Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-22

lldU uOC Deel dUIdCkeu Dy liie uuucS.
 It is likely that the police will con- duct a searching investigation of the complaint as many similar reports have been made of late especially on the east side.
 TISON TALKS.
 Gives Great Praise to Those at Head
 of Government.
 Hartford, Feb 22.-The Connecti- cut Sons of the Revolution held their annual dinner here today in the Hotel Garde. John Q. Tilson. speak CT of the house of representatives, made the principal address.
 Speaker Tilson said in part: Tt is remarkable the different ideas peo- pie have concerning the legislature. I should like to have composite l photograph of what the people in general imagine the legislature to be. | I fancy 1t would be that of large, overgrown, wanton boy, full of possi- bilities for good, but for the most part disposed to do the wrong thing at the wrong time. It would seem to be forgotten by many that the mem- bers of the legislature are very much like other people; that most of them have real sense, real independence and an actual desire to do things for | <hr int of you look over the members one by i one. at any rate before election, they would be seen to be really represen- tative men in their respective com munities, honest men, men of good l intentions, men to be trusted. Trans | from them into members of the gen. eral assembly, and somehow or other the attitude of many minds toward I them is entirely changed. The long, CT I live the more disposed become to look the ground thoroughly over once more when I find my own opin- ion in conflict with that of a large number of other men who were for merly supposed to be honest, who ought to be honest, and who have not been proved to be otherwise than honest"
 If 1 had a consuming desire to be quoted in all the papers in the state and to be talked about in all the pull pits should proceed to announce that the legislature is full of crooks and lgrafters and that currupt lobby has 1t entirely in contr0l; and incl identally has the state by the throat. But if I made such statement, l should lie in my throat and deserve to be choked by it. As matter of fact sincerely believe that the best Legislature ever convened in the state is now meeting from day on Capitol hill. One of the most prominent newspaper men in the state. who has been about the corridors of the capitol good deal this year, has ex- pressed to me the same opinion and the further opinion that the lobby will have trouble if it attempts to handle the present legislature. As sit day by day and look into the faces of men who compose the popular branch of the assembly, am more and more
  up of men of sterling character whose chief ambition in to serve the state and their respective towns we'll, men who could not be be in fluenced by wrong motives or won lover by corrupt influences. I believe that the great wave of public indig. nation which has swept over this country since the insurance investi. gations began directed against those comparatively few men in high places who have betrayed theil trusts. has helped bring to the front men of higher and better type and that our present legislature ha. been benefited in its personnel by , this revival of civic righteousness It has been quite the fashion tG dub all men interested in political
 matters politicians and class them with crooks and grafters. l believe . it to he distinct public loss and misfortune to thus indiscriminately assail public officials and politicians in general. The crook and the graft CT grow and spread themselves like the green bay tree when charges ,oi graft and corruption are thus loosely and habitualV made. It Is the old story of the boy and the wolf ovel again. If we stand about the sheep fold and cry wolf. wolff all the while. whether there are wolves oI no. the ears and sensibilities of thoss upon whom We must rely for aid iT times of trouble become deadenet and weary. and the wolf has frs ! class opportunity to come in and ' help hhimself. and so long as there i' ! single member of the legislatur' } who is q crook or a grafter. that | one too many. and he deserves ana
 should receive the contempt and con
 demnation of his fellows for sellini
 his birtbright. like Eseau of old. fol
 mess of pottagc-
 2 "I believe the men in charge of tn c affairs of this state and nation to-day { legislative. executive and judicail. a . body are true and worthy sons O
 the revolutionary fathers: and I be
 Iieve fur1ber. that tllere never was
 time fin our history when there was more healthful and hopeful spirit O I -H r-