Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-11-15
RANKS ABUSES TILsON.
Talks About Corporation Dictstion- Republican Row Over 6peakership.

Republican Row Over speakership.
 Judge Fillmore S. Banks of Fairfield who aspires to be speaker of the next house, has sent the following remark able letter to his fellow members:-
 Dear Sir:-I am candidate for speaker of the house. l was a mem. Der of the house during the sessions of 1901, 1903 and 1905 and have, therefore, had the experience which Is essential to fit one for this position.
 My candidacy, however, Is unwel- come and will be opposed by the great public service corporations and by all of those prominent and pow erful politicians who are in their ser vice, or for one reason or another owe allegiance or are under obligation to them.
 T have recently been credibly in- formed that my name was considered by these gentlemen several months before the election and that they then decided that I could not safely be trusted to make up the committees of the house; and it is almost common knowledge that many weeks before you were selected MT Tilson of New Haven was slated for speaker and indeed, statements to that effect np peared in several newspapers.
 Tt has come to pass in this state that these corporations insist upon selecting the speaker long before the members are elected. assuring him of election ill advance, by bringing to his support all the powerful men and means at their command.
 Indeed, their representatives sometimes justify this action on the ground that they pay large taxes and have great interests to protect. Tt is true they pay large taxes, have great interests, and are entitled to fair treatment, and favor accord ing to them all reasonable protection and granting them all reasonable and proper legislation in aid of every proper plan or purpose, but am op- posed to permitting them to dominate the political affairs of the state.
 'I am a candidate not alone be- cause I seek the honor. but also be- cause I believe the speaker should be chosen after and not before the cleo ton of members, by the members themselves and not by any influence outside the membership of the house, and further because l believe the pO- litical affairs of the state should be wholly divorced from the influence Of public service corporations.
 "For these reasons seek support, and if am chosen speaker, the con- mittee will be made up with abso- lute fairness, with complete freedom from dictation, and each member will be appointed to that committee to which be is best adapted. Yours truly,
 (Signedl, FILLMORE s. BANKS.
 Major Tilson, one of the most re- spected members of the last house, re- elected this time by the republicans of New Haven, was shown the letter and the following interview took place:-
 Have you made promises. directly or indirectly, to anybody conditional upon your being elected to the speak ership"
 "Nov'
 Has anybody asked you to make promises of any kind with reference to the speakership, the appointment of committees or concerning any mat ter with which as speaker you might have to do?
 "Nov
 Has anybody with your consent or sought the influence of any public service corporation agent in your behalf
 aNo-,