The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-10-29

lldll.
 This is a prostitution of the duty the administration owes to a commu- ntty in that 1t should strive to make itself a stimulus for the best instincts of citizenship. It is a corrupt use of appointive power by which the will of the citizens is defeated. The sole purpose of such prostitution is to build up political machine without Conscience or principle, whose glory Is in political power, whose glory is in the fact that they have poisoned the minds of many young men, who arro- santly say to the citizens of Bridge lport we believe your conscience is also for sale
 | The administration proceeds on the theory that by spending money for improvements, regardless of cost, by promising appointments of all Kinds to every young man, by inject ing politics into every act of admin istration. it can 3 intrench itself in power over an indefinite period and calmly proceed to tax the citizens Tor the necessary cash to carry along this propaganda.
 T have in mind the specific case of member of the fire department who was entitled to promotion. He was bluntly told he must join the Repub- lican club and change his party af- iffliations. He did join the Republican club and secured his promotion. What becomes of such a man's sense of 1oy- alty when he is forced to choose be- tween his job and his civic duty?< Within the past few hours I was 1nformedr by prominent Democrat that he had been approached today I by young friend who had been promised an appointment in a city department if he could secure the ] services of this Democrat to aid in 1 the election of Mayor Wilson. My
 Democratic friend refused to aid the young man by such practices although
 the young man pleaded with his1 as
 a personal favor to forget his party
 ties aad go out to help deliver the
 vote for the machine
 I These two cases are merely typical
 of hundreds and the corrupting inf1u-
 ence of such practices is a danger
 that we should be fully alive to- I "A business man of prominence
 called me on the phone and extended
 his congratulations over my nomina- ition. He wished me success election
 day. When I asked him ssto go out
 among his friends and associates and Fwork for the success of the party he
 said: It would be dangerous for me ito take an open stand against the ad-
 ministration, as I am fearful they
 would be vindictive toward me. There is a great fear of this ad-
 ministration in the Eainds of many
 people and a simple performance of
 duty on their part, in the way of an 1 improv is made an obligation ito those receiving such improvements. They are plainly told they must be paid for by allegiance election, day, to the political machine.
 The history of civilization shows the rise and fall of nations and it Is ] the consensus of opinion that the de! lcay of nations begins at the apex of Its power. The struggle for liberty linJectse men into office who are at first the servants of the people. They in time corrupt the minds of the peo- Iple and become masters of the peo- ;Iple. Under this process the struggle flor liberty has to begin all over tagain.
 sIt makes no difference how we'll meaning or good-intentioned may be those who possess absolute power.
 Their hands are eventually forced by 1their army of hungry camp follow liers.
 '.The, American people can be safely
 trusted to resent the usurpation of power by political machine, and we lean cite the examples of Waterbury iwith3 the Democratic machine, and New Haven with its Republican ma- lchine Both machines were cast out lin the past month, as proof that the
 American people can be. relied upon Ito protect themselves once they are lconvinced that their political liberty Is in danger. sOne can only wonder where such lconditions as we have now in Bridge port can lead us: this corrupting of the minds of the people merely that the same set of men may be eontin-
 Qed in office and continue in their : iclunsy attempts at managing vast
 business proposition like the city o1
 Bridgeport.
 T feel it Is special compliment lyou have paid me by being here to-
 day, and that the results of election
 day, Nov. 6, when the votes shall bs
 lcounted, we shall find this afternoon
 has not been spent in vain, and al one stroke you have done more in ths l lcause of good citizenship than the six wears of effort on the part of ths lpresent administration"
 I IrrxI-- ~-k-