The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-11-09
Challenge Issued
To Barberi To
Call Meeting
Editor, Waterbury Democrat
naa.. AZ. ILiAnt..

Editor, Waterbury Democrat
Dear Mr.. Editor:
l and many other present and
former members of the Young
Italian Democratic club have been
following with interest the state
ment made by Domenic Barbieri.
former Democratic selectman and
very good friend Of ex-Mayor T.
Frank Hayes and ex-Controller
Daniel J. Leary.
When we formed the Young
italian Democratic club, we had
definite purposes in mind. Those
purposes no longer exist, as we
are now convinced that Domenic
Barbieri, and his son-in-law. Will
liam Ferrari, who is secretary want
to use us to bolster UP Mr.. Bar
bieri's declining influence among
his Italian followers. and there
by serve his own selfish motives.
Most of the Italian American
voters OF this city even regular
Republicans cannot conscientiously
endorse the Republican ticket, at
ter the insult perpetrated against
citizens of Italian extraction, by
dumping Mayor Patrick M. Peril
clio, who In the opinion OF many
besides Italian Americans could
make far better mayor than Mr..
Foster, who does not seem to have
even a permanent job to his
credit.
Mr.. Foster has not been fair
to Mayor Perriello, who gave him
job, and then turned against
him.
If Mr.. Foster is elected mayor,
we know that William J. Pape and
j. Warren Epson will be the real
bosses of the city government.
Since these men have already
been identified as being prejudicial
to the italian race, what guaran-
tee have we as Italian Americans,
that we will receive a fair treat
ment?
If even the regular Italian
American Republican clubs, have
refused to endorse the Republic
can ticket after j. Warren Up
son walked out of the Republican
convention at the YMCA, why
should we as Italian-American
Democrats endorse the Pape-Up-
son ticket?
If you have any good reason for
supporting the Republican ticket,
Mr.. Barbieri, you, your son-in-
law and any who care to follow
YOU. are perfectly free to do so,
but as for the overwhelming ma
jority of the members of the
Young italian Democratic club,
we helped organize the club In Or
der to fight for a fair represent
tation in city politics, and Mr..
Barbieri well knows 1t.
Now, those Italian American
candidates on the Republican
ticket were put on by the Repub-
lican machine, and not by choice
of the majority of Italian-Ameri-
can Republicans and we are not
going to support that ticket.
The Democratic party has seen
fit to give the Italian-American
citizens Is per cent representa-
ton, as we deserve. Therefore,
we as Italian Americans will carry
out the true principals OF the
Young italian Democratic club
by supporting the Democratic
ticket.
We will be accomplishing two
good aims. Show Mr.. Epson, Mr..
Pape, and Mrs. Phillips that we
will not be insulted any more and
obtain a just representation for
our people.
And Notwithstanding the hostile
propaganda of the Waterbury Re-
publican American, Mr.. Scully,
the son of an honorable and sue
cessful mayor of this city and an
American Veteran of the World
War, is a most capable and hon.
orable person, who knows how to
respect people regardless of race
color or creed.
Now in conclusion. We would
like to ask Mr.. Barbieri to call
a special meeteing of the Young
italian Democratic club, advising
every member of the time and
place, and then the peoplesof Wa
terbury shall know how most
members of the club feel about It,
INDEPENDENT DEMOCRAT