The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-08-11
VINCENT REBUKES
 NORWICH BULLETIN Maintains That Business Men Are Not in Politics, Though News
 paper Declares They Are

Tt has been called to my attention
 that the Norwich Bulletin. after 3 careful analysis of what constitute:
 the business man and also the state
 business mems association. and after
 carefully looking up the politician an6 ms association, has come to the as ton1sh1ng conclusion that there, is nc difference between them in the po1iti. cal sense, especially in regard to the
 Public Utilities The Bulletin sums uI
 its investigation by saying "the State Business Mems Association is head
 over heals in politics and they do not
 know it." The Bulletin is usually
 right, but this time it is all wrong Let us try to reason with the Bulletin first, what constitutes the business
 man? Webster says " the farmer, the mechanic. the tradesman. the profess 1onal man. the manufacturer is a busi. ness man. The word has a wide range of application and takes in almost every one who has a fixed occupation Therefore, taking Websters definition and we can usually trust him. the busi- ness men of Connecticut represent pretty nearly all there is to the State Taking this view of business men il would seem as if when any great quest ion affecting their welfare or interest comes up. they ought to be permitted to state their wants in definite and unmistakable terms without having a reputable paper like the Bulletin try 10 Defog the issue or class them as on a par with the average modern politician, who for public benefit. pro- gress and productiveness represents what? The business men of Connecti- cut represented through their Oranges in the rural sections. and through their Boards of Trade and Business Mems Association in the villages and cities have come to the unanimous conclus- ion that certain corporations that have been granted special and exclusive privileges to operate railroads. trolley lines, telephone companies. express companies. water companies electric light companies. etc. are not conduct ing these utilities for the best interest Of the business men or according to the spirit and interest of their charter.
 These eorporations have come to re- gard their special privileges as private matters. and whether they give poor or good service or no service at all. the people have no redress. have no tribunal before which both parties can come and have the facts and merits of the case furnish the grounds of ad- justment and fair play. So unsatis- factory has this condition become that the business men believe that the es- tablishment of a commission of five h1gh-class. honest men. strong and broad in mental scope and fairness and clothed with power to hear com plaints and settle differences between the business men. the people and the corporations would lead to a better understanding and more satisfactory conditions: and how have the business men gone about its accomplishment. Not in secret. They have prepared a bill for enactment. and then published They have sent it to every man who shows or has shown symptoms of polit- ical infection, asking if he will support the bill, if not, what his objection or criticism would be.
 The bill provides that railroad company that has been given the right to take private property. that has ex- elusive right to the streets in our villages and cities and through the country, for the purpose of furnishing transportation for all people. shall put on sufficient cars and run them at times to accommodate the pub lie and that such company shall charge rates for the service rend- cred. The bill provides that water companies and gas companies shall furnish their products to the public up to a fixed standard of excellence. and at reasonable prices. and if they fail, even one person may bring complaint to and be heard before the commission. The bill also provides for the regulation of telephone, telegraph and express service.
 What objection is there and could there be to the enactment of such a bill? What fair minded man ought to hesitate to say ives [ will help to en- act the business mems bill.' or criticise the same. stating where it Is at fault? The business men are working disin- terestedly and at their own expense for the passage of a bill. knowing that if the bill is enacted. all the people will be benefited equally, and that no special favors will be given to any one of the active workers for the ser vice rendered.
 But the Bulletin fails to understand the situation. and not knowing what else to say. calls it being in politics up to the eyes. The business men of ought to construe the Bulle- tins insinuation as an uncalled for insult Does the Bulletin know of many persons who work in the politiz gal field when the political plum tree Is bare? Does the Bulletin know a single plum that can fall to any of the business men interested in the passage of Public Utilities Bill? But every thing appears to look alike to the Bulletin. The business men are not in politics.
 S. B. VINCENT.
 Member of the State Business Mems
 Legislative Committee