The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-11-22
Startling Disclosures Made by Harry Porter, Engi- neer and World Famous Athlete, in Letter to Farmer.

Harry Franklin Porter. the well known athlete and all around writer and expert on engineering topics has addressed a communication te the Farmer. in which he declares that both political parties used more money in the last election than would be neces- sary under ideal conditions He then furnishes list of contributors to the Republican campaign fund, showing that the total amount raised for the campaign for Mayor Lee was S4.439 and that about 25 per cent of this amount was contributed by men who are officers of or employed by public service corporations. or in one or two instances are officers of private cor porations which have been the bene- hciaries of harbor legislation-
 The letter follows:
 To The Editor of the Farmer. Sir:--
 As post-election fact of interest to voters of Bridgeport, the lists of cam paign contributions and expenditures. filed under the Corrupt Practices Act" is well worth consideration The party unsuccessful outlaid some s4.44o; while the successful party spent but little more than half that amounts The question is. where did all this money go~ to. if the amount attested, is in- deed all that was spent2 $4.0oo is a lot of money to put out in a political campaign of few days duration. It ought not to be necessary to spend penny. And if aspirants for public of on their integrity there would be pre- cious little expenditure for election eering. The office should seek the man. not the man the office.
 In the recent election in this city, judging from the amount of money spent by both main parties. and prin- cipally the defeated one, there was very little right attitude displayed by either party. The future will reveal how much real public spirit was mix ed in with the lesser spirit of party But no. party or combination of men, can make good in the full and proper sense until the general attitude to- wards public office undergoes radical change and 1t comes to pass that the office seeks the man for his worth and for no lesser reason
 It is also interesting and pertinent to scrutfnize the list of contributors to the campaign fund, especially on the Republican side. s1,4oo of the s4.44o. or nearly third of the total contributions, comes from prominent officers or stock holders in local pub lie service corporations that in times have been under fire continually. The fact is plain that these interests were sufficiently interested in the success of the party in question to voluntarily bear the bulk of the burden of the campaign. Readers may draw their
 
 As the case now stands the inter ests" have been defeated. It remains to see whether those who have de- feated them have really at heart the highest good of the people as whole or are merely self-seekers of an opposite order. If so. there win have been lit- tie gained by the shift about, and only a difrerent line of piunderers will be Tn on tbe whack-up. Much will de- pend upon the attitude adopted by the people themselves If they are satis- fled to continue to be trifled with and hoodwinked. then in all probability they will receive as they are content. If. on the other hand. they show alert ness and exact efficiency of their ser vants. then they will in all probabil- ity receive an efficient administration.
 Right in this line. very much can be accomplished by the proposed or sanitation of citizens. provided it is from the outset placed upon a proper basis and is not made merely a re- treat for the .'interests- and therefore only fresh club to be brandished. over the city government in behalf of the iIrsreeiate private benefit of these '.interesfs."
 The chief executive. the writer i0