The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-30
 DECLARES
 RECORD
As Alderman, State Senator and Tax Collector He Has Served People and Ig-
 nOred Bosses
He Will not Do Otherwise If He Is Elected Mayor Makes Frank Statement to Fellow Citizens.

OO 1T ClON OlGlLCIlS.
 Tax Collector John M Donnelly, to- day, made the following statement, in further amplification of his position, stated on the night of his nomination, .'that if a boss comes into my office to influence me in my official action, I will kick him out.''
 Mr. Donnelly's statement is as fol- lows:
 Owing to the charge made by the opposition press that T. have been nominated for mayor as a tool of a political ring, I feel it to be duty not only to myself, but to the public, to make candid statement as to my position relative to this nomination and also as to my future conduct, if elected mayor. would not, through failure to define my position, have any misunderstanding concerning the mat ter orN have any fair minded and hon. est voter, who seeks only to cast his ballot for the city's best interests. be deceived himself or do me an injus- tice, through any misapprehension as to the true facts of the situation.
 1T accepted the nomination for mayor very reluctantly. The chair men of ten district delegations, out Of twelve to the nominating convention, informed me that it was the wish and request of fifty out of sixty delegates that I should accept the nomination and that it was my duty to do it. told them and insisted that my pre- ference was the tax collectorship and I yielded to their urgent solicitation only through sense of obligation to my party. I at the same time told %I< lnla <acs hof fnl .rf would be under no express or implied pledge I told them that would be- come the nominee only on the distinct understanding that was to be an absolutely free and independent pub lie servant. This is the truth as to my nomination.
 And now as to my course here after, if elected nlayer. There is no better way of Judging the future than by the past
 .I have served in a public capacity as alderman, as member of the State Senate and tax collector. I ask that my record in these several of fees be reviewed and scrutinized. I challenge any critic to point out in my public record any act that would indicate that I was subservient to or under the domination of any political ring I ask wherein, during those years I have done anything that would leIfu cOlOr lO Lue dccuSdliOH that I was the tool of any man or any politician.
 t.'As State Senator, where the most powerful and varied influences are brought to bear upon man to per- sudde him to one course or another, I ask if my opponents can find one vote cast by me- whereby I betrayed the public trust or yielded to political or selfish interests. My experience has taught me that the best asset Of public servant is efficiency in the performance Of his. duties and the conduct of his office. have always sought to win and retain public con- fidence.
 'I value the confidence of my fel- low citizens more than do the friend. ship of politician Or group of politi- clans and I would not forfeit this public confidence by catering to self seekers or by playing petty politics or by assisting in any dishonorable schemes. I shall. as mayor of the city, with motives only for the pulp lie good. to the best of my ability, give to the people an honest, efficient and progressive administration.
 Where the standard of adninistra tion in any department is high, I shall strive to maintain the excellence and branch of municipal government can be bettered. I shall endeavor to inn prove it. The welfare of the city shall be my first consideration in all my appointments and in all my official acts. My hands are united and my judgment is free. I have made no pledge or promise to any human be- ing. Every syllable of this statement is true and as I have always tried to deal honestly with my fellow cit izens, I ask and expect them to ac- cept this declaration on my part at it's face value.i My claim to their confidence is my public record
 "A moments consideration ought to convince any reasonable mind that it would be futile and unfair to try to reach any political ring by striking at shows that I am weak enough to be the tool of any coterie of men, how illogical and unjust it would be to try to get at them by. punIshing me.
 If any voter suspects that any politician or group of politicians have any sinister purposes or contemplate any dishonorable acts, Or that ap- pointments will be made to promote selfish interests, how can he better thwart any such designs Or purposes than by electing a man to the office of mayor who has never been sus- ceptible to improper influences and who has always shown that the pub lie interests were his first concern in the performance of his public duties :? mine will be fully remembered after I am elected mayor and that I will be held to strict accountability for every word of it.
 q have tried to make frank state ment to my fellow citizens. because I feel that the situation demands it and that justice to the public and to