Norwich bulletin., 1910-08-20
THAYER ON PUBLIC UTILITIES
Willing to Abide BY Choice of Business Mems Associa-
ton as Leader for His State Ticket-Urges Them
Get Into Politics

Mayor Charles F. Thayer is torn be
tween two loves and is unable to de
eide between Bryan F. Mahan, mayo
! of New London, and Daniel p. Dunn
| Willimantfc's mayor, as a gubernatoria
/ 'tail'' to his senatorial kite" Writing
to the State Business Mems associa-
ton. his latest open letter Friday said
| Just to keep in fashion, / am look
| ing about for candidate for COVER
nor. But l am in somewhat of E
| quandary. How happy could be witt
either were t'other dear charmer away
Thayer asked the association te
| public utilities bill He who passes
the best examination shall be my run
ming mate"
The letter congratulates the Bust
ness Men upon their campaign of ed
ucation for the public utilities bill and
registers the author as heart and soul
in that part of their campaign. i am
conducting. an educational campaign
too, wrote Mayor Thayer. 1T IS aim
ed against the present unrighteous
system of selecting United States SEN
ator now in vogue which begins with
the use of money in towns to debauch
the voters and ends with the use of
money in the general assembly to de-
bauch the Legislators. The letter calls
most degrading the spectacle of such a
senator sitting in the upper house at
Washington, and adds; And the state
of Connecticut should open its eyes
early enough to prevent a similar dis
grace in the eoming senatorial cleo
ton"
The democratic candidate for United
States senator does not agree with the
associations spirit in declaring itself
out of politics. Il am in politics" said
Mayor Thayer in the letter, and be-
Geve that you ought to be as every
other good business man ought to be-"
The letter;
ITO the State Business Mems Associa-
ton. Norman f. Allen, Chairman
Legislative Committee:
Fools rush in where angels fear to
tread. That is why 1 am making a
rush at you and your proposed public
utilities bill. ] notice that the angels
are very wary; or are they merely
dodgers?
to be in the same business. You are
conducting a campaign of education,
and as Tom Plat, one-time United
States senator. was wont to say: Me.
too You may not have discovered 1t,
but / am on the road to the United
States senate myself-not by the Lori
rner route but as the old woman said
.bv the broad and narrer path. Be
fore going q step further let It be
known that I am with you heart and
soul in that part of your campaign
where YOU are seeking TO ascertain
and inform the people as to the atti-
tude of candidates and parties upon
this i'm portant public question, and I'M
broad principle of efficient regulation
of the public service corporations by
means of a commission clothed with
the necessary powers, and, We may
add. beyond the influence of the New
Haven railroad
Now, are you with me heart and
soul in that part of my campaign Of
education wherein l am seeking to
ascertain and inform the people as to
the attitude of prospective legislators
on the important question whether the
people shall have something to say
about the selection of United States
senator or whether one man in the
state shall have the say as to whether
he will go to the senate himself or de-
liver the seat to one of his UNDER
studies; and Will you unequivocally
commit yourself to the broad general
principle that in this republic United
States senatorships should not be for
sale, that legislators should not be
bribed to vote in favor of candidates,
that a senator should have soma quail
fcations other than a pocketbook2
do not ask this question by way of