The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-09-21
COURANT WOULD
 HUSH THE SCANDAL


 esting but not desirable. Repre-
 sentative Banks of Fairfield and .
 State Attorney Stiles Judson, Jr.,
 were rival candidates for the
 Banks expected the delegates
 from Westport, but by 2 major
 ity the Judson delegates were
 chosen. When he found he was
 beaten, he abandoned his candi-
 dacy and Judson went in with
 put opposition. Now that it is
 all over and Judson has what
 he wanted, he is quoted as de-
 claring that efforts were. made
 to buy off delegates favorablesto
 him. Per contra, Judge Banks
 declares that he was approach
 ed by Judson delegates ready to
 change their views for com
 pensation. He declined to deal.
 Each side charges the other with
 hurting the general cause in
 which these two candidates are
 only incidents If we are not
 mistaken, the first charge came
 seem to justify MT. Banks in
 making reply But what
 either is to gain by the exchange
 of courtesies is not evident.
 Connecticut politicians today rest in the shadow of a great fear. The affidavits of the Easton delegates to the 18th senatorial convention make it seem to them as if the whole filthy mess in which the Republican politics of Connecticut has been immersed will be dredged with the comb of the law.
 The crux of the Easton situatioa is this It is not believed to stand alone. For some days before the senatorial convention was held rumors came out of the small towns of the presence in them of agents who had so successfully carried the state con- vention for Goodwin. And each of these stories carried with. it a tale of an effort to influence delegates. ~
 Competent lawyers now believe that it is entirely up to States Attorney Judson, whether or not the story of and Missouri, of Pittsburg and graft, of New York and bribery is to be repeated in Connecticut.
 Everybody knows that votes and delegates and legislators and 1egis- lation have been purchased in Con- necticut as cattle are purchased in the open market, men have known these things as they have known the location of places of evil reputation.
 But never before have the tales of bribery and corruption been so freely circulated as in the present cam such evidences of the dry rot that is cankering at the heart of the state and the nation.
 Never before have so many public men openly claimed the practice of corruption and the gamut runs from Thayer four times mayor of Norwich, and once Democratic candidate for governor, to the mutual recrimina- tfons of States Attorney Judson and Speaker Banks, each ~ charging that corrupt means was used in the 25th district.
 That every effort will be made to hush up the scandal is apparent. There is no man in high public place in Connecticut who does not tremble fo rthe result if the probe is applied, -sra1 tod nR IINl because he himself is personally guil- ty, but because of the effect upon his party of those who are guilty;
 The Easton exposure leads by a direct line to where?
 To the man, the men, the interests the particular lobbyists or the parti- cular corporation that furnished the money.
 Robert Marsh makes oath that some body offered him a bribe. He says that the proposition was made by Jes- SC Wheeler of Easton, through anoth- P. R. Nichols makes oath that he took a message offering the bribe. That he reported nothing doing states attorney to follow this chain. Who told Nichols to take message offering a bribe, was it the man Marsh charges? Or was it another? In either case who offered the money?
 Was it one of the men whose. pres ence in the small towns had been indicated by rumor?
 Was it some of the same men who were so conspicuous in the state con- vention influencing votes for Good win2
 Who was it?
 Judson can find out if he will. He has enormous powers of inquisition. He may employ ample secret service. He may follow any of a multitude of clues almost any of which will lead him into the muck and mire of a gov ernment corrupted by cash, Or prom 1se of preference and place.
 He can reach down to the vote buy ing, up:to the pandering of legislation granted public service corporations and into the state convention that the~ republican candidate tor governor?
 W1lf he do it? If he does it will be against enormous pressure. Already 2i1e leading Republican organ of the state. haeasssounded the note that is &1aaEaigna1A9or-S Sslaush. 1t t-up."