The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-07
16,879 Appear At
 Polls Up To 1 P. M.
tcontInued from Page D

after 6 p. m. may be heavy particu- larly between 6:30 and 8 p. m. when the polls close.
 It seemed possible. purely from speculative evidence that a good share of vote-splitting was being in- dulged in. As stated this was purely speculative based on the length of time spent in polling boths and by the jist of the voters conversations.
 On the local scene today, the con- test between state Senator Francis Summa (R) and his opponent former state senator Edward P. Egan seeking election from the 18th district appeared to be the closest.
 Senator Summa gained his pres- ent seat in the General Assembly by defeating former state senator Michael Blansfield CD two years ago by reed-thin margin of IS votes. It was the first time the Re- publicans had wreSted the 18th from the Democrats in many years.
 Former Senator Egan declined re- nomination two years ago as a can- didate from the 18th district, by the simple expedience of moving his family from the 18th to the 18th district.
 The 18th district is comprised of the first three wards of the city, the 16th comprised of the two remaining wards. In other words distric 1-1 to 3-8 comprise the former and 4-1 to 5.7 the 18th district.
 Sen. Summa one of the hardest, most arduous campaigners in the city's history has done a tremen- dous amount of missionary work during this campaign and is gener- ally accredited, as an individual, with registering more voters than anyone else locally. Head of the year-round Summa flor Senator club he has strong influence in the North End section of the city.
 Egan Popular
 Former Senator Egan, a long time associate of the Waterbury Buckle Company is likely to poll many Republican votes if local G. O. P. voters are inclined to split. He will undoubtedly receive the major share of the Democratic voters of his district. The contest in the district boils down between an ardent knock-em-down cam paigner and a vote getter of a conservative campaign background.
 In the 18th district, that district representative of the other half of the city not included in the 18th, Patrick Wallace CD was generally conceded to be the victor in oppo- sition to his opponent George Casey (R). The 18th district has never gone anyway but Democratic in its history. Two years ago Senator John F. Tobin CD who was defeated for the nomination by Wallace this year, defeated Casey by 8 plurality of 2,361 in the 16th district.
 Judge Patrick Healey CD seemed certain of victory over his first-time opponent Attorney Harry Beardsley. Opinion held was that the latter had seriously damaged his campaign, conducted along strenuously sincere lines, by dealing too closely in per- sonalities, a method never consider ed politically sound" for the office of Probate Judge, in this area. Judge Healey was elected last time by a plurality of 3,970 from votes gathered in the area of Waterbury Wolcott and Middlebury that dis trict within his jurisdiction.
 Of keen interest is the contest between Congressman Joseph E.. Talbot (R) who opposed candidate Peter B. Higgins (D) for election in the 5th congressional district. Waterbury is one of the 36 towns in- cluded in this district.
 A strong vote-getter Cong. Talbot ran ahead of his ticket two years ago defeating Mayor Patten of Tor rington with results listed at 42,382 to 36,732. This year the congress man is opposed by a candidate who is receiving the strong backing of the c. I. O. Political Action Com- mittee and who is expected to poll heavily in the industrial cities of the 5Sh district.
 Democratic representatives Dan- iel J. Mahaney and John Membri- no are both expected to meet with certain success over their opponents John Misunas and Russell Sumpf. Voters in the entire city will vote for these state representatives. The polls will close here at 8 p. m. tonight with returns expected to be in, locally, within an hour and a half. The national and state pie ture may well be delayed beyond today because of the absentee bal lot factors.
 Returns from towns and cities affecting the 5th congressional dis