The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-02-28

| in
~ RAYMOND J. FITZPATRICK
Two Of Connecticut's present five
Democratic congressman may be
opposed for denomination, according
to the political grapevine. One is
Congressman James Stanley of New
Haven, who espoused the isolationist
cause; the other Is Congressman
Herman P. Kopplemann Of Hart
ford.
With President Roosevelt taking
the stand that those who voted
against defense measures should
be defeated for reelection, the
move to unseat Congressman
STANLEY has been quietly develop
ing. Several party leaders say
that his stand has cost the party
many votes I'm Connecticut and
they would not be at all averse to
seeing him dropped.
One Of the little dramas at the
Washington Day dinner in New
Haven this week Is the fact that
Congressman Stanley sat only .
Few fet away as Governor Hur-
ley launched whitening attack
against isolationists "in and out
Of Congress.
In the Hartford district, Congress
man Kopplemann has long been a
storm center. He has been active
as an nterventionist, but he has
made many political enemies. His
abortive attempt to win the sena-
torial nomination from U. S. Sena-
tor Augustine Lonergan a few years
ago IS still remembered with bit
terness in many quarters.
Making bid for Congressman
Kopplemann's seat may be none
other than Mayor Thomas Spellacy
Of Hartford who, the story goes,
would not be averse to being draft
ed" for congressional duty.
congressman Leroy Downs Of
South Norwalk, william Fitzgerald
Of Norwich and Lucien Maciora of
New Britain appear slated for re-
nomination. That leaves only the
fifth district, which the Democrats
lost In January's special election.
The chances are now that this
nomination will 60 to someone out
side Waterbury, from either the
lower end of the valley or from
Litchfield County. State Repre-
tentative Henry Mccormack of
Ansonia and Anthony Telesca of
CorringtOn, both of whom made
unsuccessful bids for the nominal
eion for the special election, are
regarded at the moment as the
leading candidates. The DemOcra-
tic nominee will be opposing Con-
gresham Joseph E. Talbot, who
will be seeking election to full
tern.
Support has been growing for the
proposal to place Waterbury's
Mayor Vincent A. Scully on the state
ticket as the candidate for attor-
ney-general. Strategists hold that
he would not only add much strength
to t.1e ticket but that his nomina-
ton would bring the local Demo-
cratic organization back into the
fold.
A principal question, of course, is
whether or not Mayor Scully would
accept the nomination. He has been
one of the busiest chief executives
in the city's history, performing not
only the regular mayoral duties, but
also serving as chairman Of the Wa
terbury Defense Council. He would
no doubt be reluctant to leave Wa
terbury.
Present Democratic state office
holders will be renominated, it ap-
pears, the attorney-generalship
nomination being the only one
open on the ticket. This is by vir-
tue of the fact that Attorney
General Francis A. Pallotti, Re-
publican, was elected in 1888 for
f0ur-year term.
Democratic campaign strategy, 1t
Is indicated, will be to emphasize
the war as the most important fac
tor In the election. Whether cir
will allow q campaign
on such a basis is something else
again for many things will happen
by October and November. There is
the case of Highway Commissioner
William j. Cox, for instance. The
outcome of the charges filed against
him may well be campaign issue
The state election promises to be
a brisk contest, with Governor Hur-
ley being opposed by Ex-Governor
E. Baldwin, who is an ef-
fective and tireless campaigner.
Despite the war it promises to be an
about fight for votes.