The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-04-18
Politics
in
PdSSing
~ RAYMOND J. FITzPATRloK

d RAYMOND J, FITxPATRlCK
Loss OF the New Britain city cleo
ton this week, though only q cam
palgn OF local issues, comes 20 soot
fof Connecticut Democrats Aftel
their defeat Ia the flith congress
Sional district special election tina
party leaders have been get
ting into action for the state ane
confessional elections In the fNl,
II n Obvlous that Mayor George
w. COyle lost his bid for Q third
term largely through dlsaiHeCtlon
on The part OF slBeablo blOcs Of
Democratic voters, but the prac.
teal politician realizes that he did
lose and that the Democratic votes
which did not turn out or which
went 10 the Republican candidate,
ex.NIayOr George QulgleN will
unity within the party
Just three months arc voters OF
Nhe ilfth district surprised those
Democratic leaders who had cx.
pected an easy vlctery by replace
Ing q Democrat With q Republic
can IN Congress, As IN New
BrltAln's case the issues were not
statewide In scope, but the cIccs
tlOn did shOw a decided lack OF
unity within the tparty,
on the credit sldo Of the Demo.
cratic ledger for ie49 should bt
placed their easy victory In the
banbury city election, The election
was won by q big margin because
Of n lack OF efficient Republican
organization.
The Danbury win for the Dem.
OcFats, however, can balance only
q fraction Of the party's losses In
the NTH district and New Britain
city elections.
II would be foolish, Of course,
10 attach too much Imp FtanCc 10
these two elections biz, ON the
other hand, II would be equally
foolish 10 refuse 10 admit them.
Democrats won't win the state
election In November by deciding
that the OutCOmes were "nukes"
and can be safely ignored,
What tho Democrats have TO do
and they must start soon, Is REBUILD
their fences and restore harmony OF
at least u fair-Siged scale, The
party organization must repair the
damage within It's own ranks before
IL can expect 10 win control OF the
state government for q second term
from q Republican organization that
will DO literally supplied with funds
and that will wage an all.eNt CAM
paign and from Socialist party
whose amazing showing In 1898 cost
the Democrats u victory.
Rebuilding Of party lines could
well start with an effort 10 have
the state and Waterbury organls
nations reach NJ least working
agreement, The politely distant
altitude which now prevails will
certainly be no help In winning
The fall campaign.
The state organization needs the
waterbury v0tei the waterbury
organization needs cooperation
from state headquarters. As q
matter Of practical politics, both
Sides can benefit most by burying
their differences ana beginning to
work together FOR o party victory.
with important contests for Statt
once and for Congress only q few
months away, II would pay botf
sides 10 forgive and try TO forget
T'ha state organization, for instance
could pigeonhole the memory Of
waterbury leaders opposing Cover
nor Hurley for the nomination two
years ago and also Ale away thell
belief that the Waterbury leader.
ship "laid down" on Governor Hur'
10y IN the i0a0 state election. Tho
local organization, In return, could
clear the state OF Its resentment
over the fact that Governor Hurley
against its wishes, attended the 70.
nous Victory Dinner here, and could
also use the erasufe on their indig'
nation over lack OF sufticient
patronage from Hartford.
Each side would only have 10
swallow . little Of liz pride, and
aAid swallowing should pay each
side very heavy dividends.
n would be unfortunate for the
state Il petty political Disagreement
should DO used 10 Obscure the fine
administrative record that Governor
Hurley has complied at Hartford, OF
take the emphasis from the courage
that no showed IN speaking forth.
rightly against the Axis oil during
HIS term, Governor Hurley was call.
ing strongly for oil aid TO England
IN the days when II wasn't fashion.
able 10 DO associated with anything
that smaeked OF interventlonism
His foresight In seeing that Amer
lea was another goal In tho AxiS
detectives resulted IN Connecticut
being far more ready for war, when
Il came, than most other states,
EhAs year, more than ever, the
staee campaign should be- one
wRged on intelligent issues, with
the people deciding which paFty's
stand best suited them, II n not
the year for q campaign or an
election TO be- carried on and won
Or lOst because Of chickering's ana
joalOusies within any party.
Oct together, boys.
~ The Big