Norwich bulletin., 1912-09-11

At a rally by the Norwich progress sives on Tuesday evening Hon. Tracy c. Becker of California addressed an audience approximating 100 people in the town hall, which included eight
 women.
 The speaker was introduced by G. Warren Davis, who was chairman, and with him on the platform were Edgar II. Allen, Herbert w. Branche, Dr. R. R. Kinkead, Frank H. Foss. Sherwood B. Potter and Allan Latham, and also J. J. Lawless of New London, who with Woodbury o. Rogers were mem bers of the reception committee. Copies of the Connecticut Roosevelt paper were distributed by boys in the lower hall and there were also red bandanas for sale, but apparently with no pur- chasers.
 Cradle of Progressive Party.
 The speaker devoted much of his time to an explanation of what the reform element had accomplished in California, which he claimed was the real cradle of the progressive party. He touched lightly in criticism upon Taft and Wilson, but evoked prolonged applause at each mention of the name of thei banner bearer of the progress sives. An enthusiast on the front seat with a special liking for any knocks handed out to the other parties was an interesting feature of the meeting, as he frequently led off in the applause by stamping his feet or with audible expressions of approval.
 Hon. MT Becker was introduced by Chairman Davis, who said that the progressive speaker had been trans planted from New York to California six years ago, having been sent west to straighten out the land fever tangle. He was successor to the celebrated Philip J. Haney. He had adopted the new principles of government and was going to tell the Norwich people why.
 Hon. Tracy E. Becker. Opening his address amid applause Hon. MT. Becker spoke of his pleasure in speaking in Norwich since on his mothers side he was of Connecticut ancestry, and had spent his summers for many years along the Watch Hill coast. In Connecticut, he said. he un- derstood the situation was much the same as in California when he went there, the state in the grip of one great railroad corporation. In Califor- mia the railroad named judges, county officers and without question the mem- bers of the legislature. This was the control of the Southern Pacific rail- road, he said But there was devot- ed hand of patriots growing up there just as we see it here among the pro- gressives. These California patriots made their start through the graf prosecutions. Later on may say thai when President Taft came to San Francisco his seat was alongside the grafters, and I regret to say he abso- lutely ignored those who were making the fight against them
 Brought Johnson to Light The progressive spirit sprang into prominence in 1909 and brought into the light man till then comparative ly little known. Hiram w. Johnson (Applause.) Not a big paper support. ed him and we had to fight our way tC the people. In not a hamlet or com. munity did he fail to speak and ht preached one story based upon a sen. tence from George Eliot: Every hu- man being is entitled to a fair chanc, in life, not a hogs chance, not dog. chance.
 Central Idea of Progressives. This, to my mind. is the central ides of the progressives, and Hiram John son was elected by a majority tha surprised even his friends. There ar, 1 men here tonight who no doubt be ] lieve in their hearts they ought t 1 join us. but they're afraid. and that why we. are insisting on state ticket and local tickets. (Applause.)
 It has been claimed that the pro | gressive movement grew from and cen tered around Roosevelt, MT. Becke said. Rather 1t had grown from tn awakened conscience of the Americal | people, awakened by Roosevelt and a | Syracuse had been given one of tn l most remarkable evidences that thi country is a free one and not boss ridden. We put a ticket in the fiel