The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-09-08
MORRIS WILL
LEAD FIGHT
FOR PROGRESS
Accepts Endorsement of Pro-
gressive Republican Associa.
ton and Will Demand Change
in Party Rules to Permit
Direct Primaries - Contest
Between People and the Lob
by

Harbor Master Charles H. Morris
has written a letter accepting the en-
dorsement Of the Progressive Republi-
can Association, and will become the
progressive candidate for the Repub-
Gcan nomination for Mayor. Mr..
Morris candidacy is conditional, how
ever, upon the pledging Of all dele
gates chosen in his favor, that they
will vote Immediately for change in
the rules Of the Republican party, to
permit the direct nomination of all
party candidates for elective municipal
Office. The harbor master says that
the contest is between '"the people and
the lobby and says that he will stay
in the fight to finish. The letter
Of acceptance follows:
Progressive Republican Association,
Bridgeport, Conn.
Gentlemen
am in receipt of your communica-
ton Of Aug. 81, 1911, in which you
case I should be a candidate for the
Republican nomina ton for Mayor, and
ask me to become your standard bear
er In your movement to procure such
changes in the rules of the Republi-
can party in Bridgeport as will enable
the Republican voters to choose di-
rectly their candidates for elective
municipal office
I believe in direct primaries and be-
lieve that this truly American method
of making party nominations should
extend to all important elective Of
fices. My convictions upon this sub
ject are not Of recent origin. I have
held them for many years, and for a
number of years have endeavored to
Of a
direct primaries compulsory upon all
political parties in Connecticut.
81 have also twice endeavored to in
duce the leaders of the party in
Bridgeport to change their rules SO
as to permit direct primaries in local
elections.
Two years ago some of the members
of your association supported me as a
candidate for the Republican nomina-
ton for Mayor. We went into the
convention with twelve delegates,
three Of whom did not remain with
our movement. The delegates friend
ly to me offered in this convention a
platform pledging the Republican
party to a change in the rules for the
benefit Of the Republican voters, SO
that they, the voters, might be the
actual rulers of the Republican party,
as they should be.
The platform did not as you know,
command the support of a ma jority
of the delegates in the convention.
My efforts to have the rules chang
ed to give more power to the voters
of the party were renewed a year ago,
when I offered in our convention a
set of rules that if adopted would
have accomplished the desired result,
but the effort was unsuccessful.
I am now convinced that it will be
useless to appeal for this just modifi
cation of the party rules to a limited
leadership. Our appeal must be di-
rectay to the Voters Of our party.
I am willing to become your candi-
date for Mayor upon the understand
ing that any delegates who may be
chosen who are favorable to me,
whether one, or a majority of the con-
vention, shall be pledged forthwith to
vote in the convention of which they
will be members for an immediate
nominations shall thereaf-
ter be by direct primaries, and take
an steps in their power to put such
changes into early operation.
It seems to me that the convention
system does not fairly represent the
Republican party, or, indeed, the peo-
pie Of any party. Moreover, in our
makes it not the best pos
sible methods of representing the
views of the voters.
Indeed, under the convention sys-
tenn, however honest the members OF
the convention may be, it is practic-
ally impossible for the voter to ex-
press his views fully and for every
office. This is wrong. I am GER
tain that Republicans of Bridgeport
can be trusted to vote by name for
the man they desire to nominate for
Mayor, for Town Clerk, or for any
office The result in the latter case
will be acceptable to all Republicans,
for it is an expression of party will,
while delegate conventions are not in
in opposition to the views
Of the great majority of Republicans.
It seems to me that the cause in
which you are enlisted is indeed a
worthy cause. The contest is between
the people and privilege. The people
want direct primaries. The monop-