishonest or a dishon-
orable man. He Is entitled to en-.
gage In politics, as Is any citizen,
as we'll as to publish a newspaper. ]
happen to respect this gentleman
personally, and acknowledge and
appreciate certain courtesies that he
has shown toward me.
Stump Speeches
Nevertheless, 1t Is important that
the people Of waterbury shall recog-
nize political stump speeches which
are part and parcel Of a planned
Republican campaign appearing IN
a newspaper and not confuse them
with ordinarily independent news.
paper comment.
Cartoons and editorials that por-
tray me as the front for Q cor
rupt political machine do not con-
form with the facts Of the present
situation. They are not fair and
proper newspaper comment, how
ever we'll they may fit into some
peoples concept Of appropriate po..
litical strategy. A statement, and
quote from an editorial in the
Waterbury Republican, that the
Scully ticket twill have to depend
for any votes 1t gets on the same
old money -eating, bullying, hard
boiled, deceitful, bribing, election
cheating machine" Is not state
ment which any informed person
can honestly make. 1t Is an in
suit TO the very many people, Re-
publicans as we'll as Democrats, who
have freely and openly indicated
that they wished to support our
ticket on election day.
Praised Hayes
Nor is 1t honest to pretend that
anyone who ever voted for the Hayes
administration, or worked for 1t for
that matter, Is either himself dis
honest or q fool. The very nature
Of the conspiracy which the grand
Jury disclosed was such that It
could not have been operated II any
but the participants had knowledge
of It. The conspiracy as claimed
by the state had been going on Tor
four years when the Republican
American praised Mayor Hayes edi-
torially, calling him a strong char
acter, and stating that 1t shared the
qualification Of the citizens Of Wa
terbury at his nomination for lieu
tenant-governor.
I think that It is about time we
stopped singing the tar brush. !
think that It Is time to stop cheap
and ugly pickering, and for ore
will not contribute to such tactics
do not like the nature Of the cam.
paign being waged against me, and
I say so frankly, but propose TO
hold no bitterness as result Of IT.
The press. whether Democratic or
Republican, will receive free access
to all news pertaining to the city
while I am mayor. 49,.
7 do not make these remarks to air
grievance. I do think that the vot.
ers Of Waterbury should be informed
concerning their sources OF infor-
nation.