TWENTIETH ANNUAL MEETING. 113 



that will appeal more to the gentlemen than the ladies that 

 are present to-night. He has made a public speech, setting 

 forth his reasons in detail, lie has explained the constitu- 

 tional difficulties that beset the work that is before us, if 

 it is carried out upon the propositions and the plans that we 

 have followed in years gone by. 



When a man of his learning tells you and tells the 

 state, that any proposition is beset with constitutional diffi- 

 culties, you must believe what he tells you. It is not for 

 any party purposes or any party welfare. It is because 

 he believes honestly and sincerely for the best welfare of 

 the state of Connecticut that his suggestion with reference 

 to the re-districting of the state should be followed. His 

 method with reference to the election of senators in the 

 state in the future simply and briefly is this, that the dis- 

 tricts be eliminated, and that senators be elected by the 

 state at large in order that we may get in the Senate the 

 position and the place that this state demands, independent 

 of the question of whether they are able to get a nomina- 

 tion from the party machinery in any district. 



Now, my friends, I have already said to you that I 

 intended this for an absolutely extemporaneous speech, and I 

 think I have covered the few suggestions that I desired to 

 bring to }ou. And I know if the governor were here, he 

 would wish your society, as I do, Godspeed and success, and 

 that the suggestions that Mr. Hale has made to you be 

 thought over carefully, be carried home and be spread 

 throughout the state, that those who live here may continue 

 to live here, and continue to prosper. (Applause.) 



The Toastmaster : I am sure the Governor's secre- 

 tary has made good, and while we regret the absence of our 

 worthy Governor, we appreciate the words of his secretary. 



I had on the list here as the next speaker of the even- 

 ing, our good old friend Collingwood, of the Rural New 

 Yorker. As he is not with us, we must substitute someone 

 in his place. As there are always compensations for losses. 



