The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-08-17
Politics s -in
 Passing
BY RAY FITZPATRICK

Behind the acceptance by Mayor Vincent Scully of an invitation to present the name of ex-Gov. Will bur L. Cross to the Democratic state convention next week and be- hind his decision to oin with J. Francis Smith in a fight on be- half of Uncle Toby" lies an ex- tremely interesting story.
 To realize its significance, it
 must first be remembered that
 the mayor has played virtually
 no part in state politics, that he
 has no ambition to be nominated
 for office himself next week, and
 that he has no desire to become
 embroiled in factions and contrO-
 versieS that are statewide.
 Up to 8 few weeks ago, Mayor Scully would probably have been glad to cast his vote for Commis- sioner Bob Hurley for the nomina- tion for governor, and to use his influence for Hurley in Waterbury. It was the election of a new state chairman that changed the situa- tion. John T. Mccarthy, an ardent Hurley booster, was proposed for
 the state chairmanship, and the party's Old Guard, led by Mayor Tom Spellacy of Hartford, Paul Con- nery of Norwalk and Davey Fftz- Gerald of New Haven, began lining up votes for him. MT. Smith, as retiring chairman, was suspicious of an attempt by the Old Guard to regain control of the party, and placed Guy Holt, of West Hartford, in the field against MT. Mccarthy. Holt lost, and the Spellacy, Fitz- Gerald -Connery combine then went on to take over the candidacy of Commissioner Hurley. MT. Scully, on the sidelines, had no liking for this development. But nothing could be done at the moment, since Hurley was alone in the field. (Hur- ley, incidentally, as an appointee of Gov. Cross, probably did not like to see his campaign being taken over by the Old Guarders, but there was nothing he could do without sacrificing the nomination.)
 i' Mayor Scully and Mir. Smith
 talked over the situation, and de-
 cided that Gov. Cross should be < prevailed upon to run for nomi-
 nation again. Perhaps the mayor
 joined with MT. Smith in ap-
 pealing to Uncle Toby" to an-
 3nounce his candidacy; no doubt Senator Frank Maloney joined in
 the appeal. In any event, Dr.
 Cross did announce his candidacy,
 and later made known that Mayor
 Scully would make the nominat-
 ing speech for him at the con-
 vention.
 Politically, the mayor is taking dangerous gamble, for Hurley had an early lead for the nomination and, if he wins, he will have no kindly feeling toward the Water bury Democratic organization. The mayor would have been better of, Strasegically, if he did not commit itself. He knew that.
 There are two motivating req sons why Mayor Scully is risking
 his possible future in state politics
 to back the 78-year- former governor. One is the belief that Gross is not only the strongest possible candidate the party could
 offer. and Is the choice of the ma jority of the rank and file. The
 other reason is belief that the
 state is in no mood for Old Guard control, and that the power poli- tics" which he believes it repre- sents, is obsolete.
 This, of course, is only the writer's analysis of the mayors stand. It is no attempt to argue the merits of the New Guard against the Old Guard, or vice versa. It is merely an exposition of Mir. Scully's be- liefs, leading to the conclusion that he feels that nomination of Com missioner Hurley would result in re- sentiment about the state against sacity bosses" whereas nomination of Dr. Cross would be accepted as complying with spontaneous de- mand by Democratic voters who be- 1feve that the achievements of the liberal Cross administration entitled the "old gentleman from Yale to another chance at the governors chair. Many Waterbury Democrats, ir- cluding such leaders as ex-Town ; Chairman Joe Mulville and Sena- tor George Culhane, disagree em- ~phatically with the mayor. MT. .Mulville Is prepared to wage a sshard fight to win convention votes for Hurely in the Waterbury dele N | gation, unit rule or no unit rule. It happens that MT. Mulville be- sslieves that MT. Hurley is the best
 candidate and deserves the nonii- nation.
 E The announcement today that | Rep. Hugo Guastaferri and Attorney John Membrino are withdrawing | from the 18th district Democratic senatorial fight leaves the way clear tor an old-fashioned primary bat tle between Senator George Culhane and Attorney Mike Blansf1eld. .. Democrats in the 17th district this tall will miss the campaigning of Dan Mccarthy, who is out of poli- dcs via his appointment as Ansonia postmaster. The next week should see a flood of candidates for places on the Democratic state Eicket other than that of governor. Local Republicans face a head ache in the 18th senatorial nomi- nation, like the Democrats. Party leaders believe they win carry the district if they can find a strong candidate and avoid a primary @3v1nk They N0Ifnf nm nAv,noCrattn |