The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-09
DANGER TO STATE COMES
 FROM WITHIN Clergyman Describes Exit of p Lobbyists From Legislative
 Hall. TOWN GOVERNMENT IS BAD Rev. w. Irving Maurer Paints a Vivid Picture of Political
 Corruption.
TOWN GOVERNMENT IS BAD

The helplessness of New England in the grip of monopoly and political ma chimes was the theme from which Rev. w. I. Maurer preached sermon to large congregation in the West End Congregational church yesterday.
 Said MT. Maurer: Not all the boast ing of New England's prowess in which our Sons or Daughters of the Revolution indulge can cover up the last chapter of her history where she finds herself in the grip of unscru- pulous organizations of wealth, who reap profits from her very helpless ness. If this is not striking at the very fountainhead of moral righteous ness, what is?
 Gan Connecticut ever forget the shame and disgrace of Aug. 5. 1909, when in her splendid hall of represen- tatives a vote was taken on the pass age of a certain bill, while the lobby ists worked and argued among the representatives of a free people and brought about the defeat of a bill which had it's inception in the ranks of the people.
 eff I were an artist would paint a picture of that scene as the score or more of corporation attorneys filed slowly out of the chamber where their unlawful work was done.
 'T would see that every common home was supplied with a copy of that picture.
 With native ingenuity New Eng land has developed a political machine that never breaks down
 'In the West men differ and quarrel and there are exposures and men are convicted before an offended public opinion. The fact that New England has a better record as regards expo a of things. Connecticut has pride in her town system of government, but one could not imagine system where the wills of the organized enemies of popular government could find better opportunity to wield power.
 'It is not always a guarantee in the state that because a man represents country town his vote will not be cast to intrench some corporations s hold upon the city. The undue inn tends as much to corrupt the town as to uplift the city. In both city and country the work of the professional politician is seen.
 ''The Sons of Revolution have erect ed on Sasco Beach splendid statue of the Minute Man. It is the figure of a Connecticut farmer kneeling with his musket ready and his face alert to spy the foe. It will look out upon the glorious Long Island Sound, as if to represent the SleepleSS eye Of Ameri- can defense against foreign invasion. 1t is the embodiment of that rugged courage which seems to be a part of the very hills in this fair land
 But there have been patriots who were shot in the back, and I am con- fident that the Minute Man of the Revolution and all that he stood for is in danger not from attack from the outside, but from within.
 'The landmarks which he fought to preserve are well-nigh covered, like the lut of sand under a rising tide.
 "If we are again to look to this New England for present example to learn the lesson of faith in God, of right eousness in State and city as we'll as in private life. of the sanctity of the sovereign body in it's law-making pow CTS. of trust in the people, then our New England Christians of today have seen their tasks. and may God help them to fight the fight for Him.