The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-13
ITALIAN EDITOR SCORES MAYORS
 BROKEN PLEDGE
Countrymen Were Promised Many Things, Which They
 Haven't Obtained.

In an open letter addressed to May or Clifford B. Wilson, his promises and non-fulfi1ment of pledges to the Ital- ian people of this city, are roundly scored today by Pasquale Altieri, newspaper editor of the East Side.
 That the Italians have been slight ed in the distribution of plums is al- legged. That their votes were procured through promises of their participa- ton in the 'benefcial banquet that was to follow his reelection as mayor letter in full follows:
 Hon. Mayor Wilson.
 The man who abuses your kindness this time is an Italian journalist who for the past ten years has been the true interpreter of the heart of the Italians residing here, fighting with them and for them the hardest battles in the name of Liberty and Right. Ten or twelve years ago the political strength of the Italian Colony of Bridgeport was considered micro seopic and use1ess,'' but even at that time my cOuntrynen were giving to the City of Bridgeport their share of progress. Even then they were giving their energy and their intelligence for the good of this industrial city.
 After ten years that feeling of mic roscopic and useless strength it seems to me, has undergone a change; our real strength being somehow re- cognized. But if it had been recog- nized-and I would not say how and when-this strength of ours never has had any real compensation in the past. Next month, for instance, the Police Department will have an addition of 60 new members. Permit me to ask, Hon. MT. Mayor, how many of these new members will be Italians. 1 n the City of Bridgeport today. repre- senting One-tenth of the whole popu- Iation of the city and if the figures do not deceive me, among the 60 new members to be appointed to the Po- lice Department, six should be Ita1- , ians.
 That is the logical proportion to ap- point but it seems that it is not to be
 so according to the political dope
 which has it that only one among the GO will be an Italian.
 Now if when the doors of the beau tifuI City of Parks were thrown open to immigration, the Ftpatres con- Scripti' of Bridgeport did not mean to offer to the Italians the same chances that were cordially offered to imni- grants of other nations, it is a differ ent thing but if they did not mean to condemn our race to ostra cism, I have reason to believe that among the 60 new policemen, if not SIX, at least TWO should be Italians.
 feel quite sure that it is not a diff ficuIt problem to find two Italians s among so many sane, sound and in teIligent young men of our race In the last campaign for the cleo tion of your honor to Mayor of the City of Bridgeport in one of the Ital- ian political meetings. had the pleas
 ure of hearing you would never ex- clude my countrymen from the "bene- fcfaI banquet that politics offers in this country.
 From that time, only months have
 passed, buff the political dope is true-it seems to me that you have almost forgotten that among the 15O,O0O population of the City there are 5000 Italians, who if they have
 duties to perform, also have rights to enjoy
 It goes without saying that I have the utmost respect and consideration for you personally, but permit me, | Hon. MT. Mayor to make a criticism
 of your work as the first citizen of Bridgeport when to my coUntrymen, who have given so much energy and ! intelligence to the progress of this