The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-04

AIiG UduQuGl gwen Uy HIS II10IluS, last night, to Harbor Master Charles H. Morris was in every way a suc- cess. Not only was the harbor mas ter given an honest send off on his own account, but the cause of popular government, of which he was in the harbor contest in no small degree a champion, received an accession in the form of speeches in favorsof direct primaries and public utilities bill.. Direct primaries were cf1ampioned by Hon. John H. Perry of Southport, chairman of the commission named by the General Assembly to recommend a primary law. The public utilities was assigned to George B. Chandler, of Rocky Hill. These speakers were followed by Philip Troup, editor of the New Haven Union, who in brief but pointed talk indicated some of the. ad- vantages in this and other remedial legislation
 The assemblage was as non- bipartisan as anything of the kind could be. At the guest table sat Mayor E. T. Buck ingham, William H. MarigOld, who of- fciated pleasantly as toastmaster; Rev. Morgan Millar, pastor of Olivet Con- gregational church; Secretary of State
  cluding the speakers already mention ed.
 One of the prettiest speeches of the evening was made by Mayor Edward T. Buckingham, who spoke in the highest terms of Harbor Master Nor ris and continued that the banquet seemed to him to be a good thing, adding that there is no good reason why men, though of opposite political faith, should not meet once a year to exchange views and promote good fel- lowship That the Mayor is popular in both Democratic and Republican circles was indicated by the warmth of the reception he received both at the opening and closing of his re- marks.
 MT. Chandler enumerated the mini mum powers that should be contained in a public utilities bill. His re- marks were frequently interrupted by applause and 1t was quite evident that the sympathies of all save a few of the diners were with the bill
 Judge Perry held the close attention of everybody for three-quarters of an hour He described direct primaries as the phenomenon of the twentieth century,, and indicated the means by which this simple legislation will re- store the power of government to the people.
 Judge Perry described the work of the commission. of which he was chairman. He said that in going in to the investigation the committee was of widely varying mind. but after completing their work they were all in favor of direct primaries.
 Judge Perry then devoted some time to showing that about two-thirds of the States of the Union have direct primaries in a more or less complete form and forced his listeners to the conclusion that Connecticut is one of a limited group of States whose people do not have the advantage of voting direct for the men whom they wish to nominate for office.
 He said that Massachusetts is upon the verge of a direct primaries law, and that the reform must come to Connecticut.
 Judge Perry also said that the prime advantage of direct nominations IS that they give every man the same opportunity to vote for the person he wishes nominated to an office that every other man has.
 Under direct primaries he said, the voters are not only given access to the attic of the House, but may freely enter also the dining room and the kitchen.
 In the course of their remarks Ma jor Marigold and Secretary Rogers took occasion to indicate that their views on nominations by the people | were not in accord with those of Judge Perry.
 Secretary Rogers, continuing this phase of the subject. said that he much preferred the use of the term organization over that of machine.
 Harbor Master Morris responded in few brief words of thanks. He all l so discussed with brevity the relation | of the harbor to Greater Bridge port.
 The banquet was an. entire success from the standpoint of cooking and ! service as well. It was the baptism of the hostelry in the hands of the ! new proprietor, John Callaghan. Nine i courses were promptly and excellently served, and the dining room and tables were decorated with taste. Tasty menu cards were laid at each plate. Upon the cover of the cards was Q, half tone engraving of Harbor | Master Charles H. Morris and the in 1 scription Complimentary dinner ten l dered to Harbor Master Charles H. | Morris"
 The more serious purpose of the | feast was indicated in two quotations printed on the card, relating to direct primaries.
 The first was a quotation from the report of the Commission on Direct Primaries, of which Judge Perry was chairman, reading:
 Tt seems to us. however. that if
 our actual aim is a government
 which. in fact as well as in name,
 shall be of the people, for the peo-
 pie and by the people, a direct pri-
 mary law is indispensable.'
 And the other was a quotation from the inaugural speech of Governor Hughes. declaring
 '"That direct primaries promote
 true party leadership by making
 it less susceptible to misuse and
 more in accord with general party
 sentiment
 By increasing the direct inCu-
 ence of the party voters their par
 ticipation in party affairs will be
 encoura eed It will make the elec-
 tive officer more independent of
 those who would control his action
 for their selfish advantage and en-
 able him to appeal more directly
 to his constituency upon the basis
 of faithful service