The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-11-20
Politics
Passing

Comparison Of the respective re-
ports Of the Democratic and Repub-
Ncan parties Of Waterbury might
indicate why the one is the winner,
the other the loser in the biennial
elections. According to the figures
1iled with the town clerk Wednesday
of this week the Democrats spent
approximately $1,000 on their CAM
paign, plus an additional 5000 that
was used to win the inter-party pri-
mary contest in September. This
was q large expenditure for a pri-
mary contest, but it actually laid the
foundation on which the Democrats
were able to conduct a first-rate
election campaign. More than that
an examination of the reports shows
that the Democrats spend the money
they collect where they feel they get
the greatest returns-in the 80 voting
districts. Maintenance of year
round working organization enables
this money to be spread out in such
. way that it produces the most re-
suits. If anyone tries to tell you
that It doesn't cost anything to get
elected to public Office in this great
land Of ours, don't laugh; just
point to the figures.
II the figures available in Con-
troller Cornelius F. MalOney's Of
fee this week indicating the trial
balance for the first ten months
of 1913 are regarded as average,
then the city ought to find itself
at the end of the year with about
$4,000 i'm unexpended balances
in the various departments. The
general fund summary at the first
Of November showed about $780,
900 available for use during this
month and December. This is just
about 100000 more than should
be needed on the basis of expendi-
lures ND to Nov. 1. And it con-
firms the recent report Of Budget
Director T. E. Olsen on the 194S
surplus.
A glance at the bond redemption
and interest tables for the City OF
Waterbury shows that when the
bonds. for the Brooklyn bridge are
retired next July the city will actu-
ally have paid twice for this struc-
ture. Originally the city issued
100000 in bonds with which to pay
for the bridge, which was built back
around 1914. The bonds were Of
non-serial type, maturing in 1914
Interest was at the rate of AZ pei
cent and for this period of thirty
years the interest payments will to-
tal $135, 900. That's one of the rea-
sons there are few non-serial bonds
issued by municipalities, particularly
when the maturity period is so long
as to make interest payments equal
the face value of the bonds them
selves.
i Connecticut Democrats who
[ have been successful in recent
elections have been favored with
] congratulatory letters from James
A. Farley. Many such were re-
ceived here in Waterbury, proof
that the former postmaster gen.
eral and national chairman of the
Democratic party has his eyes on
1914. What part MIR. Farley will
MAY In the presidential election
year hence it's doubtful to say at
this writing, but that he will play
q part is positive. Connecticut
could easily be an important state
in presidential plans for any DEM
Ocratic eligible in 1914. Certainly
MIR. Farley is no stranger here and
there is no indication that he
might not be able to influence the
state leaders to follow him were
his plans sound enough for the
!. Nutmeggers.
Y And such a thought naturally
brings up the matter of state lead
ership within the Democratic party
for the next year or so. Right now
it looks as if the present Leadership
was on the wane and that of former
State Chairman j. Francis Smith
and U. S.Senator Francis T. MaloneI
waxing. There seems to be an ac'
cepted theory among minor party
leaders, State Central committee
members, etc., that the influence o.
Ex-Governor Robert A. Hurley il
over. And by the same token it i!
believed that when it comes time tt
stage the spring convention at which
the national convention delegates
will be chosen it will be the Nal.
oney-Smith forces who will do most
of the stage directing. AS a matter
of fact some onlookers even expect
to see Mr.. Smith right in the thick
OF the 1914 fray as candidate. They
say gubernatorial, but would switch
TO senatorial very easily.
Doesn't the approaching spring
convention make a person realize
how quickly the years slip by? 1t
was i'm 1910 that the Democrats
made political history by nominal
ing their candidate for u. S. sem
atOr Mt the spring convention in
stead Of waiting until the fall
when the rest of the ticket was to
be named. Thus it was that Sem
atOr Maloney was nominated at
the same time that the national
delegates were being chosen. There
was considerable criticism of this
at the time, particularly by the
forces that later were to bring
about the nomination of Robert A.
Hurley and elevation of John 7.
Mccarthy as state chairman. 1t
certainly looks as if time had
proved Senator Maloney's case
and made him more than ever
the man to be talked to on party
policy.
Elimination of Republican Alder
men George T. Kingston and Bur-
ton Walker through the recent elec-
tions will more or less place thu
brunt of carrying the ball for the
COP at all aldermanic sessions il
1944-45 on the shoulders of Alder.
mon William CSerardi and .Tame