The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-16

If earnest endeavor to institute technically efficient government is paid-off with the votes of the tax payers-the administration of Mayor John S. Monagan, and all who com prise it, should have little difh- culty in re-entering office after this falls city election. That the mayor and his Democratic administration have made the endeavor is self-evi- dent, and that the endeavor has been earnest is without question. Incumbency Strength
 Faced with such actualities the local Republican die-hards, that is those who are steadfast in their party allegiance, are not too opti- mistic about their chances this fall. For added to the concrete results of the present administration, (al- though actually part of them) is the advantage of it's 1ncumbency. It is the same advantage that the late President Roosevelt had over the national COP party. Even though incumbency places an ad- mdnistration tor party) on the de- fensive, particularly st election times, 1t gives it the weiehty ad- vantage of being a personality by virtue of its activities and func- tions: on the other hand . party which has not been functioning as an administration, such as the local and national COP; is, at best, at election times, a nebulous, wralt- like figure without identity and pos sessing an impersonal ghostly voice hurling accusations or making vague promises.
 Proof of this was seen In the campaign of the late Wendell Will kie, perhaps one of the most color ful candidates ever to ride out or nowhere into political prominence. Because of his color and drive he almost made of the national Re- publican party reality of red-blood and hot flesh, but in the long run he failed because that party had been a dormant, bed-patient, for so long, that 1t did not appeal to the ma iority as being capable of back ing up the promises it made or o1 matching the vigor of the Demo- crats under the late President. Will kie was a leader who was gwen little to lead with. Dewey, unfor- tunately for his party, had too many of the marks of the mold or oio Republicanism about him.
 Pep-Pills for the COP.
 Certainly this holds true in Wa terbury. Even with spirited lead er-even with a colorfM armed forces veteran as leader-the local COP party will have to resort 10 organizational penicillin and sulla and political benzedrine to appear healthy enough to appeal to the voters as a party with a personal ity. Right now, as an organization it is doubtful if it could defeat townsend Plan candidate. The local Democrats have the advantage of incumbency. And, when that incum- bency has been m;Cked by honest endeavor 1t naturally is enhanced and made firmer.
 Campaign Material
 This striving t oward sound gov- ernment will undoubtedly be the number one plank of the Democrats this fall. Properly and legitimately propagandized such a platform will be a steady one, at least. Perhaps It's one drawback will be that 1t will be made up of too many sta tistics comprising surpluses, debt disbursements and amortization, postwar financial and structural programs, etc., none of which make good campaign material. The more statistics and figures you throw at A voter the more confused, and dis interested, he becomes. Yet wartime restrictions prevent the construc- ton, by the administration, of new road d-pavements, memorials, build ings, sewers and other tangible as1 sets. Just now, even though the Mayors administration has sound progressive plans for future con- structions and improvements the average voter is one to whom "seein is believin'," if you are going to talk of tangible assets. To him, indi- cations of sound government are not to be found in reports on bank balances but in the streets he drives over or the buildings or facilities he is given the use of. It is no-one's fault that such is the situation now unless Hitler's and Hirohito's. Republican Platforms
 Possibility is seen of the Repub- licans resorting to an attack along lines of psychological effect, this fall. It is possible, it has been said. they will proceed along some of the following lines;
 That, while the city's govern ment now is enjoying prosperity so also are the greater majority of all ] municipalities throughout the na-