The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-05-16
THE SERMON SCANDAL IS A NATURAL OITGRONTH OF THE GOVERNMENT
 MEIdEN AND HIS SORT HAVE BUILT

rm-~HE GENTLEdEN who are chiefly re- III sponsible for bad government in the United States, are those who manage the pulp lie service corporations and ether business in terests that depend on government favors for
 Mellenss testimony shows how such inter- ests disorganize state, municipal and even na- tfona1 governments and how, by the lavish use of great sums of money and other favors and promotions, public servants or those in places Of Influence, are Induced to become traitors b the state.
 Undoubtedly each orsI of these gentlemen, who could tell stories like Mellen's would de- sire the injury to government to cease when f1ey get theirs.''
 But such hopes can never be realized. A great selfish interest cannot prevail unless it organizes the small self interests. And it soon happens that the chain Of Reorganization, which begins in railroad directorate desiring tp'bbtain the property of its stockholders, ends iH a gang of paving boodlers, or, in the larger caliess in gang of second story men
 Inc little bood1ers vote for the public of- floefs desired by the big ones. The big make possible regime in which the small can profit abIs ply their trade Sa
 Tn all such arrangements everybody must .'Ref his bit.'' Government being organized primarily to facilitate the looting of put services stra ys from it's public functions at thousand points, and becomes an instrument with which the private managers of it punish their enenl es and reward their friends <
 The Siemon incident is 8 natural out growth of the kind of government that exists in Bridgeport, just as Brldgeports government is the outgrowth of the kind of government that exists in Connecticut ts f
 The actual heads of the state government for many years have been railroad chiefs served by railroad lobbyists. This sortof gov ernment has to 8 large extent prevailed every where and it would be strange if it did moi.
 The railroad spent millions financing per sons Of influence for political ends Mr Mel len: Mir. Byrnes; and Mr. Robbins have given Testimony to show it. The fact was perfectly we'll understood before they testified
 The larger part of the known financial gifts to the NistiIlg regime in Bridgeport came from the managers or representatives of local public service corporations. There is nu reason hy the government of Bridgeport should be pufer, or better than it is, under
 E&zs SieInO1 ease is merely a more strilx- ing and dramatic example of the failure of gov ernnlent than often strikes the eye
 Hut signs of that failure are seen on every side etilaes it is a streak of dirt between the Hacks Of trolley monopoly, in the midst Of aH expensive movement. Sometimes it is a high tax on homes, and a low valuation or privileged property. Occasionally it takes the form Of q luxurious car in which especially trusted members of the regime may ride in
 
 is no enH to the nlanife station of private con troI of public affairs
 1t is mere incident that Mayor Wilson was coroner, when the Semon scandal occur red. It is a mere incident that he is mayor during the fhree years in which public crime has been kept as secret as the grave, nourish- ed for months in the bosoms Of those. who were under oath to proclaim the offense to thf world. and seek the just and proper punish. ment of any who were guilty.
 The Siemon scandal we say is a mere in cident, of the kind of government Bridgepor has. It proceeds not from Mayor Wilson nol from any special public servant but from tht system Public servants may be changed as frequently as may be, and, if the system is re iained-the system of private control of gov ernnent-by corporations such incidents vii multiply. such scandals will increase, and tht shame of government will continue to be burden zrievous to be borne
 Unless the Mellen testimony serves tt bring to men s minds the truth about their af fairs it will be given to little purpose.
 What he is testifying to is not abnor mality in the life of New England, but to cancerous growth which has existed so long i may be described as normal condition.
 So far as heard from, the kissiess strik s4nvng the Suffragettes is confined to married women
 The army officers have started schools a