The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-05-01
Laurel Club Pans
 Local Legislators
Governor Former Governors Attend Gridiren Dinner;
 Conspiracy Trial, AIcOrns Mentioned

among the many roasted and toast- cd at teh biennial dinner of the Laurel club, composed of represen- tativeS of the press of Connecticut who cover the sessions of the Legis- lature, which was held last night at the Hartford Club, Hartford, before many distinguished guests.
 Present at the dais during the fast and furious program of wsie- cracks and dignity-breakers which the newsmen threw at the audience were Governor Robert A. Hurley, ex-governors Wilbur l.. Cross and Raymond E. Baldwin, Democratic State Chairman John T. Mccarthy, Republican State Chairman J. Ken- 'neth Bradley, Republican National sOornmitteman Samuel F. Pryor, Lieutenant. Governor Odell Shepard, and 8 host of others.
 Raymond J. Fitzpatrick of The Democrat and Walter F. Brooks of the Republican American were among the Laurel Club participants in the radio skits whose broad lines and broader implications will never see the light of public print.
 Conspiracy Trial
 The waterbury conspiracy trial came in for @ gentle" ribbing at various intervals during the course of the show, with the names of AL corn, Senior and Junior, receiving a generous does of attention from the scribes. There were other allusions to Waterbury, too, throughout the long performance and the city's leg- islators weren't overlooked in this respect.
 Impersonation during the per- formance weer offered by Jeremiah HallaS of International News, Gov- ernor Hurley; carl Clyma, New Ha- ven Register, ex-Governor Baldwin; Frank Cuinlan, Bridgeport Times Star, ex-Governor Cross; Jack 1ai- man. United Press, Lieutenant-G Gov- ernor Shepard.
 The Laurel Club also released last night its poll of merit taken in the General Assembly. Five senators and four House members got top rating from the press-boys on their ability.
 They are Senators Joseph P. Cooney, Democrat, Hartford, and William J. Shea, Republican, Man. chester, who tied in the poll of the Senate for the most able legislator; Senator Clarence P. Baldwin, Re- publican, Woodbridge; Joseph B. Dow1les, Democrat, Norwich, and Frank A. Peet, Republican, Kent, who tied for second place in the Senate poll: Representative Abra- ham A. Ribicoff, Democrat, Hart ford, who was first in the House poll; Harold E. Mitchell, Republi- can, West Hartford, second, and Walter Howe, Republican, Litch- field, and Stanley P. Mead, Repuh. lican, New Canaan, tied for third.
 Promising Members
 Senator Michael A. Blansfield won several hollors in this rating, being adjudged one of the four legislators whose reelection IS most needed by the state: second on list of most promising new members, In which category Rep. John A. Membrino was also ranked third from the House.
 Rep. Daniel J. Mahaney was sec- ond on the list of the hardest work CTS in the House.
 Other ratings of legislators on the basis of the Laurel club scorecard were: ,..J. {?
 Best committee chairman Sen ate, i, Downes and Joseph T. Rourke. Democrat, New Haven, (tie); q, Albert L. Coles, Democrat, Bridgeport; 3, Cooney; House, l., Howe; ZIG. Raymond Brock, Ham, den; Samuel c. Counsel, Stoning- ton; William L. Hadden, Orange; Carl Sharpe, Pomfret (tie); 8, Frederick H. Holbrook, Madison.
 Makes best reports Senate, 1, O.. F. Baldwin; 2, Downes; 3, Coles and Coney (tie): House, l, Brock; 2, Howe; 3, Hadden.
 Makes worst reports - Senate, i, Leon P. RisCassi, Democrat, Hart ford; 3, Floyd 2. Barbour, Republi- can, Grmeenwich; House, 1, O. P. Smith, Republican, West Hartford; 2, George II. Augur, Republican, North Branford; 3, W. o. Carlson,