Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-14
THE FEW GET ALL
Lower Rates on Lighting and Telephones Wanted By People

iuc UuSiueSo ueH Ol WdteTDuTy are not of one mind, either, on the telephone question, no more than the directors of the state institution. One of our local men, very prom inent and active member of the Wa terbury Business Mems association, told Democrat reporter to-day that he thought the directors of the state association was losing valuable lot of time fooling with things that are well enough while they appear to be totally blind to matters that mean great deal more to the public.
 The rankest injustice" he added,
 l know in this state is to keep a law in force which denies the people of this town the right to get together and manufacture electricity for their own use instead of trusting to. some body for 1t and then can't always get 1t at any price. I think the common people are to blame for this and don't look for any relief until the whole of them wipe their eyes and take a good look around and see how successfully they have been fooled by few smart politicians. We're worse of in this respect than in any other part of the country and yet we pride ourselves on being ahead of our neighbors in intelligence. There must be some mistake about this else education and sound judgment do not always accompany each other, which l believe to be pretty generally admit ted. Of course man who says he wants lower rates and better service from the telephone people and at the same time takes a stand against com petition in that line of business Is not sincere and what surprises me Is that man who takes that position can be chosen to represent anybody. If had the sole right to sell clothing and knew nobody else could bury how much stock do you suppose I'd take in committees coming around to tell what a man could get an overcoat for in some other state? That is what is going on in this tele- phone farce, but that was not what I wanted to talk about Compara- lively few find telephones really necessary, but everybody wants light fin the night time and all could have electricity for little or nothing if they only knew enough to say so at the right time.
 In answer to question from the reporter as to what he considered the right time, the gentleman replied, on election day, when men are being chosen to go to the general assembly.
 Knowing the speaker to be a dyed in the wool republican, the reporter wanted to know when he had become converted to the true political creed, to which he made reply that he had experienced no change on that point, adding that what he meant was that he hoped to see the time when clectors, and especially common working people will forget all about their political preferences whel they go to the polls to vote. He was positive that in case the democrats got control of the state they would be just as pliable in the hands of corporations as the republicans are and claimed that tho only road to success was not to permit any politi- gal party to feel that 1t had lease of the reins of government. This was getting nearer to the reporters way of thinking and after few minutes more talk they felt that they could almost vote the same ticket, but af- ter all there appeared to be some thing in the attitude of the business men which showed that while he was sure his party Is not doing the right thing, still he is so welded to It ne didn't have the heart to say so. He was not prepared to allow the use of his name, but he thought the day not far distant when men who want to control the politics of Connecticut will have to pay a little more atten- tjon to the needs of the many and a great deal less to those of the few. Until recently certain element did no, notice the yiciousness Of some of onr state legislation, because 1t had no direct bearing upon-them, but now and for some time past the ranks are being closed up and the favored heinz few and far between, the fel- Iowa on the outside are beginning to think it time for all to have a look iI. The merchants of the state found out two years ago that they didn't amount to much when they went up against the trolley company. and the lesson had such a salutary effect up- ou them that were 1t not for the sake of old times and that the 6. Q. D is .till i'm the aseendcncy they would nroclajm themselves out and out democrats. They laugh when yon say this. and then deny It, but most of them make no bones of stating that the time is ripe for new party.