Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-25
ON THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Taft in Lecture Course at Slater Hall General Corruption in Politics Has Disappeared He says-The Voice of the People Has Been Heard-Ihe Late Flee lions Encouraging But War Retrograde Movement

The fifth Of the popular lecture course at Slater hall on Tuesday eV- ening was, as Principal H. A. THrell said in his introduction, the acme of the course and an extra large au- dience was present to honor our ex- president, Hon. William H. Taft
 His Third Visit to Norwich.
 His lecture upon The Sign of the Times was greeted with prolonged ap- p;ause and interspersed with frequent laughter and applause. This was his third visit to Norwich, the last being at the time of the 250th anniversary an age which gives him great respect and reverence for this town. he re- marked.
 Chaotic Conditions.
 As for the times themselves, con- ditions are chaotic and It IS nara m to prophecy the results. There are sc many currents moving in society today and one cannot always tell which are surface nipples, or real currents. One might ignore community troubles ID an astronomical view of centuries only, but we are not sure of being ln touch with more than three genera tions. The men who stand out in each age and who shaped the polices of their time were. only tk2Se who embodied thought of all the people ot that time as it existed around them So every small person today can help in creating this feeling and In thus developing leader.
 This Countrys Marvellous Expansion . In all this confusion of tongues, we try to find out what they are talking about and what the results will be First come material statistics. Al the resumption of specie payments and a proper money basis, after the war began the country's marvellous expan- sion. NeVer in history had there been a greater expansion than from 1878 to 1908. All the people were lift ed materially. The workman of to- day has made comforts and more o pleasures than were possible fol Queen Elizabeth. All this combina- ton of capital and of resources which made for good was accompanied bS another combination which worked fol evil. An order for delegates might be given and the price paid the same sas an order for goods. The people die not realize this. They were so in, tent on the pursuit of wealth and ma terdaI progress that they were not watching for this evil tendency am before they knew it they were near ing a plutocracy. But they came tC a consciousness of this.
 Leaders Had to Listen.
 When the people got going nothing could withstand them Even theil leaders had to turn around and gt the other way and after things whicf before they had avoided like the smallpox. The reform was real anC if did great things. Corporations hay, to keep out of politics now They have found thata the people can do i and overdo it. This is shown 1T the state public utilities commissions which have done injustice sometime. and in the conservation movement Party machines shared in condemna tfon. Party control had been showl ou through it's abuses and the bosse decreed abolished. They would there fore, smash the machine.
 No Government Without Parties.
 But a government cannot be rul without parties. Two is the bes number. The only effective way i! 10 reunite on major matters-otherwist popular government is failure.
 General Corruption Disappeared.
 This general corruption in polite, has now disappeared. It grew up unde, a representative government-and st this was blamed for it. A movemen was started for more democracy. The! are finding their mistake very soon Pure democracy has been proved wron: by 1000 years experience and a rep representative government was bein! built up.