The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-12
MIR. CADWELL'S DEFEAT NOT
VICTORY FOR HIS ENEMIES


The Democrats who abandoned their party to vote
against the confirmation of William Henry Caldwell, Gov
ernor Baldwin's nomination for highway commissioner
did the people of Connecticut poor service yesterday
ticut will be in safe hands, and the highways depart
1nent open to public scrutiny.
Sixteen of 81 Democrats stood Loyalty by the COVER
Five others voted with Republicans
James FL Macdonald whose conduct of the highway
has been a issue in two campaigns.
It is not crime to vote against party nomination
It crime for senator to his conscience
though he should vote against twenty party
But it is crme-a political and social cr1me-for
senator against his party that party
gagged carrying mandate of the people, when
is engaged in doing something that it has promised the
people shall be done.
Good roads at the very basis of prosperous state
city together They furnish measure Of competition as
check upon railroad rates. and with the growing guam
measure of relief
Connecticut has poured out millions to increase and
improve this form of millions
have largely been wasted The veriest tro in road build
knows that adequate return has been made for the
knowledge grew the demand for change in the highway
department. and it is this legitimate and righteous de
who under duty to do otherwise.
The attempt to show that Mr. Caldwell inefficient,
or dishonest man. was an utter and miserable failure
It is true that majority of committee reported against
Mr. Caldwell but the evidence contained in their report
was in itself enough to show the falsity of the effort to
dscredt him The minority report as made by sena-
tor Mccarthy masterpiece of weighed and considered
evidence must convinced every candid listener
injury being unfairly done to the governor
nominee to the governor Democratic par
TO the of Connecticut To what Mr. McCar
thy said added the eoqueny analytical speech of
Senator Lester o. Peck of Redding who completely
which had been reared against Mr. Caldwell Well said
it, by Senator Peck that the opposition to Mr. Cad
we'll lis not popular, but political and geographical that
is say almost entirely from that portion of the state
in which the Democratic leadership is temporarily the
hands of who has enjoyed highway contracts under
Commissioners Macdonald, and profited by them.
Senate Leader Med OnOugh completed the chain of
gument of of Mr. CALDWELL when
he, expressing himself believing the good purpose
of Senator Landers Britain severely
that genemans judgment for serving upon the so-caled
committee of investigation and also impugned
of permitting Senator Isbe upon the
committee.
ders the confessed and bitter of Mr. Cad
well before the investigation and certainly partisan
view of the and in his vote upon it,
Senator Mccarthy alone be regarded as having
gone upon that committee with unprecedented mind His
report reflected his lack of bias and his
depreciation OF the facts garnered the Investigation
which he arshalled with fine effect strong
to the wobby presentment of the against COVER
by the majority of the committee, Republican
partisan not above playing the game for party
the other former Republican who made of
opposition to Mr. Caldwell long before he elected himself
to of the judges of the qualifications of the gov
ernOr's appOintee
But the end is not yet Commissioner Macdonald and
his friends merely vctors ski11nsh The senate
viii be brought to its by the storm of popular wa
that will oVeItake its action of yesterday The
shows Enthusiastically that it intends highway
department the kind of department the people Con
necticut want and ought to have. The Upon
assertion.