The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-10-26
TELLS HOW TO
 IMPROVE LAWS
Judge Baldwin Suggests Points Good Corrupt Practices Act
 Should Have
COMPL LIMENT TO GOODWIN
Democratic Candidate Also Attacks Republicans for Broken Prom
 iSes on Tariff.

Torrington, Oct. 26-Judge Simeon E. Baldwin, Democratic candidate for Governor, spoke here before an en- thusiastic audience last night. In his address Judge Baldwin referred espe- cially to the tariff question and the said.
 **The last time I spoke in Torrington was in the Spring, when I made an address before the General Conference of the Congregational churches of the State. I am not going to talk to you exactly on religious subjects tonight Rnd Anfiay' yet in way, I am and I must close together, and I think plain
 moral issue ought to decide this com ing election.
 the people of the United States, two years ago, that, if kept in power, they would revise the tariff so as to lower duties a31 Sz and ., extend the free list? You
 Have they done it? You all know they have not. They have done it pos sibly in the letter, certainly not in stand their pledges; certainly not in the way the people did understand their pledges.
 Do the Republican managers own that they have broken their prom ise:
 Not a bit of it. A large part of InS EIRpuDIcan party own lt-an creasingly large part-the part led by the lamented Deliver of Iowa, by Beveridge in Indiana, by all the men distinguished for putting duty to party managers.
 @I say that a clear, decisive moral issue is thus raised.
 "A great party made a pledge to the people. It broke it. It has no apology. It makes none. It claims it did not break it.
 ,,,, ~I should: should like, if T had time, to pay opened the Republican campaign in this town, with a speech consisting of attack on my fitness for the honor of the Democratic nomination.
 'tHe says that he has looked over three volumes of addresses of mine about some of the questions of present day 1egis1ati tion as to which all parties in Connecticut are agreed.
 t'No. While judge of the highest court in Connecticut, I kept my mouth shut on topics of present day legis- Lation.
 q regard the strengthening of the most important tasks to which the next General Assembly should address itself.
 T differ here from him who heads speech at Meriden, he pronounced the Act a good one, and one which aad thus far been lived up to in let ,er and in spirit. regard MT. Good 1 win as man of character, and hon i 1r. He would never stoop-has never i am confident, stooped-to practices [ which I should call corrupt. But I i ,annQt agree with him in the opinion 1 hat money has not been offered, l money som etirnes refused and some l .imes accepted, this very year at nom l party. I believe that it has been, {! and that this money has brought re- i suits.
 "He asks me if I have any sug- sestion to make as to how the Act l could be improved
 ttCertainly. I take pleasure in com 1 plying with his invitation.
 'tIt ought to provide that candi- | 1ates standing for office at any nom l hating convention, who spend or promise money for votes or influence, ] he Secretary of the State within a 1 week after the convention.
 t'It ought to provide, as the old Act l which it repealed did, that the States l luire of his own volition, into charges l 'f corruption, and might have the aid l # the courts to compel the attendance | If witnesses before him for an examin- 1 ltion.
 Ut ought to provide a limit. and not | very high one-neyer higher than a 1 ears official salary-beyond which no for nomination or election o office should go, in the way of | expenses.
 "A similar provision was explicitly recommended by the Corrupt Prac- ices Act Commission in 1907. Charles Hopkins Clark, the late Frank T. Brown of Norwich, John H. Perry of Southport, Theodore H. Macdonald, | LOW insurance commissioner and Col. Norris G. Osborn, were the members f this commission.
 ''But the Act ought, above all, to 1 rovide that every candidate for of ice must make a sworn return short y after the election, of all that he as spent Or promised; and where it vent.
 ''There is no provision in the Act S it now stands, requiring any candi- ate to make any returns wha tever, o any office or officer