The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-18
KEEP PARTY PLEDGES

From two sources, one expected md the other, it must be confessed unexpected, has come, within . few lays, the proclamation that party platforms mean something. The one medium through which this truth is expressed is the New Haven Union The Union merely proclaims a doc .rine that was aforetime expressed by It's editor. and owner, the late Alex Under Troup, and which is still en- fertained by its present owners. his yons, Alexander and Philip Troup.
 The other medium was the voice If Chandler of Rocky Hill, who shows spots of sterling metal, as a public man, scintillating among much lrosA
 1t Is . fine scorching that Chandler lives the Democrats of the House who voted against the ratification of the incomes tax amendment. He said ln part:
 I have salready brought the att
 tent4on of this house to the bind
 ing and uhequivocal character of
 the pledges that the Democratic
 party made to the people of this
 state in the last campaign, and l leave ithe responsibility for Demo-
 cratic action where it belongs
 with the Democratic conscience.
 dA9 . :.Republican," says Chandler of RnckyiHin. T stand by President Taft and .thet Senate and the House, which passed the income tax amend ment by the overwhelming vote of BIT to A."
 What though Chandler may be moved by desire for party advan- tase; that does, not decrease the strength of what he says. The very theory of party government is that party leaders will criticise the pro- grams of the other parties, that thus the people will be informed and that in a competition to see which party may best serve the people the state will profit
 Mono should welcome criticism of false Democrats more than Demo crats. The greatest injury that par ty can sustain is that the members of the party. when entrusted with of flee and power, shall prpves false to party pledges made to the people.
 As for the Union, it displays a fine Indignation against a Democratic member of the House, who voted asainst the income tax. His excuse was that Governor Baldwin's message advised him in that direction. T fol- lowed the governor he said
 The Union indicates in' no uncer- tain terms that he did not follow the governor, because the governor did not take a position against the in- come tax.
 proposition that even if the governor crat would thereby have been justi- fled in similar position.
 Not the impulses and whims of governors are the rule of the Dem Dcratic party, but the platforms made In its party conventions.
 " It is apparent that the nice little arrangements which formerly existed between party leaders have been swept away that the era of mutual party criticism is again with us, and That a short shyift and a long rope is fo be the lot of Democrats who get elected to office only to repudiate the pledges upon which they ran for off, flee.
 The situation is not without it's les sons Tn Bridgeport The Democratic party has declared for immediate municipal ownership. Mayor Buck ingharn, head of the Dem ocratic par fy in Bridgeport, has initiated meas 6res to secure the installation of a public plant for the manufacture and sale of electricity. He is thereby rarrying out the pledges made by his party to the people. It is the duty of all Democrats entrusted with office to assist him in carrying out the par E pledges. Upon the sincerity with which it proceeds the party will be Argely judged.
 Divided councils and a policy of betrayal might bring the entire par ty in Bridgeport to disaster. It would certainly. bring to disaster, those of flee holders who are partisans4of the principle that party pledges are made to be broken. and who advocate an alliance with public service corpora tions, in the mistaken belief that their own political. fortunes will there by be forwarded.