The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-01
Issues Statement That Dem ocratic Aldermen Abide
 By Caucus
REPUBLICANS TO NAME
 ALDERMAN WALKER
In This Case Walker Will Be Republican President
 of Council

Democratic aldermen in caucus, yes- terday, decided to support Alderman William J. Moran, Sixth District, for president of the board of aldermen. There are thirteen Democratic alder men, eight of whom have agreed co support Alderman Moran.
 It is understood the Republicans have decided to elect Alderman Dan ie1 E. Walker, to the presidency, with the help of four votes of aldermen elected as Democrats.
 Alderman Moran. today made a statement regarding the situation, the point of which is in the following language:
 If Alderman Walker is the choice of the Democratic caucus, I shall glad ly support him. If he is not the choice of the caucus and refuses to abide by it's decision. we want the Democrats of Bridgeport to distinctly observe and understand that if he is thus elected president he will be chosen by RepuD- lfcan votes, and will therefore be a Republican president of the board of aldermen and not a Democratic presf- dent He can never claim to be a Democratic president if he attains tho position through Republican votes. Tf he is chosen that way it will be be-
 Republicans make him c1IL14- -.54esident and they must bear the full responsibility for such an act
 Alderman Moran's statement in full, follows:
 There are thirteen men in the board of aldermen who were sent there as Democrats. This gives them a majority in the board of aldermen. that body consisting of twenty-fou- men. The Democrats, in accordance with an unbroken custom, ought to organize the board in view of the fact that they are in the ua5crity This has been invariably Tons by eithtr party when in control. It has bean the established practice to proceed In the only democratic waystf1at can be followed, namely, for the minority oC the party to abide by the majority whei all have had a, fair opportunftg to express themselves and vote in a party caucus. There IS no valid or honorable reason which will justify any member of the Dem ocratic side of the house in departing from the caucsu method and the only tntelIt- gent and honest way in which the party voice can be expressed. I know that it has been said that Alderman Walker and a few others who were elected Democrats to the board of aldermen, do not intend to abide by the choice of their party caucus. They have refused to participate in the councils of the Democratic aldermen I am not going to attack these men or descend to personalities. They will be responsible for their own conduct and we will leave it to the Demo- cracy of Bridgeport to pass final judR- rnent upon the acts of the men select ed as Democratic representatives. Sim ply because this minority will not be guaranteed the power or privilege of controlling the party nominations will not justify them in the eyes of their fellow citizens. All, that I desire to point out is, the duty of these men on
 
 dealing to abide by the will of the majority of the Democratic I have no personal arnbi- ton to be president of the board which would make me an obstruction ist to party unity. Neither should any other member of the board allow his personal ambition to lead him to de sert his party and do something con trary to the basic principle Of Demo cracy and in violation of all prece- dents. I stand ready now to enter i'm to the caucus with the thirteen mem bers of the common council who were elected as Democrats and bow In obedience to whatever might be the will of the majority of that caucus. There is nothing further that I can m honor do or that any self respecting man would expeit me to do.
 "If Alderman Walker is the choice of the Democratic caucus, shall s4d-, y support him. If he is not the choice of that caucus and refuses 10 abide by it's decision, we want the Democrats of Bridgeport to distinctly observe and understand that if he is hus elected president he will be ,hosen by Republican votes and will therefore be a Republican president of he board of aldermen and not a Dem 'cratic president He can nevel claim O be a Dem ocratic president if he att aims the position through Republican Totes. If he is chosen in that way. it will be because the Republicans make Jim their president and they must pear the full responsibility for such nact''