The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-09-16
JUDGE LIGHT AND EDITOR CLARK IN IA MERRY BATTLE. NOrwaIk Man Calls RepubIi- can Leader to Account
 For Criticisms. MAKES POINTED CHARGE
 ON MATTER OF BOSSES Attorney General, Denied Re- nomination by G. o. F.,
 Going to Fights

ton for attorney general, has come out with a scathing denouncement or Charles Hopkins Clark, editor or Ine Hartford Courant, and a prominent Republican leader Judge Lights at tack was in reply to an editorial which recently appeared in MT. Clarks pa paper and it has drawn forth 1urlher editorial comment in the same col unnns.
 Judge Lights Announcement IS com tained in the following open letter: MT Charles Hopkins Clark, Editor of
 the Courant
 My Dear sir. I have just read your editorial in Mondays issue of The thank you for it. It affords me an oppprtunity to state my position ana compare it with yours
 Messrs. Blakeslee and Wright may feel just as do, but without the courage to say so. ana not dis pleassd because I was not non1nat-- ed but because was beaten by in trigue and improper manipulation am satisfied that a decided majority or the delegates to the convention fav- ored my renomination and that would have been renominated if the ssbosses', had kept their hands, off But notwithstanding my defeat at their flandss5I would have withheld all ad- verse criticism if they had not placed the names of three men upon the ticket known to be absolutely under their control, and MT. Roraback had not caused himself to be reelected as chairman of the Republican state cen traI committee.
 If had followed my personal in clination I would not have been candidate at all. was urged to seek another term by friends who believed 1t to be my duty to do so. I believe at one time you thought my record entitled me to renomination and that you expected me to be candidate to succeed myself short time af- terward you had conference with MT Roraback and your attitude to- ward me was changed. Many of the leading lawyers of the state signed a. written indorsement of my candi- dacy and you refused to publish it. In order to have a proper announcement of my candidacy appear in your paper before the convention ] was obliged to have it inserted as an advertise ment Meanwhile you were insisting editoriaIly that delegates should go to the convention unpledged,g and at the same time you and the "bosses" were grooming candidate for gover- nor and whetting your knife for my scalp. < You aided them materially in manipulating the convention. You have stood sponsor for the bosses for years and but for your support. MT. Roraback would not have been
 
 tral committee. You have done this with your eyes open. You knew that MT. Roraback and MT. King until re- cently were the chief lobbyists of the railroad company, and that honest public opinion is against them, and yet you commend and support them both and really aid in making their careers possible. Now, who is ren- dering the greater service to the Re- publican party. you as an accompliee of bosses or I as a. critic of their naisdoings? When have you ever criticised the character and work of the Republican sbosses'' of this state What have you ever done by word Or deed to purge the party from boss. rule? You have helped them to name certain candidates. who, if elected, will give them the absolute control of the that is what they are fighting for. They have repeatedly said they did not want me because would not stand by them I believe that he serves his party best who serves the public best, and shall not remain in acquieseent silence while men like Messrs. Roraback and King are ern- bezzIing the powers of the people un- der the guise of party leadership. I am Republican, but am not a slave I shall not be cowed by your invidious comparisons, or silenced by unkind criticism.
 The essential function of a political party is to frame issues for the pub lie verdict, and to elect good men to office. When a party ceases to do this in 8 progressive spirit, it no longer serves the public.
 A very large part of the republican platform harks back, and deals with uncontroyerted questions Everyone. irrespective of party. believes in our charitable institutions, good roads, protection to American industries, the suppression of tuberculosis, etc These have become the settled policies of the state, and no public verdict in re- gard to them is necessary. But the platform does not even blink at the great struggle going on among the people to do away with boss rule, and to safeguard the administration of public service corporations A very large majority of the states have adopted the direct primary to enable the people to- do away with machine domination and have inaugurated the initiative and refereTdu ufn as mediums for ascertaining an expression of the popular will, but there is no hint At any of these vital issues in the plat form. Many honestly believe that a majority of the men and women Of this state are in favor of equal suf- frage, but this subject, too, the platform is as silent as the tomb. It would seem that even the bosses would be willing to submit the ques-' ton to the people.
 I am sure, MT Editor, that a great many progressive republicans are ac- tually aggrieved over the Indifference of their party to the vital issues be- fore the people, and yet, if one speaks out he is liable to be dubbed a ttsore head and this fear makes towards The republican tbosses have I framed an issue against me, and l propose to fight them to finish, and shall not allow your rfdicule to stay my hand.
 Very truly yours,
 JOHN H. LIGHT
 MIR. c1ARKs ANSWER.