The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-01
BRITISH OFFICER
 WANTS U. s. FLAG AT BATTLE FRONT
General Bridges Tells Pub. fishers We Should Send
 Men to France

New York. April 28.---Major Gen. G. T. M- Bridges, representing Great Britain's army on the Ba1four High War commission, expressed confi- dence in speech ct the annual din- ner of the American Newspaper Pub fishers Association at the Waldorf that the United States was determined to do its full share in the war against Germany. and he voiced the hope that American troops would soon be fight ing beside their allies on the battle fronts of Europe. There were nearly 800 editors and their guests at the dinner, and they gave vociferous evil dence that they shared both his confi- dence and hope.
 There were misses when Mayor Nit chel in his speech referred to Speak CT Clark and his statement that in Missouri conscript was synonymous with convict" and there was wild applause when MT. Mitchell earnestly adjured the nation to support the President in. his plea for universal military service.
 Tn the course of all the speeches mentioned of the gallantry of the var ious forces of the Allies and of the military and civil leaders of the En- tente powers was the signal for loud applause, and when the Hon. N. M. Roweu, member of the Canadian Par- hament, spoke of Joffre as having broken, in the battle of the Marne the tradition of German military su- premacy and thereby saved ciyiliza- ton. the cheering was tumultous.
 Perhaps the most striking Incidents of the evening were criticisms by the Mayor and former Ambassador Ger ard of the opposition of Speaker Clark to the Selective Draft bill now under debate in the House of Repre-. sentatives. In course of his remarks on this subject Mrl Gerard made an interesting revelation of the history of the Baltimore Convention in 1912 which rejected Speaker Clark for the Presidential nomination and named Woodrow Wilson.
 1T was one of the financial suppor- ters or MT. Clark's campaign for the nomination." said Mr. Gerard. "and in the light of events I am not sorry that he was beaten. In point of fact MT. Clark had an excellent chance tc obtain the nomination, but lost 1t by reason sof his natural disposition tc have <celd feet
 Late one night MT. Clark had SC. cured majority of the votes in the convention, but not enough to nom. fnate, since three-fifths of All the votes were required for that purpose His supporters wished to continue the fight in the convention throughou1 the night, believing that with the mo. mentum that had been attained. MT Clark's nomination was assured.
 But MT. Clark decided for an ad. tournment until next day, and the battle was lost. Perhaps he thought that in the interval volunteers woulc come forward and win for him. But Tor this he might now be sitting ir a higher seat and doing us more harm that he can do where he is."
 The General Enters
 General Bridges entered the ban. quet. hall amid applause. He was tr ms service uniform, and was accom-. panied by Dudley Field Malone, Theo dore Rousseau. and Major spneder Clay, who occupied seats at the guest, table.
 Then he said: Tt is the greates wish of my life to see the manhood or yeur nation fighting shoulder te shoulder with their allies. I am 6 soldier, and confess that this is the first speech I have ever made in m, life, there was thunderous applause
 The great ball room in which tn, dinner was held had been layishl, decorated with flags, and Major en Bridges speech was preceded by tn, singing of God Save the King'' ant the 'Marseillaise," He said:
 Upholds Ideals of Democracy
 "Aethans weuid have gayen Mfr