The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-11-11


by q greatly reduced majority.
In Hartford and New Haven the
Democrats, won, but the margins
were only fractions of the $4,000
majorities of two years ago. In
Bridgeport, the Socialists were re-
turned to office, but their majority
was cut almost in half from that
of 1897.
The election results in Hartford
and New Haven were puzzling, in
view of the tendency toward the
Democratic party that had been
noted in city and town elections
elsewhere about the state a few
weeks before. Both major parties
felt that the Bridgeport outcome
was encouraging, and that Mayor
McLevy's popularity Is dropping
off.
The question which political OBJ
servers are trying to answer is
whether or not the same general
reasons can be ascribed to the
voting results in three cities. And
most of them are marking time
until after the Waterbury cleo
tion, feeling that perhaps the out
come here will serve to clarity the
picture.
There can be several reasons
given for the reduced majorities,
reasons which seem to explain
the voting trends in each of the
three cities. The question is whe-
ther there was something more
basic than local issues RESPONSE
Bile.
In New Haven. for instance, the
drop in Mayor Murphy's margin
might be explained by the fact
that the Elm City has large
percentage of italian voters, most
of whom cast their ballots for
the Republican candidate, Alder
man william Celentano. Another
reason could be the fact that the
mayor has approved a tWo-mil
increase in the tax rate.
The decline of the Democratic
majority in Hartford might be
explained by the criticism made
of Mayor Spellacy by the Water
bury grand jury. Another factor
wos the aggressive campaign
waged by the popular Republican
candidate, Attorney Joseph Grif-
fin. -.'-. t..'-..
The shrinkage OF the McLevy
vote could be credited to his ef-
fCrts to gain control OF Bridge
ports board of education and too
often heard claims that the So
enlist mayors administration
tends too much toward One-man
government.
1t will be noted that In each
csse. significantly, gains were
made by the "Outs" at the ex-
pense Of the "ins." And each may
or has been In office for some
time, Mayor Murphy now begin
: ming his fifth term, Mayor Nc
Levy his fourth and Mayor Spell
lacy his third.
with Hartford and New Haven
offering the Democratic leader
ship in the state reason for worry,
the party must make a good
showing in Waterbury II 1t hopes
to 60 ahead toward next years
important state election with any
degree of real confidence. Victory
for the Democratic ticket here
Tuesday will be hailed with Joy
by the heads of the state organ
ization: victory by a substantial
margin here will have them maxi
ing reservations for the inaugural
ball of a Democratic governor In
January, 194l.
The local Democratic organiza-
ton is doing everything in It's
power to insure the election OF
the ticket headed by Vincent A.
Scully for mayer. Reorganization
of the town committee only a few
weeks before election has, OF
course, resulted in some campaign
mistakes, due principally to in
experience. But the mistakes have
been more than offset by the sin
cerity and enthusiasm with which
the party's town committeeman
and volunteer workers have
pitched in during the campaign.
seldom has there been an elec'
ton in Waterbury In which Dem
ocratic workers have labored 81
intensively. Many Of those affii'
lated with the reorganized Demo
\ cratic organization are new Il
ucIitics, but this has not served u
affect their earnestness or theii
willingness to help. 1t would b.
too idealistic to hope that al
these volunteers are giving theil
time and services for purely un'
selfish reasons, or that some Of
them are not hoping that the!
will be remembered after election
day. But--a political phenomenon
that has veterans Of many bat
Ties rubbing their eyes anazedl!
-mOSt OF tHcSc ncWCOHhCES W shs
poIitical arena ask for nothing
ana hope for nothing except
Democratic victory on Tuesday
next.
This may not be the politics tt
J which American cities have beer
( accustomed, but 1t is the picture
which o rivitalized Democratic
party in waterbury presents TO-
day.
The principal topic of current
conversation Is the outcome of the
balloting Tuesday. Democrats. Re-
publicans and Socialists all claim
that victory Is theirs. Different
oainions prevail in the various