The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-09-26
Politics
 in Passing

i, The old adage that you need an Organization. and a strong one, to Win in politics was proven again ghis week when Laurence Kenny, espirant for the Democratic con- Bressional nomination, withdrew as . candidate in the face of hopeless bdds against him. His withdrawal 9eaves the field alone to Mayor Will liam A. Patten of Torrinton, who
 vas to be nominated by the district eonvention at Torrington this af- &ernoon.
 Mir. Kenny had announced his
 candidacy several months ago, but
 he was unable to build up the
 organization that is needed to
 swing delegates. A personabIe
 young man, he and several friends
 toured the district many times,
 visiting party leaders and pOten-
 tial delegates. They were received
 In friendly fashion but in most
 cases were unable to secure defi-
 mite pledges of support. They did
 not have the organization capable
 of reaching into every town in
 the district, tapping a few people
 on the shoulder and telling them,
 "Get to work for uS."
 Mayor Patten, a man of varied political experience, had behind him A smooth-working organization, functioning under the name of the Patten for Congress committee. Through its influence and connec- Tions, 1t was able to line up over Rhelming delegate strength all over the district.
 It Is also true that Mir Kenny
 was too confident. He counted as
 his the votes of delegates who were
 known to be strong supporters of
 Mr. Patten. He almost closed his
 eyes to obvious evidences of great
 strength being lined up against him. Though in announcing his withdrawal he said that at one
 time he had the support of 1O2 delegates, observers still fail to see
 where he had any such number.
 This unwillingness to look hard | political facts in the eye was re- Elected in another way. MT. Kenny complained that the newspapers were being unfair to his candidacy, his contention being that political aWriters should make no attempt to .evaluate the delegate strength of | Ithe rival candidates. The writers Idisagres with him on this point, for l they see it as their duty to give Such news.
 He argued that every article which | mcntioned Mayor Patten's strong position or made him the fayorite | For the nomination only helped to- Fin further backing for MT. Patten. That may be, but the facts are that Mayor Patten obviously did have Ehe nomination sewed up weeks ago. Furthermore, had MT. Kenny had the greater delegate strength or had he been the favorite for the nom- fnation, this newspaper would have been glad to say so.
 The pre-cOnventiOn campaign has given the popular East Ender some valuable political experi- ence. It will serve him in good stead when he seeks office in the future. As 8 man of ability and with great interest in public af- fairs, he can make himself a pO- itical future if he wishes. But he needs an organization.
 If the Republican state campaign s to be carried along on the theme pounded the other night by Repre- sentative William L. Hadden, candi- tiate for lieutenant-governor, there ere some weeks of wild speech plaking ahead. Not only did he make unflattering personal refer ences about Governor Hurley, but he left himself wide open for Dem- Pcratic retorts that should stand siS hair on end.
 MT. Hadden, for instance, blamed Governor Hurley for lack of adequate defense housing in the state. Yet, at the 1941 session of the legislature, it was the Re- publicans, led by MT. Hadden, who rejected legislation, sponsored by Governor Hurley, for establish
 ment of State Housing Authority and for housing program. LOAN RESPONSIBLE
 EnD EODENT 0cVTnr