The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-07-15
WHAT'S CONNECTICUT JUSTICE
 GOING TO DO TO THE CRIMINALS
 WHO LOOTED N. H. STOCKHOLDERS

them.
 During many years The Farmer has. stead fly pointed out the conditions as they existed on the New Haven, has continuously shown that the management was paving the way to disaster, and for the past five years has stead fly described the methods which were employ
 Not having the power to call witnesses, or to obtain books and papers, or to examine wit lnesses under oath the facts as presented from feet They did not show the whole enormous extent of the offenses that were being commit ted against the stockholders of the company, and against the public
 The facts offered by The Farmer showed the improper or criminal disposition of mil lions, but the amount was many millions away from the total of the actual diversions which were committed
 The Farmer showed wholesale corruption l of legislatures, the employment of lobbyists, the ownership of politicians and those claim ing to the degree of statesmen
 But The Farmer did not know that cor. ruption was so extensive, that so many lobby ists were hired, nor that So many politicians and statesmen wore the collar.
 The Farmer did not know that the transac- ton in Rhode Island trolleys, by which the stockholders Of the New Haven were deprived of $24, ,0O0,O00 to receive $9,OO0,0OO was uncon- summated until. MT. Mellen conversed with the former leader of the United States Senate, Nel- son M A1drich of Rhode Island.
 The Farmer knew that some Connecticut lpoliticians were in the employment of these railroad managers, and that the same employ ment was continued to Rhode Island and Mas sachusetts politicians But it did not know that some of these men were under annual retainer
 The Farmer knew and told it's readers of gigantic and costly efforts to influence public opinion and of the existence of extensive slush funds
 But The Farmer did not know that the slush I lie opinion so extensive as the finding of the Interstate Commerce Commission proves
 The Farmer knew that slush funds were handled by somebody, but in view of the great peril embraced in the handling of them, it sup posed that the actual task confided to rela-s lively smell fry in the lobby.
 The finding of the commission shows, however, that by far the greater part of these slush funds were dispensed by high officials of the road, and notably by President Mellen, of immunity by telling on the witness stand the story of how the thing was done.
 Great credit is due the Interstate Commerce Commission. Hampered by burned books, by reluctant witnesses by the efforts of influen- ial predatory wealth by the assaults of a kept has succeeded in presenting to the public req sonably complete reconstruction of the greatest public theft in the history of this country.
 It tells in detail the story of a wrong gigan- tlc III the annals or wrong pefnapS uIequalleQs in the history of modern civilization.
 For Connecticut this record is a record of shame It is a record of trust amounting to inn becility of wholesale corruption of the foun-s tafns of government, and is the story of a state which has made its most splendid offices and its finest honors so many stepping stones to the greed of financiers.
 Mr. Mellen, in his impudent discussion of the finding of the committee, speaks one truth.
 He says in effect, that if these crimes were committed as the commission charges, that the state of Massachusetts is an aocompIice before the fact and an accessory after the fact.
 What he says of Massachusetts is true. And if he said the same thing of Connecticut it would be doubly true.
 The truth is that these persons described by the Interstate Commerce Commission, have been for years the actual government of Con- necticut They have been the fountain Of the states dishonor, and the source of the states disgrace.
 NOW COMES THE TIME FOR RESTTTU-l TTON AND PUNISHMENT. THE ACCOM- PI1CES OF THE RAILROAD SWINDLERS, BIG AND LITTLE, MUST BE DRIVEN OUT OF PUB- IIC LIFE IN CONNECTICUT.
 Those of them against whom criminal in- dietments can be found should be forthwith indicted and brought to punishment.
 Those of them who hold public offices should reaGn their offices, or face charges and removal.
 The time is near at hand when it must be aScerfaiped whether there is the strOnq citizen