The Newtown bee., 1906-10-19
The NeWtOWn Bee.
 Newtown. Friday Oct 19, 1906
Ten Pages.
HOME NEWS.
CANDIDATlNO.
BY o. o. WRIGHT.
600 445O

BY o. o. WRIGHT.
 In competing with others as a can didate for the honor of representing this grand old town, 1 wish to make it plain, (very modeStly 1 truSt,) that 1 am properly qualified to undertake the work of legislator. 1 have resided in the town .mOre than fifteen years. That Tn itself is no small matter of training for the arduous work which al Assembly. The need of being ''wise as serpents and harmless as doves" has been deeply impressed upon me; and if there is anything in the line of politics that 1 have not learned it must be some new trick not yet de- monstrated.
 I am not running down the other as pirantS, because l really do not know who they may be. They are, probably, all good men, perhaps better than l am. But for all that every man should carefully choose, in accordance with the solemn oath of an elector. 1 have read the Constitution of Connecticut; and have studied the history of the state; am somewhat acquainted with the records of the town: and always keep the town reports near at hand for ready reference. Have studied law little, and have observed the usual methods for evading it. If any man can have lived in Newtown as long as I have, and not have felt the duty laid upon his heart and conscience to go to Hartford to help make the laws we need, then surely he is not qualified for the job.
 Some there are, no doubt, who think it presumptuous in me to offer myself in this wise, especially as l was not born here. It does not make a differ ence, I admit, but having been here so long I feel that must be seasoned to it, and we'll acclimated, in every sense. I may, at least, claim my citizenship. I am freeman; and 1 am a taxpayer. I help to support the town and the state. My money goes to pay for mend ing the roads; and for school expenses; and to feed the poor; and to execute justice; and I am proud to say that my taxes have more than doubled since the first levy laid upon my piano; and still l have never kicked against the honorable assessors who were chosen and instructed to increase our valua- tion. Moreover, I served the town as school visitor because they said it was my duty; and I did my duty under diff 1 faculties, in troublouS times and with al have given the people great deal of good advice, which, had they follow ed It would nave promoted LQolT wei fare in many ways. But none of these things entitle me to office nor honor. I only did my duty as every citizen should. 1 claim no reward. The question is have my experiences and my services fitted me to occupy the responsible position of representa- tive of the people?
 I am wondering how many of the electors of this town are free to vote for me providing they think me a suitable person to be hOnored thus: Are they freemcn in the highest sense of. the word: Do they preserve anC enjoy the full liberty Of their OWr opinions? Or are they subject to the will of others? Do they vote to sui1 themselves? Is it principle or party that determines the choice? l am { free man: and l want others to be free. 1 have no mortgage on any man nor on any mans property. Neither am 1 mortgaged.
 Let us be true citizens. Let us vOtt
 for good and true men. AS pr o. W
 Holmes says:
 "The freeman casting with unpurchase' The vote that shakes the turrets If the land.
 For as Garrick puts it:
 "Corrupted freemen are the worst Of slaves.
 The Senatorial convention, of thu F 18th District was held at StratfOrd