The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-07-13
Politics
IN
Passing

The Democrats gather in conven-
tion at Chicago Monday, with even
President Roosevelt's most severe
critics within the party agreeing
that he must run for a third term
q there Is to be a chance of victory
this fall. Unless the President ac-
ceptg the nomination the conven-
fion viii be a hopeless bedlam, with
unity almost impossible even If the
President should put forward a
choice Of his own.
Observers are cOnceding that
the President must run, whether
or not he wishes to, for his STRAIT
egy, whether by accident or de-
sign, leaves that as the only course
that holds forth promise Of con-
tinuance Of the New Deal
Connecticut,s delegation, some Of
whose members have scarcely set
any records for loyalty to the Pres
ldent In the past, will be right there
IN front seats on the Roosevelt
bat1dwagon. The boys see no chance
Of regaining control Of the state
government unless the national
ticket offers the unparalleled vote
getting ability OF the President.
With the Democratic state con-
venti0n little more than a month
away Gt must be held within 80
days of the close of the national
COnventiOn), the balance Of power
Is back once again In the hands
Of the Old Guard, as exemplified
by Mayor Thomas Spellacy OF
Hartford, National Committeeman
David E. FITZGERALD Of New Ha-
ven, and Paul Connery Of Fair
field county. The votes controlled
by any one Of this trio would have
prevented the election of John 7.
Mccarthy Of Newtown as state
chairman at the central commit
tee meeting here this week. Among
them the three had enough votes
TO kill the chances of Guy b. Holt
of West Hartford, who entered
the race as the candidate Of the
Senator Francis T. Maloney-J.
Francis Smith forces. No one, or
even two, Of the Spellacy-Fitz-
Gerald Connery trio, has enough
power without the rest Of the tri-
simvirate.
Public Works Commissioner Rob-
ert A. Hurley. close associate OF
Chairman Mccarthy, probably feels
no great enthusiasm over his adop-
ton by the Spellacy faction. But
Mr.. Hurley can hardly attempt to
keep Mayor Spellacy of his band
wagon by force, so he must smile
and make the best Of 1t. 1t is safe
to predict, though, that he will seek
to minimize the part to be played
by Mr.. Spellacy in the campaign.
Election Of MIR. Mccarthy, an
able worker but one whose or
ganizing ability remains to be
/, proven, Is of course a victory for
Mr.. Hurley and q further step to-
ward his winning the nomination
for governor. II nominated, how
ever, Mr.. Hurley may find the Old
Guard seeking to control the
naming Of the rest Of the ticket.
II IS then that the test would come
FOR both Mr.. Hurley and Mr.. Nc
! Carthy.
Waterbury's four central commit
tee votes were all cast for the los
ing candidate, and again the local
Democratic party will find itself on
the outside looking in, as far as the
state political picture Is concerned
!. The chances Of Waterbury getting
place on the state ticket were not
helped by the votes against Mr.. Nc
Carthy, though 1t is yet by no means
certain that no Brass Cityite will
be given q nomination for state Of
nee. The local Democratic organ
ization, despite the fact that Frank
HAYES was acknowledgement and
Mr.. Smith was state chairman, has
not had any great influence In the
state organization in recent years
Mr.. Smith was never closely allied
with the local town committee until
two years'ago. only then to have the
Democrats lose control Of the state
government.
The name Of Richard Joyce
Smith, Fairfield c0untyite and ac-
tive member OF the Smith Ma
loney wing. Is the latest to be
trotted forth for consideration as
Democratic candidate for govern
or. He's not being given much
chance, but stranger things have
happened. There's still plenty
Of guessing going on as to why
Frank Smith went ahead with the
contest for the state chairmanship
when he knew that his candidate
was licked. The prestige Of Sen
ator Maloney wasn't helped any
by the defeat of Holt, so the latest
y version is that Maloney wanted
to lose, so that he wouldn't be
accused Of debating to the party.
There's talk of eX-Mayor Patrick
Perriello seeking the Republican
state senatorial nomination, but hi
probably wouldn't be interested. Al
for running for mayor next year
that's a different story. The
new Republican town committee
chairman, George Scott, is one OF
the best-liked G.. o. p workers In
town. Local G. o PIERS expect
q windfall of campaign contribu-
tions, now that Wendell Willkie is
the Presidential nominee The
Willkie glamor. by the way, seems
to be starting to fade. what does
he stand for?" What would hi
do?s many are starting to ask. .
The campaign to put o. Glenn Sax
Of, of Yale in the field against Pau
Cornell for the Republican Sena'
torial nomination apparently Ii
stalling.
The merit system promises to be
enc Of the most important issues
&.a Ara state eamnalRn. If state