The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-08-01
UdeZouUitz Opens Up On 'tDouble-Machine" Here
Regards Political Setup Here Most Brazen in His tory = Posses Few Orchids, Scallions' to Reporters - Intimates Republican
 Is Democratic "Mouth-Piece'

Political reporters are usually ccntented people. They very sell dom complain about anything, al least publicly. And when such 8 rarity occurs, 1t must be considered as a phenomenon.
 Such a phenomenon occurred here last Christmas week when both Ray Fitzpatrick and Walter Brooks, poli- tical reporters on the Democrat and Republican, respectively, broke out in torch songs. I thought at the time that their complaints were de- serving of further comment. But Christmas time is poor time for extensive political discussion and seven months Is not too long a time for the revival of interesting topics so I decided to refer to those torch songs today. c
 Ray complained generally about the existing conditions. He op!ned that the local setup did not coin- eide with what should be expected of democratic form of govern ment. Mayor Scully and J. Francis Smith, he said, had absolute contro of the local Democratic organiza- ton, while Wm. J. Pape and J Warren UpEon held equal contro over the Republican organization and between them they dictate the makeup of states in all local elec- tions. Ray thought that such z condition was neither right nor ad. visable and proposed that the par ties go back to the old custom O. holding open caucauses as a cure O l existing evils. 5r
 No issue can be taken with Ra! on his observations as they are ab solutely true as far as they go. Th' only criticism that can be made iI that they did not go far enough. Ht could have added that the two set. ups constitute a double machine One that is about as braZen as any thing We ever had here. And when I am making this observation have in mind the former Jason between the local Democratic machine and Ned Goss. Ray could have made that statement without leaving him open to successful contradiction And as to his reference to open cau- causes, 1t seems that his experience in local politics should absolve him from making so futile a suggestion It IS a well known fact that tc promote double machine it is es- sential that the heads of both par ties hold absolute control over their organizations. Ray has probably heard that the motto of certain iconoclasts is, never give sucker a break" Well, if our local leaders would relinquish their control over the local organizations to the extent of allowing open caucauses. they would be violating the underlying principle of that motto and take the risk of throwing their double ma chine into the ash can.
 Walter Brooks complaint ran along entirely different lines. Wal ter never finds fault with the exist ing order and any proposition to liberalize our primary system would be next to obnoxious to his sensi- bilities. Walters complaint was that he was unjustly accused by city em- ployes, such as policemen, f1remen and school teachers of helping to scotch their attempt last year to obtain a raise in pay by giving the attempt unfavorable publicity in his political column in the Sunday Re- publican.
 Walter wanted 1t known all the way to Woodbury and the whole Pomperaug Valley that he was not opposed to pay raises, but that in making those comments in his col umn he was acting as Reporter Brooks and not Commentator Brooks. And as Reporter Brooks, he felt it incumbent on him to give the plain unvarnished truth that he picked up at board meetings, both what was said officially and in whispers. And furthermore, he stated, he was entirely without in- fluence with the present admins tration. And in proof of the latter statement he cited three instances 1. That Doctor Condon refused to give him any "ins'de dope" before meeting. 2. That Mayor Scully refused his request to change back the time for holding meetings of the board of education to afternoons to enable him to attend both the meetings of that board and the board of aldermen. and 3. The board of finance refused his request to restore the quaint custom of giv- ing to themselves and the political reporters. pen and pencil sets as Christmas gifts. .
 We'll now2 I am afraid, that I will have to take isaue with Walter that he was acting as 8 reporter when he mde those comments on the pay raises. I cannot see, by any stretch of the imagination how his column can be considered in the light of news matter. My own conclusion about that column for long time has been that it was merely pro- paganda column for the City Hall boys. It has been used by them or many an occasion both as stalk ing horse and sounding board to gel line on public reaction to such pet projects as they had to unfold In getting into the pay raise matter