The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-02-03

passed at this session, they come for
ward with this unique and compare
lively unheralded proposal. / shall
listen to arguments in its behalf, as
you doubtless will, with open-mind-
edness and attention. I shall with
But have no hesitancy of saying in
advance that, because of it's novelty,
because of the hardness of its appear
ance and pre-eminently because it
never has been in any sense an issue
before the people-for these reasons, 1
say, there is a very heavy burden of
proof resting upon it's sponsors.
The Modern Transition.
Gentlemen, modern states are pass
ing through a period of transition. All,
in one form or another, are facing
the problem of adjusting old laws, old
practices and old administrative de-
wees to new industrial system. Much
that is called "radicalism'' is merely
the conservative efforts of honest and
far-seeing men to compass this stormy
passage without Industrial, financial
or social shipwreck. Much that is
called conservatism is merely the
stupid and purblind act of closing
ones eyes to memorable realities True
radicalism means simply going to the
root of a matter, and true conserva-
tism means merely the progressive adj
growth. We are misled and befud-
died by adroit word jugglers. No
body wants to injure the great natur-
al mOnopOlieS that, on the whole, serve
us wisely and well. We are proud of
them. While protecting ourselves,
we would conserve. protect and en-
courage them. But we cannot do
this, gentlemen, by standing still.
Old Parties On Trial.
in this state. The Republican party
is on trial. because it has recently
lost a governorship and hopes to re-
trieve the ground surrendered. The
Democratic party is on trial because
it has gained .governorship and
hopes to press on to new vantage
ground. These ambitions are legiti-
mate and altogether creditable They
stand facing one another, sparring for
position. But, gentlemen, back of and
beyond both of these established par
ties are the forces of unrest, with
strange and novel proposals full upon
their lips. If the people find that
they cannot put new wine into these
old bottles, they may throw away
both wine and bottles and begin anew;
and when that time comes, if come it
ever does there will be dry lips and
empty stomachs both among those who
do the throwing and those whose re-
utilities bill, this workingmen's COM
pensation act; these so-called progress
Sive measures are merely the surface
phenomena of general movement I,
believe in the existing order, as you
do. 7 believe in the private owner
ship of property, as you do. 1 have
faith in representative government,
as you have. We look and loDk wise
ly, with fear and suspicion upon new
styled and experimental devices, the
heated offspring of unrest and the i'm
mature product of paper philosophiz-
ing. But, if We have faith in pres
ent institutions let us prove it by our
acts. If we believe the system of
law-making set up by the fathers is
adequate to the needs of the times,
let us use that system in solving the
problems of fthe times. Let us stay
the rising, tide of discomfort, not by
fantastic innovations cunningly shap-
proven devices with ample powers, fit
to do even-handed justice between
the corporations and the people, and
competent to maintain the stability
that breeds confidence and the pros
perity that insures content. I con-
graduate you, gentlemen, upon your
signal opportunity to make history.
Speaking for the Commercial Tray
ellers Of Connecticut, Mr.. Sherman Of
West Hartford, waxed eloquent in de-
fence of a public utilities bill though
he did not define the specific nature
of the bill he advocated, He himself
is an advocate of public ownership of
public utilities, he said. but in the alb
Sence of such a condition it is essen
tial that we should have a body to
hear our just complaints and take
prompt action upon them.
There is undeniabIy strong SEN
timent," he said, that we won't get