The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-26

Mayor Henry Lee told the Judiciary
 committee at Hartford yesterday that
 In his judgment the city court judge
 ship of Bridgeport was a political of-
 flee and that it was the duty of the
 committee to recommend the man fa-
 vored for the place by the political or ganization of Bridgeport which repre- sented s7 per cent. of the Republican lvoters here. There was no beating
 about the bush on the part of the
 mayor. Tn the presence of a hall full tof people, some curious and some anx- sious, he declared his belief that the
 position for which the ''younger' and ;. older clements of the Republican
 party Is struggling is a political one; i therefore 1t belongs to the dominant l faction of the party.
 The frank assertion of the mayor did not altogether please some of the law
 yers present, for they would like to 1 have it appear that the judgeships are not political plums to be bartered away at the whin of certain bosses
 and bosslets. One would think, to hear States Attorney Judson speak, that political considerations should not suf- ftice to determine the winner, yet about every one who spoke laid particular fotiOpS uPOh CilC POiIIiCdI 1OdLuIO Ol lllC fcontest and worked the political argu- 1nent for all it was worth.
 There was a smile that broadened into, a laugh when the mayor sprang 1 the "97 per cent.' gag. Yesterday, , there were, as far as numbers went, about an even break between the advo- cates of the two states. Selectman Frank Braithwaite, when his opportun-
 ity came. told the committee that the
 mayor was in the right church, but in the wrong pew, when he tried to make anyone believe that 97 per cent. of Re- publieans favor the Foster slate.
 Take it from me gentlemen" said kis about 70 and 30. The mayor and his Followers are in the 30 per cent. class" There was 9 laugh at this.
 Z John T. King and States Attorney Judeon crossed swords. MT. Judson, in his talk for the Foster slate, had giv-
 en Prosecutor Delaney strong rec
 ommendatfon, speaking of how well all
 of the cases coming up to the Super
 for court from the city .court had been
 prepared. It was the understanding
 of the states attorney that the selec- tion of Judge Foster meant the reten- which he deemed to be a highly de-
 sirable performance, from the view point of the courts efficiency MT.
 Judson argued at length in favor of the Foster Wilder slate. He said Judge Foster and Attorney Wilder were entitled to consideration on the theory of promotion which had prevail ed in the court for years; if it was to be considered factor as to which side had the support of the political organization they were entitled to whatever value attached to this argu- ment, because they had the support of the political organization in their home city; they had the support of the majority of the senators and represen- tatives from their city; their candi- dacy was backed by the major portion of the Republican strength in their city: they were the choice Of the po- litical government Of Bridgeport as shown by the appearance in their be- half of the mayor; and theyAwere the choice of the majority of the members of the bar of Bridgeport.
 Senator Judson said the name "Old Mem applied to the element boosting Foster and Wilder was a misnomer. He had observed that nearly all of the active clements back of their candida cies were hustling young men. Sena- tor Judson suggested that, ,inasmuch as 1t had been rumored that Representa- tive E. A. Bartlett, a member of the Judiciary committee, was slated for ap- poirtment in the city court in event of the selection of Ebert o. Hull as judge, the Bridgeport representative should not sit with the committee when it was considering the merits of the case.
 John T. King asked MT. Judson if he was not prompted by some other mo- tive than the preparation of cases, in taking part in the fight.
 Do you think I am placing politi- cal plunder before the interests of the state?" retorted MT. Judson.
 MT. King persisted. He wanted to have MT. Judsom tell why Frank L. Wilder was not elevated to be prose- cutor, but instead showed up to deputy Judge if the promotion theory was to of the inner workings agreed upon or proposed. He believ- ed Mr. Foster was morally entitled to he promoted and he was satisfied that Delaney, who had made an exceptionally efficient prosecuting attorney would be retained when Eos ter was made judge.
 MT. King then asked Judge Nichol- son why Wilder was not picked for and Delaney for deputy if the promotion idea was all right. Judge Nicholson answered that MT. Delaney expressed a preference to remain as and his wishes were con- sidered, hence the elevation or MT. Wilder to be deputy in event or Ia vorabIe action by the legislature.
 MT. King went on to say that he did not propose to mince words. He be- heved Hull and Gould were superior to Foster and Wilder in ability ana that their appointment would please the Republicans of Bridgeport.
 senators Holzer and Manwaring and Clarke urged the com l mittee to recommend the Foster-Wild- l CT candidates. Charles M. Cole, d1- | rector Of the Bridgeport Business Mems Association, spoke highly of | Junge roster and said he was emin- | ently fitted for the honor and that for f II consecutive years he had been made rounseI of the Bridgeport Business mems Association.
 senator Holzer said that with two | exceptions. Hull and Bartlett, all of the nempers or the Republican town com nittee had signed a petition reonest ng the appointment of Foster and Wilder. Holzer said that Frank T..