The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-10-26
JOHNSON SOAkS RAILROAD RULE IN CONNECTICUT Progressive Leader Pleads For Direct Primaries, and
 Peoples Rule Favors Recall Even of Judges to Put Government Into
 Hands of People

I - There was a great time at the Arm l ory, last night. Some 5000 men and women assembled in the storm to | listen to Governor Hiram w. Johnson l of California, candidate for vice-presi- dent on the Progressive ticket the man | who put his recall for judges into the constitution Of California, with some other trimmings of pure Democracy, all of which was unacconap1ished un- l til he had destroyed railroad domina- | tion there.
 They weren't all Bull Moose. Demo- crats were there, and Republicans, the citizenship, and some of the old school l politicians
 They heard Johnson talk like an Ok | 1ahoma Democrat, or like Lynn w. Wilson
 While the politicians, including some of the local Bull Moose leaders, writh- talk, he scored the domination of the New Haven railroad in Connecticut, demanded the direct primaries. direct 1awmaking by the people through the initiative and referendum and popular election of United States Senators. He declared, in no uncertain tones, for the recall of all public servants, including judges, and advocated that whole system Of pure democracy which is well known to the readers of this newspaper through the long advocacy of these columns, and which is set fourth in various blanks in the Demo- cratic platform made in Baltimore.
 
 excoriated with a tongue of flame
 And finally he paid his compliments to kept newspapers, with an aninus that showed too clearly his knowledge that some such publications have their happy homes in Bridgeport and Con- necticut.
 Johnson to the echo, especially when he denounced railroad rule and when he declared for the recall of judges.
 Johnson is the first Bull Mooser who has struck Bridgeport with the western doctrine of pure democracy on his lips
 The local campaign has been dis cussed by the Bull Moose leaders as if they were members of the conspiracy to declare that the only issue before the country is the tariff, and it was most noticeable that MT; VineenI the man, confined himself strictly to Hill and the tariff, leaving outside of his brief remarks all allusion to direct prl- maries, recall of judges. popular cleo ton of United States Senators, prefer entia1 choice of presidential candidates and so on.
 subject of railroad rule, and about it's destruction through the initiative ana referendum. The rally was entnusl- astic. There was a band, and hun dreds of voices joined in singing "On- ward Christian Soldier
 Among the statements made by Coy. Johnson was one to the effect that President Taft will not carry a state east of the Mississippi river
 H. H. Jackson made some orlef re ments. MT. Vincent was chairman Of the meeting. He spoke as follows:
 MT Vincent said:
 Standing here in the presence of this large enthusiastic audience, as F look into your intelligent, thoughtful faces, it is with great effort that l refrain from sowing some of the seeds Of the Bull Moose New Tariff Doctrine, for I see before me a fertile soil and fair open minds.
 so many sidelights that can be turned on showing you how tariffs are made, by whom they are made, and who really gets the lions share, showing how little real study and honest effort is put into the work
 l hope later on to tell you some $335, ,0OO, GOO are taken from the pockets of the people almost in the tW1nkl1ng of an eye. You did not come to hear me, still I must sound a note of warn We have been told over and over so many times that the prosperity, yes, field county, depends on the political life and the continuance in health and strength of one E. J. Hill It is an awful thing to contemplate that all of our prosperity springs from one Hill; from that Hill comes the bread and butter tree that keeps the wolf from the door, that keeps the grass from growing in streets. Think what would happen if he should fail politically; if the Lord should call him hence. It is a crime for any party to hold such calam- ity over our people if so much depends on Hill.
 In the interest of public safety the Progressive party demands that an understudy should be provided. MT. Hill should be allowed to conserve his energies and rest for a time.
 But I know that mentally you are l1ungering and impatient for the rich feast of convincing truth and progres- sivism that will be given you by the great orator and standard bearer of civic righteousness from Western coast. I shall detain you only a mo ment.
 About fourteen months ago strang- CT in a hotel in Paris accosted me, saying, Pardon, but are you from the Sta tes? ?'
 I replied, 'eYes, from old Connecti- cut. It is small, but dear to those who dwell tIere.''
 He extended a friendly hand, saying, sI am from the Western slope.''
 In the conversation that followed we discussed several national move ments and the men prominent in those