The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-23
E. H. DILLON & co.
BURNHAM'S DINNER TO HAWLEY AND
 THE HILL LETTER
(Continued from first page.)

(Cont1nued rom nrSt page.) My Dear Burnham:-
 As the time approaches for your dinner on May 21st, I find that it will be impossible for me to be present, for we are now in general debate on the sundry civil bill and expect to commence voting on it on Thursday. 1t contains items in which the people of the Fourth district are much 1n- terested, and among others the ap- propriation on the continuing con- tract in Bridgeport harbor. 1 do not believe that I would be justified Tn being away during the pendency or this measure, and certainly not until these matters are settled and disposed of If they are so disposed of l will come. if they are not l do not believe I ought to come.
 Things are in a very peculiar situa- ton here at the present time. The administration of Theodore Roose- welt was an active. energetic, and strenuous one, the policy which gov- erned 1t being apparently that it was right and proper of the Federal gov ernment to do those things which seemed right and advantageous to the whole people, if there was no law to prevent 1t. The present admin1stra- ton. while in my mind accomplish ing fully as much in the interest of the people, seems to be working on the basis that 1t has a right to do no more than it is clearly and explicitly authorized to do by law. I am quite sure that, the latter is the sounder principle and that as time goes on 1t will be clearly shown that it is the true principle on which any admin istration of the Federal government ought to act but the difference be- tween the two administrations In this respect is so marked and distinct that great differences of opinion have nf hn snd where it will end nobody can say.
 For one I am a firm believer Tn the administration of President Taft, and believe that, while he IS acting conservatively and wholly within the limits of the law, yet the sum total this Republic during his administra- ton will be far greater than that or many of his predecessors.
 The criticisms upon this policy come largely from the middle west and western part of the country. It is natural that this should be so. for the necessity for so-called progressive legislation is felt more keenly in those portions of the country which are vet in progress of development and sclidifying, the practical completion of which has for. a long time char acterized the states east of the Al leghanies. They are largely found in the operation of the land laws, the conservation policy, the control of 1n- terstate railroad, the development ot irrigation and reclamation of arid lands, and all that mass of legisla- ton which does not so directly affect the people residing east of the MIS-
 with reference to many of these things the feeling has grown very bit ter. with the result that there are radical differences in the Republican
 
 next House of Representatives.
 Personally I believe we ought to stand enthusiastically by the admin fstration It is not possible to do everything at once, and 1t would not be we'll that it should be done. It is a great deal better to grow naturally a than to be forced by any hot house plan or system, and a greater and more reliable strength is the result of the slower process.
 Now the reason that I say this is that of all the states in the Union few If any gave a more hearty sup port to the election of William H. Taft than did the state of Connectl- cut and it seems to some abSOlutely essential that the unity and harmony which existed in the Republican party during that election should be main tained and carried forward into the rext one and that we should do ev- erything in our power as individuals and as Republicans to see to it in the coming campaign we all pull togeth- CT for the welfare of not only the Republican party of the state of Con- recticut but of the Republican ad- ministration which is now in power
 For this reason I am glad that you and such men as you, who have large and practical interests in the general prosperity of the country, are en- gagged in endeavoring to promote and maintain such harmony.
 Wishing you and others like you all success in such efforts, I am,
 Very truly yours,
 F., T. HILL