The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-09-08
LEGISLATIVE TOPICS.
SOME REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN
 CONNECTICUT.

Tales of the Men Who Managed the
 Parties Canvasses-wOrk Done by
 Bearers Of Some Noted Names.
 Hartford, Sept. 5.-Long heads have controlled the republican state central committee in Connecticut, making it for a third of a century one of the strongest political forces in New Eng land. The ablest and most astute men in the party have taken a hand in it's management, occupying its chairman ships and directing it's policies. Its work has not been of a half hazard na- ture, but skillful and systematic. The men, who have held the chairmanship of this directive force in Connecticut politics have been republicans of the personal force and leadership of Orville H. Platt, Bartlett Bent, one of Middle
 owns noted postmasters in his day, Judge Lynde Harrison of New Haven, E. s. Day of Colchester, now occupying an English consulate, and the late Charles J. Cole of Hartford, who con- ducted the Bulkeley campaigns. The Hon. O. R. Fyler, of Torrington, who arranged several campaigns after the great sound money struggle in 1896, has left one of the most interesting records as a political manager. The old Jewell campaigns were conducted under the direction of Bartlett Bent. He was man of great energy and resources in the chairmanship of the committee. Colonel Joseph F. Selden of Norwich, who was for years United States inter- nal revenue collector. was at the head of the committee in, the old days, and James G. Patterson of Hartford held the same honor at one. time, both men being clear headed representatives of Connecticut republicanism. The cam paigns used to take place every year and the chairmanship of the committee was changed oftener,. than in these days. The Hon. Lynde Harrison held the chairmanship in, 1875. He was on the committee in 1872 from the old Fourth district, showing aptitude for management that ensured his ad- vancement to the chairnanship sooner or later. He had been elected judge of the New Haven city court, and was acting judge of, the court of common pleas in New Haven county. Judge Harrison was one of the brightest and ablest men. whose services had been commanded by the committee. Henry T. Sperry of Hartford cousin of Con- 1 gressnan N. D. Sperry, took the chair Il lY1aa af,SI 4tao | ducted the Hayes-Tilden contest in the l state. It was about that time that ! headquarters were opened in the old | Allyn House. The rooms that were oc~ cupied by the committee became his 1 toric as political center. Only once afterwards were theyabandoned. That | was when "Shelr' Day, who ran the P. c. Loupsbury canvass, punched the whole shooting match at the United States Hotel. The disappointment on account of the change has not died out to this day. Consul Day was a first class manager and conducted the Lounsbury campaign to 0 successful is- sue. General George Nj. Harmon was Governor Bigelow's canipaigner and was made adjutant-general for the 1 brilliancy of his work. The campaign of General s. E Merwin of New Haven in 1890 was conducted by Herbert E
 Benton of New Haven, one of the most genial of men. Chairman Benton was a Yale man, newspaper manager and the prince of good fellows. His head quarters were at the Allyn House l where the Hartford set spent the time, His death, which took place, while he was at the head of the committee, was l regretted throughout the state. Rail. road Commissioner. Fyler succeeded Colonel Benton, and was the manager of the committee work throughout sev- eral campaigns in the state, winning victories hand over fist, when he en- tered into state politics; he had been postmaster at Torrington for twenty years. His work as chairman of the
 state central committee has won fol him great admiration in the republi
 can party. He has held important state offices and has begun within a month or so his fourth term as railroad com
 missioner. Andrew F. Gates, who is now on the railroad board, was at the head of the committee for two years
 succeeding Mir. Fyler, the present oc-
 cupant of the chairr1anship. Fix. Speaker Kenealy of Stamford, managed
 the presidential campaign last fall 1T
 the state with the utmost skill He 1:
 & man of sound judgment, wide expe' rience and as affable as the day Is long He is the first chairman of the com
 mittee under the enlargement from twenty-four members to thirty-tive
 The new senatorial districts required the increase in membership, each dis
 trict having a representative in the
 committee organization. The dlstin-
 guished republicans who are now mem
 hers of the committee, included United States Senator Frank B. Brandegee ot
 New London, Lieutenant-Governo Rollin s. Woodruff of New Haven, Con-
 gressman-at-Large George L. Lilley O.
 Waterbury. Speaker Marcus H. Hol
 comb of southington, A. Mcclellan
 Mathewson and Colonel Isaac M Ull.
 man of New Haven, General Henry c
 Dwight and the Hon. John w. .Coe o1 Meriden. MT. Coe Is recognized as ont