The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-09-03
CONNEC1ICUT,S NEEDS.


 which The Journal and Courier has printed from members of the General Assembly and it is noticeable fact that there is similar lack of agree ment as to what is actually needed to produce the results desired. The one thing upon which all agree, news paper editors and legislators, is that things are not as they should be. In
 other words the introduction of more efficient methods of achievement is an absolute necessity. That of itself is more than perhaps appears on the surface
 The observing correspondent of the Springfield Republican from Hartford comments on the fact that very few of the active Republican politicians connected with the managing group in the party have been heard from, This is true and it gives force to the assertion in the Republicans corre- spondence that "the line of demarka- ton between the men who hold to- gether for themselves and those who stand for the right of the voters to express their own choice is being drawn closer by means of this discus sion.' There is a certain significance to be attached to the silence of the controlling interests but not so much as might appear to captious people. There is really nothing for them to say. The preposterous system in force is their system. It does for them the work they wish done and presumably it does 1t we'll and prof1tably Never since the foundation of government have reforms been initiated and en- forced by the managers. Such as have been introduced in spite of them have come from such an agitation as this we have been conducting. Nor could that alone do the work. There had to be just such prolonged and ineffi- cient session of the legislature to awaken the members themselves, who are not in the machine, to realizing sense of their absurd position before the public. It required deadlock ex- tending over two years of what for mer Governor Charles R. Ingersoll called "a period of peaceful anarchy" to drive home to the voters of the State the injustice and injury of the constitutional provision requiring a majority over all to elect State off, cers. Once realized the provision was revoked and the man was elected governor who two years previous had been deprived of his office, though he was not in partisan sympathy with majority of the voters at the time.
 Nothing whatever may be expected from the controlling interests. Had they been in earnest to do something for the relief of a situation which Governor Woodruff in every \speech makes Smell to Heaven" they would have moved in a score of directions. They are to be eliminated from the movement except so far as their sense of political prudence compels them to acquiesce. That will be exerted possi- ply when they are sure, which they are not yet, that the agitation is not to blow over. We hope yet to tell a story in the news columns of The Journal and Courier which will let in little light on the ways of the ob- So clear is It that pre- vailing practices must be abolished that those who favor change must hang together and not permit purely speculative reasoning to divert their attention. The iron must continue to be struck while it is hot if the product is to suit the States conven- fence. The governor is no laggard in the task. Whenever he speaks he does so with his mind fastened on the main question. There Is yet lot to learn of the situation from him and from oth- CTS who are qualified to speak. Unless we are mistaken the surface has been scratched with the pen of pub licity. Why then should the friends of reform waste their time In disputing themselves as to special forms of improvement? The discussion, for example, over annual and biennial of the General Assembly while interesting as showing clearly dissatisfaction with pre- vailing conditions, should follow, not precede, the constitutional prohibition of special legislation. The time of sessions is of little import ance compared with the use that is