The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-06-22
Merritt Chosen
 Unanimously By
 Rep. Convention
(Continued from Page One. )

(Continued from Page One.) l It is none the less true that, in gen. eral, the Congress is made up cs able men and patriotic men, who perform a tremendous amount of work with the sole idea of doing the best they | can for their country and for their constituents. That is true of men on- both sides of the aisle. And the House is also an eminently fair body. The Speaker and all the members in- tend that everybody shall have a fair chance. The days of spread eagle or atory have gone, and the man who gets attention in the House when he speaks is the man who has some defi- nite information or some valuable sug- gestion to give in the solution of ques- tions under consideration. So far as the Republicans are concerned, I know that they have acted in an en- tirely non-partisan spirit. This has been publicly testified to by MT. Kitchin, the leader of the majority, and by Speaker Clark. MT. Kitchin has said that in no case with regard to any war measure has partisanship been injected, and that there has nev- CT been the slightest attempt to delay 
 and speed with which war measures have been put through this Congress is a, great tribute to it's patriotism and it's business capacity. But, while all this is true, it does not follow that the Republican party, as party, has not done useful and constructive work, not only in connection wiah war meas ures, but other measures that have come before Congress.
 , It is true that a great many mat ters which have come forward finally as Administration measures have been due to criticisms and speeches ! which have been made by Republican members both of the Senate and House.
 It cannot be overlooked that the great manufacturing regions, many of the great farming regions, and cer- tainly the great taxpaying regions of the country, are normally and strong J. ly Republican, and the suggestions and advice and criticism of Republicans, both in the Senate and in the House, on measures affecting those States 7 are of the highest value, not only to their own constituents, but to the country at large. Because it is es- sential that all great revenue and fi- nancial measures should be framed, not with the idea of punishing any section of the country or treating it unfairly, but of producing the best } results in the way of revenue and at the same time doing the least injury to general business.
 Importance of Fourth District. 5 And-I cannot let this opportunity
 pass without expressing to you, gen. tlemen, and through you to the dis 7 trict, my satisfaction and pride in
 representing the Fourth Congressional
 district of Connecticut.
 3 I doubt if there is any district in [ the whole United States which has . more whole -heartedly and unitedIy = and unselfshly supported the war
 than this district. It is beyond oues- } tion that without it's facilities and 1 abilities the production of war mu- e nitions would have been seriously hampered. So far as I myself am s concerned, I have had innumerable
 letters and many calls from my con-
 stituents, and among them there has s scarcely been one which could in any
 way be called selfish. There has
 been a sincere desire to serve the l country, and to give a mans best
 brains and his resources in that ser.
 vice without thought of personal ad- n vantage.
 n have scarcely had a request made
 to me which I was not glad to helT
 along so far as my ability and oppor-
 tunities permitted, and as to you
 gentlemen, who were SO kind as tc
 nominate me last year and have paic
 me the still greatest compliment o1
 renominating me after my first ex- s perience in Congress. I am glad tc f testify that I have never had a re. " quest or a suggestion from any one ?, of you asking or seeking any per. If sonal favor or any personal advant.
 age of any sort. In fact, so far a!
 politics are concerned, I have neve1 Il had a suggestion from any member
 of this convention, or any man o1 e any committee. of the party, as tt L. how I should vote on any question
 whatsoever. This is certainly a com Il pliment to me, as indicating the fait1 n of the party in my judgment, and
 think it is still more of a complimen
 to you, because it shows that in nom if mating man you are not nominatin;
 uII1 D6CdOSe yOu tI1uh ClldL yOu Cal It get anything out of it by way of in J. fuence, but simply because you thinl
 he is a proper man to represent tn
 district and the party.
 W I am, as I have said, proud to rep
 resent this district, and proud to rep y resent the Republican party in it, an l. proud to be a member of the Repub I lican party in the House.
 You are aware that without tn 1t Republicans the President could no
 have put through the Selective Drat -0 law, and that. he could not have de
 clared war. More Republicans vote
 so eagerly and used so well.
 The negro in America is o