The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-03-10

Ut WHETHER Iley HllSlL prove q SoAu
strong enough TO drag monstrous cor
ruption up into the light. / ask you
therefore, gentlemen, if it be possible,
so to reinforce and reinyigorate the
primary laws and the penal code OF
this commonwealth that in the future
corruption like that of last fall may be
judicially exposed, whether the investi-
cation of it should happily relieve our
state of a too shameful notoriety, or
whether unhappiiy it should bring to
light evidence of corrupt practices
which might have to be carried be-
yond our own legislature and laid at
the. door of the judiciary committee
of the United States senate.
Gentlemen, have been arguing thus
far that this state of things, of which
we all are witnesses ought to be-
stopped; that the state of Connecticut
ought not to be suffered to lie helpless
~ bound and cllloroformed while polit-
ical burglars may carry off even the
most valuable offices of the people.
In answer therefore to the inquiry
what more, if anything, can be legally
done about it, I would submit to your
favorable consideration the following
bill in addition to the laws relative to
these matters, which has been drafted
for me by one of the ablest Of our
| states attorneys, who saw the dilemma
| in which, with such information as 7
| described to him, am left, and who
has kindly indicated way out in this
draft which I would leave with your
committee. States Attorney Williams,
! should say, gives It to me as draft
| which your committee might readily
perfect in any details of it's phraseolo-
gy, or in any lack Of ample provisions
for consummating the objects indica-
ted. .s~}
| You will observe that this bill meets
exactly my point Of difficulty, as 1t pro,
vides competent power of original in
quiry to which any elector may apply
in an orderly way, and with the appro-
val Of any prosecuting officer. It con-
fers no arbitrary power as fireman
shai has this power Of investigation;
and this crime Is a greater incendiar-
ism against free institutions IL you
choose to consider It favorably and If
you deem 1t for the public good to del
egate this power to the states attor-
ney also would submit that to your
discretion; but I would ask that you
see to it that no amendment draws
from the law the sound and effective
| teeth which Mr.. Williams has put in 1t.
Il Gentlemen, I will not ask for further
time to argue in favor OF any other
provisions which will be argued by
Il gentlemen who support the bills before
YOU am in favor of those amend
ments and provisions which aim at re-
{ moving any antiquities from the ex-
a listing law and also Of those sections in
/ the bills before you which would Sc
cure additional and probably more
effeetual penalties. Sworn returns
should be required of all political
agents. would, however, ask YOU to
scan cautiously section Of the bill Of
fered BY Judge Harrison to make sure
that its provisions would not screen
i the candidate while it increases the
power even more than the responsible
ty DIT the political agent.
Gentlemen, let me say in conclusion
that desire to stand before you as re-
presenting many others who think it
ou1ilC 1AG
laid at the root of the system Of politi-
! cal corruption In this commonwealth.
! That system WAS first planted in the
a country towns during the campaign 81
E the Barnlins In 1857; Since then it has
! grown until it overshadows the state
/, and last autumn its full harvest III
] lover-ripe and corrupt fruit was gath
, cred. AS a remedy, Senator Bulke 81,
/, in the year 1903 before a judiciary
: committee at hearing on the Corrup
: Practice act. in this room, made til,
I following proposal IF you seek for a
j remedy, do not strike at the use 81
money in elections; strike at the ignor.
] ant voter Gentlemen, the people d
I Connecticut through their common
i schools are striving at the ignorant
J, voter; we now ask you, and in view d
] notorious facts we ask with a voice
q which, once aroused, cannot be silences
!, throughout this state, strike by al
& legal means you can grasp, strike al
t the use Of money in elections.
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