The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-01
PROCRESSIVES ASK MORRIS TO
 LEAD THEM
Republicans Organizing to Take
 the Control of Their Party
 From Lobby and Utility Cor pOratiOnS Want HarbOrmaster to be Candidate For Mayor

The Progressive Republican associa- tiOn, at a meeting held last night, en- dorsed Harbormaster Charles H. Nor ris as a candidate for mayor on the Republican ticket, and announced their action in a letter addressed to the Re- publican leader. The association says that it is in a movement to restore ty in Bridgeport to tfN Republican voters. To this end it pledges itself if it's campaign for control of the Re- publican convention is successful, to immediately revise the rules of the party, so that nomination for candi- dates for municipal office will be by the voters of the party instead of by the 19 members of the convention. The letter to Harbormaster Morris has a ring of sincerity, which cannot be mis- taken. It is as follows:
 Bridgeport, Conn.,,
 August 31, 1911. MT Charles H. Morris.
 Bridgeport, Conn.,:
 Dear Sir-At meeting of the Pro- gressive Republican association. held Thursday evening, August 31, it was unanimously voted to urge your nom1- nation as the republican candidate for mayor in the November election, and we ask you to become candidate for such nomination, and pledge you our loyal assistance and support.
 We feel that the time is at hand when the policies of progressive re- publicans should prevail in this city and state. and that the bonds that knit the republican party in this city to lobbyists and agents of special priv ilege in leadership should be severed. We hold that no political party should give places of trust or posts of honor to those whose occupation it is to traf f1c in legislation for hire, and we firm ly believe that the republican party, in city, State and nation, must throw off the dominance of the hirelings of monopoly and privilege if it would continue to serve the people in accord ance with it's high and manifest duty.
 The Republican party should be ruled by its voters, and to this end the voters should be able to make theil nominations direct. and thus be en- abled to shake off the oppressive lead ership of corruption. We are aware that direct primaries for all nominations cannot be had without a change in the state law, which unfortunately the legislature seems disinclned, to make. owing to bers of the house. Nevertheless. simple change in the rules of the party in Bridgeport will permit local nomi nations to be made directly by the republican voters.
 ''It is your long and honorable ef- fort to procure this much-mooted re- form, sir, that causes us to look upon you as the natural leader of all those republicans who believe that their party should be ruled by the party members for the benefit of the people, rather than by few leaders, who are neither in sympathy with the tenets of republicanism nor desire to serve any body excepting themselves and their wealthy masters.
 We are also not unmindful of your fearless. faithful and intelligent serv- ice in the office which you now hold, nor of the respect and affection in which you are held by members of all parties and the citizenship at large.
 We propose, sir, through your leadership. to nominate majority of the delegates to the next republican town and city convention, whose duty 1t shall be to immediately prepare a revision of the party rules, providing for direct primaries, and placing the power of the party in the republican voters, as it is placed in most of the republican states of the union.
 The present system of making mu- niclpal nominations is confided, as you know, to convention of only 19 mem- bers, an exceedingly small representa- ton of the party in Bridgeport
 It seems to us that such a method should be replaced by one that is more republican, namely, by the direct nom nation of candidates by the voters themselves.
 We know of no man better equipped to lead in SO splendid cause than you are, and we ask you to join With us by becoming our standard bearer in this contest between right and privilege.
 Respectfully yours,
 "E. I. MEYER,
 President.
 AUGUST G. BAKER.
 Secretary"