The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-09-16


 Hurley's speech of acceptance fol- lowing his renomination at the state Democratic convention in Hartford today is as follows:-
 Two years ago while the dark clouds of anxiety and danger were gathering around us, you selected me as your candidate for Governor. A few weeks later I had the honor to be elected Governor.
 I was born in Connecticut. have lived here all my life, as my father did before me. The cities and towns and countryside of Connecticut are the places I know best and love best. Its people are dear to me. They are my friends and neighborS. To serve these people and these places IS a responsibility that one may accept only with the most solemn resolve to be faithful, to be courageous. It was with such clear resolve that I became the Governor of this state. It is with that same resolve that accept again the honor of your nomination and the supreme responsibility to serve our people, our state and our nation during this time of trial by fire and sword.
 As Governor, have known in these last two years what those re- sponsibilities are. I have tried to meet them in way that would ad- vance the high ideals to which all people of good will are devoted.
 Leadership
 The burden of leadership, during time of war and revolution, when all that we have of life, liberty and | happiness is in imminent danger of destruction, Is a heavy burden.
 I have been guided and sustained by the example of those who have gone before us, who in their times were called to lead our people into a bright new day of peace and free dom. We are challenged as they were, to achieve the aspirations ot the living and the dead to the good way of life. This challenge cannot be met by mouthing, slogar7 by rude insinuations, or by slyly creating false or ncn-existel- , issues. He, who has been chosen to | lead either his nation or his state, in peace or in war, must accept as his guide to duty and achievement the obligation to extend and pro tect the freedom and happiness of the people. That has been my sole guide in the battles I have fought | for the peoples welfare.
 That was why I fought in the forum of public opinion long be- fore the bombs fell on Pearl Har- bor., I fought to awaken our people to the imminent threat to our se- curity and independence. I fought that battle on the side of President Roosevelt. That does not mean that suspected all those on the other side, but only that I used the iead- I ership entrusted to me to help with all the vigor that possessed, in a cause I knew to be righteous and necessary
 There was a march to be resumed in the continuing struggle of our people towards social justice, to- wards new expressions of freedom Tn our state. There was a battle to be continued against complacency in government, against the bland ac- ceptance of things-as-they are, against the absence of purpose. That battle, fought to re-establish the progressive ideal that govern ment is above all else the servant o1 all the people. l There is war to be fought and a peace to be won. am fighting 1t, rot as 6 specia! kind of citizen. but as a plain citizen among plain people. I this battle for the vic- tory and the peace, no literary ora tions or dramatic monologues will win for us. Hard work. hard fight ing and firm leadership will win. That is how I propose to fight that hattie That is how I have been