The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-09-16
Comptroller
Governor Pledges Mind, Heart, Labor For Victory, Lasting Peace For U. 5.

had chosen me from among them to work unceasingly towards that end = the advancement of our democracy even while all of us have been striving to defend its very existence.
 It has been said by some that this purpose is of no consequence in an embattled world. To them I can only say that free men fight better when they know what they are fighting for and are sure 1t is being maintained and strengthened even while they are fighting.
 I say that men fight better be- cause they know our devotion to this purpose has made Connecticut the greatest war state in the entire country.
 I say that men fight better be- cause they realize Connecticut is stronger now because for two years this purpose has been uncomprom- isingly served by 8 progressive ad- ministration.
 Fight Better 1 I say that every advance we have made - and we have made many = towards liberalism and enlighten- ment has been contribution to- ward ultimate victory and the estab- lishment of the peace for which they fight
 I say that we have quickened the tempo of our effort. strengthen ed the unity of our people, fortified our faith because we have not for gotten and not failed in our pledge to help make Connecticut something better than 1t was before. It is convenient for some to say, '"This is no time to make political promises" for they believe that without pledges they can escape the duty of strict accountability to the people. This time, however, above all other times, is the time to make pledges clear, precise, specific pledges that compose courag- eous program. This time, above all other times, is a time for planning, for building, for looking ahead, for daring enterprise, for devising ways and means and new efforts, time, in fact, to place before the people the details of victory program for which the support of all will be needed. How else can political party fulfill its responsibility? We Democrats have not neglected our responsibility.
 We shall make pledges, and we shall keep them, just as we have made pledges, pledges which we re- membered, which we fought for, and pledges which we have kept.
 We pledged to open new era of justice and freedom for all of our people who work for wages.
 We pledged to restore to our farmers just share in the fruits of their toll.
 We pledged to bring new meas ure of security to the sick and the infirm, the aged and the dependent youth, and to all those, who through no fault of their own, have been deprived of comfort and hap piness.
 We pledged to make Connecticut really ready for war, not through the agencies we found, but through new agencies that would reach out into every hamlet and street in our state, and upon which far-reaching voluntary civilian activities could be built.
 We pledged a wise fiscal policy, efficient government, and high standards of administration.
 We pledged to help make Con- necticut 8 place of permanent prosperity, a place of social peace, l and a place of solid achievement achievement not written in words but in deeds.
 And the pledges we made, we have kept. Because we have, we alone of all the states of the Unit ed States can say: We have had no strikes in our war industries"
 Because we have, we have accu- mulated a surplus in our general fund treasury of $i3.500,000 and in pursuance to a law which spon- sored We, in the last fiscal year. retired approximately s2.0O0,000 of our state indebtedness far in ad- vance of maturity dates, and in this fiscal year the state debt will be further reduced by si0.000, ,000. When took ofilce the state debt was S22, 5000 Today. after twenty months, it is 1o.O00.000.
 We can say, with the full weight of truth to support us. that what ever we pledged to the toiler, the farmer, the housewife. the needy, the young, the businessman, the inc dnstrlalist, the government employe, we have fought to see through 70 solid achievement, and that in those few instances where we failed 0f achievement the fault Hes upon the heads Of those who formed . legislative bloc to forestall the peos ple's viii.
 Et was the farmers will that we take steps t0 protect the rich tops soil Oi Connecticut land from the FavAgos 0g erosion. Let the leaders Of tho paFiy Of criticism and Oppos ailon ll0w explain t0 0nr farmers why i|le5 prevented lis from inks Ina theta steps. Could they not loresoe ahat eNe of the battles el this waF would be the battle q
 was tha an of e,,r warksFs