The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-10-28
MULLINS MERCILESSLY EXPOSES
CITY'S RECKLESS EXTRAVACANCE


ocratic members of the board of alder
men did right in voting for the in
stalIat1on of a modern audit system.
But the price paid for that work!
Twenty thousand dollars! Think of it,
To my mind that was an exorbitant
and outrageous figure. Our Repub1t-
can friends must think we have short
memories if they think we have forgot
ten the laundry bills that the city paid
for Peter White and his helpers They
must think we have short memories if
they think we have forgotten the din
ner bills at the Hotel Stratfield paid
for Mr.. White and his assistants. They
must credit US with poor memories,
Indeed, if they think we have forgotten
their promise of two years ago Of a
fifteen mills tax rate
"And what has happened to that is
mills take rate? In the extravaganza.
of the present administration Mayor
Wilson soon saw the futi1ity of at
tempting to reach his goal in the mat
ter of tax rate. You know what the
tax rate is today
Raising his voice impressiyely, Don
nelly then said:
st feel sorry for the city of Bridge
port if the voters on next Tuesday re-.
turn the present administration for
two years more
I'VE have had our primary fight
said Mr.. DonneIIy s+It was a good,
did not have such contest OCCASION
ally ours would not be a true Democ-
racy- But that contest is past and
gone. I and my friends stand ready
to do our best for the successful nom
inees. AS true as am standing here
tell you men that have not heard a.
single voter allied with the so-ca11ed
organization declare that he would not
support Mr.. Mullins or the rest of the
Democratic nominees"
Mr. Donnel1y closed with a fitting
tribute to Mr. Mullins to whose many
years of friendship he referred with
especially telling effect. He spoke of
his candidacy for the mayoralty two
years ago, of Mr. Mullins loyal sup
port, and of his generous offers of
financial assistance during and even
| after the campaign.
Mr.. Donne1ly was vigorously APP
plauded. Then Mr.. Mullins was intro
duced.
Referring to the Second district as
"a Gibraltar of Democracy he said
he was very pleased that the first OPP
portun1ty of the campaign to address
the electorate of Bridgeport brought
him to that district. He expressed his
pleasure at what his running mates
had said and particularly at the loyal
endorsements OF his candidacy vouch-
safed by Mr.. Donnel1y. He had en-
/ joyed Mr.. Donnelly's friendship for
| many years and he expressed his con-
fdence that he would retain it for
the future
II would have been pleased had any
other Democrat been given this nom
nation" continued Mr.. Mullins, stbut
such was not fate, and the Democracy
| of Bridgeport called upon me-
have been honored many times in the
past and when my party called on
candidate. And I want to tell you
1 here and now that I am going to be
! elected over Clifford B. Wilson.
(Cheers.)
t IT have no apologies to make to any
ETnan living. be he Democrat or Repub-
ltcan, as to my politics. believe
have a clean record. I have en-
| deavored from the time was no1nin-
ated to this minute, to conduct a
campaign free from personalities. If
it were left to me, the campaign from
now until the polls close a week from
tomorrow night would be the cleanest
! in the history of Bridgeport.
MEN on the other tickets are
| friends of mine. Some OF them are
warm, personal friends. will stand
for no man, so far as have power,
to beiittle my personal friends.
/ THE issue in this campaign is not
| Who is to be mayor?' The question
is who shall be mayor upon the pr1n-
ciples and policies promised in the
Eparty platform. I stand upon the
Democratic platform, as enunoiated at
Jeffersonial hall, and I also here re-
tterate the statement made that
night
/ Mr.. Mullins Invited his auditors to
refer to the facts and figures embodied
in his speech of acceptance. Then
i he said:
/ st charge that the present Republi-
i can administration, with all due re-
spect to those who are managing it,
| and to the powers that be, is the. most
cvrfV 1iey+,-1
tory of Bridgeport. (Cheers.)
i st say this with full knowledge OF
the facts.'' More cleers,)
In connection with the foregoing
charge, Mr.. Mullins referred to his ex-
/ perienee as city clerk.
81 was city clerk under the Illus
4 trious DeForest, one of the finest law
yers that Fairfield county ever pro-
duced; under good old Bostwiclz
whose heart was as big as a sugar
Marigold-always on the Ievel-a, bet
i ter Republican never lived; under
Frank e. Clark, who never had any
experience in public life, except on
the Board of Public Works, and he
made a better mayor than many men
who had had more experience; an6
last Of all under the late Thomas p
4 Taylor, one of the leading manufac-
i turers of Bridgeport. If Tom Tay-
lor were alive today, he would vote
for Fred Mullins for mayor. Cheers
1 know whereof I speak. L had the
, word of Thomas P. Taylor, three
weeks before he died He said, Fred
run for mayor; the administration is
rotten and I will support you
IT said, Tom, that is the thing fur
thest from my thoughts.
HE said, Run and I will vote fol
: you and I will contribute to your cam
paign- We have got to make
change
Then Mr.. Mullins referred to the
statement he had issued to press yes
terday, a statement which, he said
. he was ready to back with facts and
figures.
1.-THE administration at this time is
crying about the great roads thai
have been built. Yes, they built the
roads and I'm glad of it. I would
= like ha1 -r.cn d. I lot,s