Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-09-12

pies which the party is willing to
 preach but prefers to let the other
 fellow practice.
 l Right of Trial By Jury. The rule of legal procedure, pe-
 culiar to Connecticut and often ad- versely commented on in other states
 and by the United States courts. by
 which the plaintiff in an action to
 recover damages for injuries is de-
 nied the right of trial by jury at the
 option of the defendant is worthy of
 a passing notice. There is little to
 be said in favor of plan by which the defendant in an accident case can have jury trial If 1t likes, while the plaintiff cannot. No one tries
 to defend 1t, except, maybe, on the
 ground of It's antiquity. But the
 legislature cannot be induced to
 make any change, and though some
 measure looking toward such re-
 form is introduced every session 1t
 generally meets an untimely fate in
 that stronghold of conservatism, the
 Judiciary committee.
 The system of compensating judi
 cfal and executive officers by fees is
 one that Is certainly open to objec,H
 tion. Without any consideration of
 the wise principle that judges should
 be paid by the state, instead of by
 the suitors that come before them,
 there certainly Is an unfai:ness some
 where in paying probate judges, sher-
 ifs and town clerks in the large
 counties and cities more than the
 highest judicial officers of the state
 receive. It would be far more satis-
 factory If an adjustment is made on some such basis as that reached sev- eral years ago in relation to the clerks of the superior court; liberal salary should be paid and the fees turned over to the state of Connecti cut.
 Uniformity of charters for our cities is something greatly to be de- sired. At present charter provisions are often more suited to the neces- sities of the local political machine | than to the needs of the municipal ity where they apply. In our town when the local officials happen to be | republicans, they get the general as- sembly to continue their terms of of flee during good behavior. The last session they legislated the building inspector in for life and tried to simi- liarly provide for the superintendent of schools. The men speak of may be competent, but believe the citi- zens of their own town are the prop CT ones to say whether they shall be continued in office rath- CT than the representatives from Vo- luntown or Killingworth. Similar absurdities appear in every city charter. They are constantly tink- cred to- suit some special interest. under substantially like conditions should have uniform charters. What is good law for New Haven ought to be good law for even though some partic- ular office holder in Bridgeport might think to the contrary.
 Our secret ballot law is unsatis- factory. The present system of o party ticket has strong tendency to independent voting. To vote anything but a straight ticket, no facilities are furnished at the bal lot booths and the intending voter, If he wishes to use a paster, must go out and hunt one up. It is true that under the law he may write 1he name of the person he intends to vote for, but the risk of having the ballot thrown out by the moderator IS marked is so great that few under .ake 1t. The state should adopt the Australian ballot or some modifica- ion of 1t and should print and furn- sh the ballots. It Is certainly a wise policy to furnish all the incentives possible for independent voting.
 Democrats Believe In Reform.
 These are a few of the conditions obtaining in our state that the demo- .ratic party protests against and be- ieves should be remedied. The re- publican spellbinders who will talk o the electors of Connecticut will lave very little to say on these mat CTS, but, will shout loudly of pros- 'erity and the necessity of support ng the president. As far as that is our representatives in con- ,ress, who seek reelection on the | [. round that he should be supported, Iaven't supported him themselves cry strongly. as four of them voted gainst the Philippine tariff bill. ,ut however that may be, it is clear nough that the president hasn't the ower to remedy the conditions in 1 his state, even if he would. The lection of a republican governor and ( egislature means their perpetuation. here is little doubt that the ma ority of our people believe in these eforms. including a very large DOT lon of the republican party. Just efore election, however, their party cal Is stirred by patriotic addresses citing forth the glorious history of I UT country for which they claim all 1, he credit, and urging them to vote pr the party of Lincoln and McKin- l, sy and in their enthusiasm they cast he straight party ticket. forgetting hat this method of arousing their { arty spirit is but a ruse to give the tate machine two more years of ( over. (
 To such independent voters as are red of all these things and wish a hange. the democratic party offers n opportunity. the chance to receive NO years of government which while ! ife and conservative. will be such ! l conserving the rights of the peo- 1 le. which will stand for economy, ' onesty and political uprightness. | fe do not pretend to be the sole T of all the civic virtues, y ut we do believe the rank and file our party is sound in the cardinal rinciples of wise and honest govern 'ent. inis should be. above all,