The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-11-02


demonstrated the loyalty and affec
ton they hold for him by the wa!
in which they turned out by tn
thousands despite the raw, rain.
weather. 1t was fighting bit con
fident Roosevelt who told the crowd
huddled in the teeming rain at New
Haven that men were being trained
for defense for the same reason tina
his listeners were holding umbrel
las-"so that we won't get wet, 1
was a patriotic leader of a people
who told throng at Bushnell parE
In Hartford that attempts to in
iect fear into the campaign were
tdastardly and unpatriotic."
To Connecticut reporters who
travelled with him from New Ha-
ven to Springfield, the President
looked as fit as he did In 1886,
despite the crushing strain OF
crisis after crisis under which he
has labOred.
state Democratic leaders were
more than pleased that the Pres
ident was able to come here and be-
lieve that the crowds which turned
out despite the bad weather furnish
an augury of q Roosevelt victory
Privately, leaders Of both Demo-
cratic and Republican parties say
that Connecticut is still anybody
state, with each group nat rally
cleaning the advantage.
There aren't any figures avail
able yet but IL appears from the
sidelincs that the Republicans are
spending more money in Connec-
ticut than was ever spent here IN
any campaign before. The purse
strings have been especially loos-
ened during the past two weeks
i'm q final drive to gain votes for
Willkie. Page after page of news
paper advertising has been pur-
chased; radio stations carry Will
kie appeals at every hour OF the
day and night; folders and broch-
ures are being peddled by the
hundreds Of thousands
OF course the Republican state
organization Is not, technically,
spending all the huge sums for adj
vertising that are being spent. Much
OF the cost Is being credited TO the
Willkie clubs. the Democrats-for-
Willkie and other organizations, but
Az, al Far t1,n eaYtNn n1NH
There certainly must be plenty
Of Republican money available
when the state organization can
n0s only spend so much but still
have enough left over To send to
other states. II will be recalled
that last week The Democrat
pointed, out that $3.50 had been
seTt TO the Nebraska state q. ..
r. by the Republican state cen
trfA committee OF Connecticut.
And apparently donations were
made from the Connecticut Or
ganization TO Republican groups
In stlll more states. The Nebras-
ka gift, by the way, may lead to
some fireworks.
Republicans in Waterbury have
seldom been so active as they are
this year and what they're spending
isn't hay, either. Many OF the
leaders claim they have real
chance to carry Waterbury on Tues
day. but the odds of course still
lean the other way.
--
This Is tltDA.eria pitch of the
campaign. when the smears reach
their height, when so much mud
Is thrown that Il takes clear
thinker to sc through 10 the is-
sues. This Is the season for the
libelOus whispers that mark the
closing stages of every national
election campaign.
There has been great publicity
about ill-advised Democratic smear
attempts at Willkie but little public
notice has been called to the many
libelous and scurrious pieces OF
propaganda being peddled by the
Republicans, officially or unofficial
", against the President of the
United States Nothing seems too
low or vile, in these feverish clos
ing days OF the campaign, to say
about Mr.. Roosevelt or his family.
Mr.. Willkie may gain votes as a
,1dklaNa has ho lncac ct n tttra
man when he charges the head of
our government with leading us
into war. II seems to be almost a
charge of treason when he talks
of mythical "secret treaties, and
claims that the nation is led by
man so faithless as to plan die
tatOrship". The fantastic charges
by the Republican candidate are
on q level even lower than that of
those who thought it fun to show
their disapprOval of him by throw
ing eggs. Which. in passing, brings
to mind one observers comment:
"At least the people can afford
eggs this year; they couldn't in
1882.
What has Mr.. Willkie to offer?
If IL were a sound, constructive
program for America, carefully
worked out after deep study his
cause would merit more attention
than it does. But instead he prom
iEes to keep the accomplishments
Of the New Deal, but III admins
ter them better" In other words,
Mr.. Willkie claims the votes of the
American people as an opponent OF
the President, yet says that the
Roosevelt reforms are praiseWorthy
and desirable. At the same time
much Of Mr.. Wilkes support comes
from those who believe that, once
elected, he will do just the opposite,
and seek TO eliminate many OF the
New Deals reforms,
Perhaps the most unfortunate
feature OF the campaign has been
- n....knsau.. ~fFa.ta a. ,u..Eaal