The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-08-31
Politics
  Passing

1QSStUS
 The approach of the Repub-
 lican state convention finds sev- Aeral diverse wings within the
 party joining in common move
 ment to "stop Cornell" and dis
 agree as they may in other matters
 the groups arc together in op-
 posing the selection of Paul J.
 Cornell, the Washington school
 master and former New York
 advertising expert, for U. s. Sem
 ator.
 For several reasons they are
 finding 1t difficult to hamper the
 Cornell candidacy. For one thing,
 they haven't been able to agree
 on . candidate to suit all, one
 behind whom they could rally all
 their forces before the cOnven-
 tion begins Sept. IF. Another diff
 ficulty is caused by the running
 start which Cornell was allowed
 to get for the nomination.
 State Chairman Ben Harwood
 is one of those who does not
 look kindly on the nomination
 of Cornell, and his influence
 would be needed to block Cornell successfully. Ane of Harwood's principal objections to the Litch- field countyite is the fact that
 he has been in Connecticut only a few years, and will be open to
 the traditional political epithet of "carpet-bagger" during the campaign. Harwood is said to feel that the "carpet-bagger" argu- ment would carry considerable weight in many sections, and would allow the reelection of Democratic Senator Francis T. Maloney.
 Gov. Raymond E. Baldwin is being talked about as a possible candidate for the Senate, but he has spoken very highly of Cor nell on several occasions and probably would prefer to run for governor again. Lieut.. Gov. James l.. McConaughy has also been talked about, though the trustees of Wesleyan university, where he is president, are understood to have said 'No." However, the grapevine tells of hints to the university that a leave of ab- sence for its president would be very nice indeed. The other name most frequently mentioned in G. O. P. circles is that of Will liam J. Pape, who, however. has been backing Cornell.
 Some of the ''boys" high in Re- publican state councils are bit resentful at the word from head quarters" that Cornell should be nominated They claim that the national committee is trying to meddle in state party affairs, perhaps not directly, but by a discreet word here and there that Cornell should be the choice.
 The state may find itself in peculiar situation should both Wiilkie and Baldwin win. Bald wins friends say he is sure of cabinet appointment if Willkie goes to the White House. In that case, Lieut. Gov. McConOughy, should he be reelected to his present post, would become gov- ernor. If the Wesleyan trustees didn't like that, what would happen then? The president pro tenn of the state Senate, whoever he might be, would then become But he might be a Democrat so, say all good Repub- licans, perish the thought.
 It would not be at all Surpris- ing if, one of these days, Chair man Harwood trots out for pub- lie approval a nice, shiny new candidate for U. S. Senator, someone who will have the boys with him against Cornell.
 The local Democratic organi- xation is putting the state con- fight out of mind and is ready to back Bob Hurley to the in his bid for the gover- The leaders expect that the Brass City will be back safely in the Democratic column this time, and that the Socialists will not figure importantly here, though they carried the city two years ago.
 Women Democrats are disput- ng over who should get the cred it for having Mrs. Chase Going nominated for secre- tary of state but they're all highly pleased that she was The Republicans are talking about surprise can- didate in the 18th Senatorial but he'll have to pull a big surprise to win, even with hard Democratic primary fight in the off1ing. States Att torney Bill Blodgett is one of the anti-C Cornell bloc in Litchfield county. He's said still to favor Walter Howe of Litchfield for the senatorial nomination, though Cor aell defeated Howe at county ;aucus several months ago.
 The angles behind Bill Dunphy's stand in the Democratic Sena- ;orial battle in the 18th district nave the politicos guessing. Mayer Vincent Scully made a hit with his harmony plea at the goung Democratic convention here he other night. The new ap- ,ortionment of delegates to the Socialist state convention won't i've the Bridgeport group the al- most absolute control they've had n the past, though no doubt hey1I still be dominant.
 The Willkie independent" clubs
 TR n