Waterbury Democrat., 1901-06-29
LILLEY's WORK AT HARTFORD
So Many Opportunities That He Failed
 to Grasp.

publican, and Francis F. Guilfoile, democrat, is before the people, dearly beloved constituents. Mir Guilfoile has not as much occasion; not so many re- minders to recall to him his days pass ed in the gilded dome of the capitol as has MT Lilley. He did not have the distinction that was awarded MT Lil- ley; he did not have the influence, being on the minor side of the political fence, his party being in the minority, where as Mir Lilley was the bosom friend, it is said, of Governor Mclean, he was q member of one of the most important committees, the railroad committee, friends of his were members of other committees, to wit; the committee on cities and boroughs In word in the opinion of friends of Mir Lilley, he had the opportunity of a lifetime to dis tinguish himself on behalf of his fel- low citizens and though local pride, if nothing else, ought to have stirred him to take advantage of these opportuni- ties, he allowed them to pass, his friends say. They are sorry for him; they cannot explain his wonderful lack of acumen. He was so alert on other matters, things that did not amount to very much compared with others, that they are afraid they will never again hear or see the Lilley of the Nau- gatuck Valley under the gilded dome except as a lobbyist. Too bad, for Mir Lilley had all the advantages that go to make the political fortunes of men. Hefappeared to be man of opportun- ity at the outset. He had the time, the influence, the will and determina- tion, the disposition to make Of himself a shining light in the legislative halls of the state and the pride irrespective of his politics-of his fellow citizens. His record is against him.
 The only matter in which Mir Lilley's name was heard was the bill providing for consolidation. Had he kept up, the pace in other matters he had set for himself in this he would have done more for the town of Waterbury than any other representative that ever went to Hartford from this community On. the board fence north of the Citizens bank, corner of North Main and West Main streets, are the remnants of d large poster which cannot fail to re- mind MT Lilley every time he passes to the Waterbury Club. of which he is a member, of his lost opportunities, of the fallacy of the inscription on the poster, of the remarkable change that he has undergone in his sentiments since he was declared elected i'll the city hall, a representative from this community. "A vote for Lilley" says this once haring poster, lis a vote for honest government and still further is another torn poster declaring to the passerby that vote for Lilley meant q vote for the best interests of the city. What q contradiction they are to the George l.. Lilley that is.
 Where was MT Lilley when the bill providing for subway along the city streets wherein the city could lay it's own electrical wires for the many pur- poses 1t has for them? Where was MT Lilley, the author of the phrase that stares one from all the walls in the city, that he means to do. honestly by the people if he were elected represen- tatiye? Where was he when the bill providing for an electric lighting plant for the city had come up before the committee on cities and boroughs,, on which he had so many infuencial friends? "Oh," he says, '.the board of aldermen gave that to MT Guilfoile to look after, and that was sufficient" ]" MT Lilley was the darling of the board of aldermen, the majority of 1t at least. In him the republican members saw a contiual performance of recurring glory circling like a halo around his head. Where was MT Lilley when the bill providing for compulsory work day of eight hours came up for con sideration?
 "Oh," he says. q didn't do every thing. It could not be expected of me that l could do all the work. Wasn't MT Guilfoile on hand?
 What has Mir Lilley done for the city, for the people whose votes he 'ob- tained by the tempest of his impetuos- ity, by his apparent honest determina- tion to benefit the city and make his party-the republican party-what it pretends to be. Some day Mir Lilley will have to answer these questions. and if report Is correct that day is not very far distant.
 There is not in all his legislative career a, single act in which all the people were interested one whit. There were two questions in which all the people were wrapped up, republicans and democrats, and in connection with the legislative life of these bills .Mr Lilley's name does not appear either for or aginst. Yet the board of alder- men, on which he falls back for pro. tection, entrusted to him by legal vote, the safety passage of these bills through the lower house
 The same persons who were interest ed in the passing of the consolidation were opposed to the passing of the bills providing for a municipal lighting plant and for the city controlling the city strets.
 The average citizen is under the im- pression that the city, having paved and paid for the city streets, having laid out thousands of dollars year after year upon them, having the privilege of accepting or refusing them from parties when they are first laid out, that it therefore naturally follows 1t can do anything reasonable with them. for instance, building conduits through them. Yet. this it cannot do. But, the Southern New England Telephone