New-York tribune., 1902-03-09
TOPICS IN CONNECTICUT.
TRIAL BY JURY DISCUSSED BY CoNsTI-
TUTIoNAL CONTEMPORARIES
IN HARTFORD ELECTION.

Hartford Conn, March CSpecia).-Trial by jury
was the topic OF discussion before the CONSTITUTIONAL
Convention Thursday. This is the first day since
A. assembled that the convention has paid any at
,enton TO matters outside Of legislative represen-
ta.iou. Not that representation has been settled
hut that the convention has finally got down to the
poiut where vote final settlement is ordered
for next Wednesday. The committee or nine 10
draft the proposition for house representatives.
with one from each town and a senate from sixty
districts 10 be instituted made its report Thursday
at the morning session. and the small town men
had the convention fairly well in hand Just what
viii occur Wednesday is little difficult to deter
mine but there is going TO be tremendous effort
10 break the report and to come to some sort of
an agreement which viii give fairer proportion OF
house members.
At the present time there three distinct sec
lions Of the convention working along differing
lines and in conference, not with each other but
with delegates of their own shade OF opinion The
first is the Litchheld County men Che one-from-a-
town delegates) under the lead OF Wellington
Smith Of Winsted, and Donald T. Warner. of Sails
hurry: the second is made up OF the small towns,
and there a number OF them. who will have their
representation cut from two TO one in the house
by the Warner plan, and the third is made up of
the representatives Of the large towns. who are
determined pull together in order TO present their
case IL nothing 1t is probable that there will
be a coalition between the last two groups. and
possibly the report of the committee of nine will
fall Otherwise there seems 10 be little hope that 1t
be defeated. The coming week is by all odds
looked forward the most critical and inter-
esting the convention will have. The discussion
trial by jury was confined 10 the lawyers Of the
convention. and was largely technical in its trend.
A voluntary organization OF some note IN this
city has sprung up within the last three months
among the west side workingmen. which has for
its object the getting together Of empoye and en-
ployer and general discussion OF things OF interest
in social conditions. II is known the Working
mems Free Reading Room Association. and has
ted from he n he
leader in the movement has been John H. Gun
shanan who is a well known local ball player. and
he has put great deal Of energy into the idea.
Among other things that the association has ac-
compiished is the holding Of weekly meetings in
one OF the larger school halls OF the district and
addresses have been made by some of the best
known OF the State. including many from the
Constitutional Convention. who have their evenings
at their disposal. The result has been gratifying
10 the men themselves Topics that have been
close 10 every day living have been discussed, and
there has been patronizing spirit the part OF
the speakers. Justice Baldwin. of the Supreme
Court has spoken them Saving Spend
ing: States Attorney Eggleston has spoken on
The Way OF the Transgressor," and of town
speakers have covered wide range OF topics all
closely related 10 the welfare only of the work
ingmen, but Of every one There have been three
speakers each evening and crowded audience rooms
have greeted them. ABIDE from the speeches, there
has been abundance of free reading of a good
character all maintained by the workingmen them
selves II Is unique in the history of the city
the action of the association that IL entirely
free from political intermeddling
A political factor which Is coming to the front
IN sort OF semi-secret manner this spring is the