The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-03

move by an mdlVldual Wno mas nao ample opportunity for peace by a more graceful acceptance of the verdict of. the voters on various oc- casions."
 MT. Tangney charges that Senator CuIhane declined to support Mayor Scully after the latter had defeated him in the party primaries last veal and that after his failure to wir senatorial renomination this year he worked against the three candidates mentioned.
 The general belief is that local Democratic leaders will refuse to at- tend the dinner, which is being giv- en by the Progressive Democratic association, a Culhane group.
 Mayor Scully Undecided
 Mayor Scully, asked whether he planned to attend the dinner, offer ed as his only comment: I'll make up my mind when l find out Ii MT. Hurley is coming"
 Senator Culhane has long been at odds with the party organization here. He was elected to the state senate as an organization Democrat but soon broke away. In 1887 he ran on a Fusion ticket for mayor, with the backing of Republican and h. dependent Democratic parties. Though defeated, he was elected to another term in the senate in 1858. Last year he failed in an attempt to win the Democratic nomination for mayor and this year he was de- feated in his bid for renomination to the senate.
 Early Worker For Hurley
 However, he was an early worker for the nomination of Governor elect Hurley, while the local organ ization backed eX-Governor Wilbur L. Cross and Mayor Scully made the nomination speech for the latter at the state convention ill New Haven. During the campaign, the local or ganization worked hard for Ar. Hurley and the national and tate tickets, the Democrats winning the city by margins ranging from 6,985 to 12,000.
 The next move is obviously up to the governor -elect who, according to Senator Culhane, approved plans for the dinner before public an- nouncement was made.
 Text of Letter
 The text of Town Chairman Tangney's letter follows:
 December 2, 194O Mir. John T. Mccarthy, Chairman, Democratic State Central Com
 mittee, NewtOwn, Connecticut. Dear John:
 I am writing you concerning a sO-called Victory Dinner SpOn- sored by rTr. George T. Culhane to be held in this city on Decem- bet 17th.
 Mr. Culhane has stated in the press that various prominent Democratic officials have been in- vited to this dinner and that Governor -elect Robert A. Hurley, prior to the public announcement of the affair, agreed to attend. Tris, if true, is unfortunate. have discussed this matter with members of the Democratic ad- ministration and of the Demo- cratic organization of this city and they are unanimous in their desire to afford every possible CO., operation and every possible cOur- teoy to the elected Democratic state officials and particularly to the Democratic Governor -elect. They have an equally firm desire to preserve the strength and har- mony of the Democratic party in this city.
 The past record and every pO- litical commentary justify our opinion that the proposed dinner is not a peace" move. It is a move by an individual who has had ample opportunity for peace" by a more graceful acceptance of the verdict of the voters on vari- Ous occasions. This individual has demonstrated to our Satisfac- tion that he wants peace only on his own terms and that his pres ent purpose is to increase his 0p- portunities for creating discOrd. We freely admit that this is his right. We have no possible 0bjec- tion to any independent action by Democratic voter of this city, but we reserve the right to oppose such action when we consider it damaging to the City of Water bury or to the Democratic party.
 The question is the prOpriety fO support for such action which may be given by prominent Democratic state or party officials.
 It is difficult to believe that Governor -elect Hurley would wish to offer deliberately the affrOnt to leading Democrats of this city and state which his acceptance of this invitation would constitute, were. he assumed to be in full knOwl- edge of all the circumstances. Therefore, respectfully request the attention of MT. Hurley and