The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-20
MAYOR TALKS
 PLAINLY TO
 BUSINESS MEN
Office Holders More Willing to Have Them Help Than They
 Are to do it
Urges Business Men to Get Into Public Life and Help Guide
 Municipal Destinies

ful annual meeting ever held by the State Business Mems Association, ' was the verdict of the delegates who left Bridgeport last night after an all days session here, at which Governor Baldwin, Mayor Buckingham, the members of the Public Utilities Com mission and other notables were the guests of honor
 To Bridgeport members of the asso- ciation the most important action of the day was the election of S. E. Vim cent to the position of first vice pres ident. This was accomplished with out a contest, thanks to the with drawal of Vice President Kelly of Torrington from the race. Otherwise, the Bridgeport bunch were prepared to do battle with every prospect of victory.
 MT. Vincent is now in line to be president of the association next year.
 The most notable speech of the day was Governor. Baldwin's address on the Sherman Antitrust act, at the banquet, as printed in the Farmer last evening.
 Bridgeport was the first speaker at
 
 inspiring address in his best style. He was given a great ovation. f Mayor Buckingham was introduced to the assemblage as ''the Governor of Bridgeport
 'eWell, it's an honor to be governor of something" retorted the Mayor in opening his remarks.
 Mayor Buckingham told the business men of the real pleasure it afforded him to welcome them to the city of Bridgeport. He paid high complf- ment to the retiring president of the association, and said that the presi- dents address as delivered in the morning was well worth printing in every paper in the United States and worthy of the most careful perusal
 Every word of it was good sound advice said the Mayor, which if followed would mean more business for ourselves and the State.
 We hear a great deal in campaigns of late concerning the urgent need of business methods' in politics. said the Mayor; "the public seems apt to decry every office holder as mere politician and 'self-seeker.' and de- mand business men and business methods in the city's administration.
 T believe that I have endeavored, more than any other chief executive of Bridgeport. to secure business men in the city's administration. have attempted at least to fill the import ant places on the city boards with stalwart business men. The great trouble has been the reluctance of the business men to accept positions. I had considerable difficulty at first to induce them to take hold of things, but after a while I succeeded in get ting them interested.
 ''The trouble seemed to be that
 
 serve his city in some position he at once becomes suspicious that you have some axe to grind. He is afraid that if he accepts the place. you are plan ming to do something terrible to him.
 T think that this is a mistaken at- titude that business men sometimes take. We are all human. We are all doing the best we can and it is a mistake to think that simply be- is watching out all the time to turn off a trick on the city and its busi- ness men,
 "I urged the business men to get Into public life and will heartily well come them- If you don't take an ac- tive part in your city's affairs it is your own fault. At the present time we are looking for business men in c1ty's affairs and are more than eager to have them step in and help take hold of the reins.
 We often hear the criticism, too, that this or that man in office ifs not using business methods
 T appeal to your common sense, to your own experiences as business men, to acknowledge the unfairness of this criticism. Your own business has .aken years of painstaking labor to build up. Your own business meth )ds have been developed through long years of consistent application along he lines you have outlined And yet 7ou expect and demand that a public | officer in one year or two will build l ID a business system equal to one hat you may have taken twenty or l thirty years to develop It can't be lone, and you know it can't.
 ''I ask you to take an interest in | your city's affairs and to be Ca boost IT. not a knocker' Politics only come around about once a year. We | lear little of politics before the first | week in November, and considerable | turing the first week, and not much | after that.
 1T am almost inclined to agree from | ny own experience with the man who | 'aid that when a man is elected May 'r, the band comes around to his | louse on election night and the anvil | horus' begins the following evening.
 ALlO yet lH0 very men who ar6t irst to sheer at us tdiscredited poIi- | icians' and who will do nothing to | lelp, are the very men who voted us nto office.
 CT want to thank the association for electing MT. S. E. Vincent ts first vice president. MT. Vincent S man who has sacrificed his time. lis brains and his ability to advance he interests of the city Of Bridge port. I hope that others will follow lis lead. When we face big prob ems it is a great help to meet one mother fairly and discuss them and ak about them. I hope that each if you will return to his home city with the idea of pitching in and help ng, rather than criticising, and that ach of you will consider it his duty o work at all times for the best in- crest of the place he lives in.''
 Richard T. Higgins, of the Public Utilities commission delivered an in address on the powers and of that body, and ,ledged himself and his associates to 10 the best in their power to carry ut the duties of their office.
 We are but human tribunal" he aid, ''and liable to make mistakes; ut we shall do our honest best to de- ide every question on its merits without fear or favor. (Applause.) 'G have a few suggestions as to the