The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-10-29
KIRK SCORES REPUBLICAN CLUBS OF| }CITY ASSERTING THEY ARE MENACE
 TO MORALS OF BRIDGEPORT YOUTHS|

Describing the Republican clubs as machines to corrupt the morals of Bridgeport's young men by impress ing upon them that they can attain nothing except through political in- fluence, William P. Kirk, Democratic candidate for mayor, delivered @ forceful speech at a rally yesterday in the Elite theatre.
 Kirk pointed out several instances where young men were told they could get nothing unless they joined a Republican club and became worker.
 kirk's speech in full follows:
 Sunday, not being g. day for pol litical rallies and discussions, it does not seem fitting that we should enter into, detailed political argument such as we are accustomed to in the heat of a political campaign.
 It is a day, that by religious cus- tom and legislative action, has been nominated as one day in the week which we term a day. of rest, a day to Joe given to use, by those who toll with their brains and hands in the manner which best appeals to them and for their own particular use and benefit
 lit is day in which we should throw off the sordid things of life and forget the everyday n1onotonous every one of us in his own best way strives to use the day to restore to tired nerves and wearied muscles the energy to start another week.
 To most of us it is a, day of spe- cial welcome for the observance of religious devotion, for gFeetings with friends and for the enjoyment of home and family. It is a day when we take an Inventory Of the past week and promise ourselves perhaps to do things in better. way. We should feel that the future holds bet. ter promises than the past.
 This is a particularly beautiful In dian summer day when nature well her most alluring smile and bids us take a last look at the wonderful au- tumn glory. We breathe the last hnz gering summer breezes before the cold of winter closes in about us. T
 Tt must be great impulse which brings you people to a meeting like this where you are housed within four walls of. a building to listen to a talk on political subjects and 1t Is a difficult task to speak interestingly on political matters in competition with such a pleasant day.
 Tt may be of interest, however. to tell you why the present occupants of the city hall should be. changed and a new set of officers installed. It may be of interest to ana1yze the inn pulse which makes you gentlemen come to this meeting and donate a few hours of your most precious day to this purpose. x
 This brings to mind the thought that there is an issue which we all subt1y feel to be great one, and that is the moral issue, as to how the present administration has conducted itself in its stewardship of the city ip the past six years.
 T believe the most priceless part of the education of a young mind is training in good citizenship The mst necessary. foundation of our Democratic government is teaching the young mind the sacredness of his duty as a citizen. claim that the administration takes. a great respon- sibiIty upon itself not only from the standpoint of business proposition but in a high degree upon results to he obtained, as affecting the minds and attitude Iof our people toward good citizenship
 We are all concerned as citizens Tn seeing the minds or our people are made responsive to the best impulses tof good citizenship and he who by his acts tends to lower or destroy that feeling Is as guilty of treason as a most arrant anarchist or an I. w. w. There are many ways in which the trend of thought may be directed to- ward good or vicious impulses and ] believe the most irresponsible act is to inculcate in our young men the
 thought that their franchise should be used solely as means of barter to obtain coveted appointments in the city's service.
 One can understand a poorly ed
 ucated voter succumbing to the wilee l of a few dollars but when an admin.
 istration by the most fragrant use oi appointive power endeavors to. tel i our young men that their politica, preferment con only come through
 the sacrifice of their political beliefs
 that their future can be secure only
 by political activity and rewards car only come from their active suppori of political machine at the city
 hall, it is high time that the citizens
 of this city took alarm and stretched
 forth their hands to rebuke these
 sordid gentlemen in control of he city