The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-30
Business Mems Association Has
 Big Celebration
Passage of Public Utilities Bill COmmemOrated at Shore
 Dinner at Steeplechase
Association Urged by Senator Judson to Take up Fight
 For Direct Primaries

fight for the public utilities bill by taking up the cudgels for direct pri- maries, Senator Stiles Judson last night struck an important keynote at the shore dinner of the local Business Men at Steeplechase Island.
 Senator Judson recalled to the Bus mess Men the difficulties of their long fight for public utilities legislation, and called their attention to the fact that with direct primaries in effect, 1t would be easier throughout the State to secure Senators and Representatives amenable to the public will.
 It was a happy crowd of business men that gathered at the island last night While the shore dinner had been planned before the local associa- ton knew that the public utilities bill would be passed, the success of that measure early this week gave the local association cause for a genuine jolli- fication
 In commemoration of the happy event, the votes of the two bodies up- on the utilities bill were recorded on banners.-the Senate vote, 20 to 9, and the House vote, 150 to S2.
 Among the unique features of the dinner were the presentation of a hoe to Senator Judson in honor of his ex- cellent agricultural services in the
  blegram to s. E.. Vincent telling him of the success of the bill, which he was largely instrumental in drawing up. MT. Vincent is now in Europe.
 About 100 members of the local as sociation and a number of invited guests sat down to the tables at [ o'clock last evening, headed by Presi- dent Frank w. Bolande of the Busi- ness Mems Association
 First of all the assem- blaze discuss ed an excellent shore dinner, served by Edward Madigan. The menu in- cluded:
 Clam Chowder
 Fried Blue Fish ecucumbers French Fried Potatoes
 Soft Shell Crabs on Toast
 Roast Chicken with Dressing. French Fried Potatoes
 French Peas
 Combination Salad
 Ice Cream
 Coffee Cigars
 When the president called the com pany to order he first read letters of regret, at not being able to be present, from Senators F. A. Bartlett and Ar !, chibald McNeil Jr., Representative Tringer. N. D. Allen of Hartford and President A. R. Jones of Danbury or the State Business Mems association. In his letter Mir. Allen, who had been very prominent in the fight, took oc- casion to compliment Bridgeport and Fairfield county for their share in the victory.
 R. O. Wells Speaks.
 The first speaker was Ralph O. Wells of Hartford, the counsel for the legislative committee in charge of the measure. He spoke very briefly saying that if MT. Allen would con- sent to. serve as the chairman of the legislative committee again he should be retained. Said hea Now that you have got the bin through, use it. Give the commission, whoever they may be, a chance to serve the state and the people asking for this meas ure.''
 Introduced as one who had had much trouble of late because of a Steeplechase Island, Mayor E. T. Buckingham said that it was a great night for the business men, not only of the state but those of Bridgeport. 7 He warmly congratulated them on what they had done and said that by il they had established themselves as a power in the state and one that could probably carry through any measure they might desire. It had shown the average business man that he had been too busy in the pursuit of the dollar and had neglected his duties as a citizen too long. Now they could understand that their state, city or town had demands upon them which could not be ignored. They must henceforth do their share in such matters. The speaker said that he had been warned that he had a reputation for talking too much and proposed to kill that reputation i. right then. Referring to some of the arguments made in the passage of the measure he told of one in which Senator J Judson in replying to Sen ator Spellacy of Hartford, had said that while the Hartford man was dis porting himself about the streets of Hartford in childish amusements he had worked with a hoe in his ances- tral gardens in Stratford. The speaker went on to say that he had sof1ething to present the senator to remember the occasion by and which was to show that the Bridgeport Bus mess Mems association did not for get the one to whom they owed so much, and which might possibly prove something to amuse the sen ator.
 Gift Presented.
 So saying he passed over to Sem a tor Stiles sJudson a long narrow box about yard in length. When the I strings were cut and the contents ex- posed to view it was seen that the box contained a smalk hoe with a blue handle tied with a knot of Yale blue ribbon.
 Senator JudsOn Speaks.
 Referred to as the father of the measure which had been passed, Senator Stiles Judson, of Stratford, the central figure of the gathering, was the next speaker called son. He was so glad to be called the father of anything that he would admit the accusation and declared he was proud of his progeny. Referring to the fact that there were , speakers pres ent he went on to say that there was a division of opinion as to how much time each. might take, since Senator Jeremiah Donovan of South Norwalk drought he was entitled to all of it. The public utilities bill as passed was due in a great measure to the in- terest and achievements of the Bridgeport Business Mems associa- ton. so that it may we'll feel proud of it's authorship. The speaker de- clared that he felt proud to be a mem- Der of the senate of 1911, when p members. including those paired, had voted in favor of a measure for the people of the whole state.
 Irony of Fate.
 It was the irony of fate that this vote should be the e&act reverse of what it was in the previous body when. like measure was beaten. The senate had redeemed itself and so had the house. it living up to the expectations formed of it. He was of course. we'll aware of the 150 votes cast for the measure there were number who had scrambled into the band wagon only at the last minute. But as the Good Book teaches an