The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-05-19

WndJ 10 expect Dy way or the populace vote in this years city election is matter for speculation at this early date. The war con- tinues and though realistic and pro- phetic events in the Jap phase of the campaign will likely have taken place by this November, at least the sheer weight of the wars burden will remain factor against getting out the vote.
 Without consideration for any of the positive assets of the Democra- tic party it appears now that the incumbent office-holders will be re- turned to their respective posts if for no other reason than the Re- publicans are diSorganized, in great measure. Talk of primary contests and fusion tickets, on the part of COP adherents, seems long way from the hard hitting, magnetic type organization required to beat the Democrats. The latter will like ly meet success if only by sheer im- petus of the forward acceleration they have enjoyed for so many years Only neglect and self-abuse can destroy an organization rolling forward by its own power and force. It is possible that primary contest or fusion ticket might tend more to- ward stimulating an interest in the city election; if such should be the case the interest would likely tend toward the Democrats because of their existence in the public eye re- sulting from the activities of their incumbency.
 Voting Statistics
 In 1943 when Mayor Monagan de- feated John Kearney the total vote cast was approximately 27,521 or about 58 per cent of the citys elig- ible voters. That was the height of the war campaign and many failed to vote while others were in the armed services and naturally had other interests. The mayor took his opponent that year by a plurality of about 3,943 as he boiled about 15,- 732 votes to Kearney's 11,789. We cite these statistics not as any yardstick but solely for specula- tion purposes by the reader. It must be remembered that the COP party that year appeared more dis organized than ever with Kearney later accusing top leaders of pur- posely letting down" in their cam paign efforts.
 Democratic Margins
 In l94l the late Mayor Vincent A. Scully was reelected to his second term by a plurality of 6,989 when a total of 34,829 votes cast was divided among him and his opponent, for mer Mayor Patrick M. Perriello, 20 909-13,9 ,920 respectively That was the close of the late mayors first term and the Democrats turned out in great measure to exhibit their pride in what had been accomplish ed by their party members since the political debacle of the con- spiracy case. The 13,920 vote for Perriello was credit to faithful Republican party members in view of the fact that the COP top lead- CTS. that year, also, were accused of not being too ardent
 The year 1889 was the triumph for the Democrats, however, for it was the election immediately following on top of the conspiracy trial. Mayor Scully then led his party to its reclamation by plurality of 2,384 over his Republican opponent Charles c. Foster. The late mayor who was elected to his first term, at that time, boiled 17,349 votes to his opponents 14,965. However a grand total of 37,704 votes was cast that year of which 4390 was re- ceived by John w. Ring the So- cialist candidate. Serge Belanger, incumbent city treasurer, led his ticket that year by polling 17,521 votes. It was the same year which saw the introduction of Mayor Monagan into city politics as an alderman.
 That was a bitterly contested election with the Republicans throwing everything including the water-bucket Toward the end of the campaign the Democrats retail lated with similar measures. It was the COPS golden opportunity and they failed
 Earlier Years
 In 1887 former Mayor Frank Hayes defeated the late Sen. George Culhane by plurality of only 57 votes out of total 38,195 cast. There were recounts and redivid- ings that year after the polls had closed and the returns were in. Mayor Hayes then received 19,l26 votes while the late Sen. C1ilhane received l9,069. It was the election when the crumbling of the Demo- cratic organization of those years