New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-04

Bridgeport. Conn, Oct 8 (speciaD-of the few
functions Of the days when Connecticut was really
a land of steady habits the town meeting and the
town election remain most intact. The town cleo
ton is the thing above all others that binds
the Connecticut of two centuries ago with the
Connecticut OF to-day. Through generation after
generation it has come down practically as IT was
in the old days when were hanged as
witches and men were punished for kissing their
wives Sunday.
There was never anything in ConnecticUt-and
there never will be anything-quite as full of spOn
taneous entertainment for the masculine population
as the annual town election and town meeting
The town meeting and the town election are really
the former being held while the voting going
on. The reason for holding the two at the same
time is easy of explanation In the oIden tine
when towns covered an area Of many miles and the
voters obliged to spend an entire day in going
to and from the election. il would have been i'm
possible to get them together again for a town
meeting. and so. while every voter at the polls
casting hls ballot. the occasion was taken ad-
vantage OF to hold the town meeting. thereby in
surfing full attendance
The town in Connecticut IS an important factor.
The town governs the State. 1t is the town. and
not the city, that holds the balance Of power in the
legislature. But from the time that the pen Of
history began to write the record of the town cleo
lions Of Connecticut up to the present day these
town elections have served to settle not only the
questions Of how the district school shall be cor
Quoted for the next year, who shall oversee the
working of the roads and whether there shall be
LIQUOR licenses granted not. but also the Sec
tiona controversies the family feuds that have been
handed down from one generation to another until
the present generation has forgotten what the
original trouble was about. but does know that its
ancestors had some sort of a grievance and looked
to posterity to settle it at the tow election
But the town election has changed from the old
DAVIS in that the positions to which men are elected
are different And the names Of the persons who
ran for office couple Of centuries ago are not like
the names OF modern nominees. In Danoury. for
illustration at the first town meeting held after
the British burned the town. the following officers
were elected:
constables-Comfo-t Hoyt, IT.; 10 collect tho
county rate Thomas Taylor and Justus Barnum-
Grand Jurors-Zadock Benedict. Eliphalet Barnurn
and Andrew Comstock-
se1ectren-Major Taylor. David Hickok. David
Rouebton Elijah Hoyt. Ezra DibbIe, IT.. Captain
Comfort Hoyt and Joseph Benedict
Tdsters-Bentamin HickOk, Oliver Benedict, David
Wood. David Comstock. Jonas Benedict. Nathaniel
Starr and Paul Hamilton
Tithingmen-Joshua Knapp. Ebenezer Pickett. r.,
Nathaniel Gregory. Joseph Elmore. Ezra Dioole and
Matthew Starr
Surveyors OF Highways-Comfort Hoyt IT.. Jo-
seph WiIdran, David Boughton- IT.. Eliakim Starr,
Samuel Benedict, 4th, Iimothy Benedict Epe-
nezer Hckok Joseph Starr, John Mclean. Alex
ander Stuart Samuel Nichols Samuel Stevens.
Iemuel IinIy Eleazer Benedict. Eli Segar. B.
Knapp Thaddeus Brownson Lemuel WOOD, IT.
BENJAMIN Stevens, jr., Samuel Sturdevant and Da-
vid Weed
Caleb Church Josiah vining. Nathaniel Hoyt and
Matthew Barnun-
SeaIer of Weights-Jared Patchen-
staIer of Lea ther-Joseph Benedict.
Brownson.
Pouudkeeper-Daniel Church.
The tithingmen not voted for now. nor have
they been in many years 1t was their DUTY as
Johns Hopkins says, ito quiet the restlessness OF
youth ard disturb the slumbers OF age during ser
vices in the parish meeting house. The tithinsmen
were really Sunday constables
The surveyors of roads. judged from the ABOVE
list would lead one to believe that roadmaKns
was the principal occupation in those old days.
but the surveyor OF highways merely meant an
overseer Of the work performed by less honored
citizens who were working their road tax out on
the public highways
There were many spirited town meetings IN the
old days and the graybeards Of to-day. when in
a reminiscent mood. can relate amusing anecdotes
Of eccentric public characters who made II point
TO be on hand at every town meeting and address
the citizens. But the town meetings Of to-day are
far from being devoid Of these humorous situa-
tons.
The question Of liquor licenses has always been
one of the leading issues in the town elections
AT a recent town election held in TorringtOn the
principal issue Of the campaign was license or no
license. Schools and public highways were Ior
the time being. relegaed to the rear; interest IN
the election centred around liquor There were
fifteen places in Torrington having licenses to sell
LIQUOR and there would have been no trouble
about their licenses being renewed had not the
saloon men refused to give their customers CHRIST
mas presents. 1t had been the custom ID Tor
ringtop to give some remembrance TO the patrons
of the saloons in addition TO the adult sized
'iaes' they usually retired with when closing hour
arrived. The presents were in the shape OF nail
mint of LIQUOR in a neat. fiat bottle. so it could De
carried on the hip without bullying the pocket out
unduIv and on il was the compliments OF the
saloon man, with a Wish you a merry Chrlst-
mas" One Christmas the dealers entered into an
agreement that they would not give any presents