The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-01


as presented In its original form at to-
days convention OF the Democratic party
OF Rhode Island. assembled at Music
Hall:
To the People of the State OF Rhode ISL
land-However much In the past the people
of Rhode Island have differed upon the
political issues affecting the nation. and
however much In the future the people
of this state may still differ on questions
of national legislation. there can be but
one feeling held by every citizen inter-
ested In the welfare OF the state OF Rhode
Island as to the state issues now before
the people. The paramount issue Is the
redemption of the state OF Rhode Island
from the hands of those who have used,
and still intend to use, the executive and
legislative branches OF the state govern.
ment for their own personal aggrandize-
ment.
For many years the Republican party
has been In control OF the executive and
legislative branches of the government.
and for the past nine or ten years In al
most unopposed control. During this
time there has been enacted in this state
legislation the like of which cannot be
found on the statute books of any other
state In the union. This legislation has
been In the interest OF the quasi public
corporations and has gone so far as even
to divide with these corporations the
sovereign power OF the state.
Act after act. bill after bill. has been
passed by the general assembly or TINS
power sase 20 e!e an %
the corporations feel strong enough 10
defy even the state itself. The Union
p he
assembly, invokes all the power Of the
state for its protection and then reiuses @
the e oSey Seyye ae Of us emsnyes wnSn nsesd Of
legislating by general laws for all quasi
public corporations. special contracts
have been made by the state with indlvi1
their successors. under which, as IL IL
claimed. no future law making power OF
this state can interfere with nor aoridge
ers, thus acquired. All this legislatiop
has been passed In the name OF the he-
publican party and every man eieo,eb &c, Icon ON
willing to subserve the end OF these cor
porations. has been considered and treat
ed as hostile to his pa!ty.
be II the Republican party still continues
TO be In the control and grasp, or iem &
men using Il and controlling II Tor .ne
benefit Of these corporations: The on'y
remedy for the citizen OF the state OF
Rhode Island Is The election OF state offi-
GERS and men to the general assembly, 20
they are injuring their party IL they
do not stand by the will OF these rev
selfish leaders. During the period or the
there h.Hs'cI can be found but few statutes that
have been passed for the benent OF the
people OF the state OF Rhoce Island. The
that has been passed for the benefit of
the law II is Impossible today TO give
the people OF this state adequate railroad
facilities because the Republican party
has allied itself with the only steam
railroad in the state and refuses even
the laying before the general assembly FOR
discussion OF a bill for tn, establishment
of electric roads which In any way com
pete with the octopus. Whatever legisia-
ton has been had for the benefit OF the
people of this state, has been passed only
as the result OF strong popular agitation
and grudsingiy passed as political ne
cessity. and this legislation Is less than
half loaf TO the people OF this stpte.
Nor has the Republican party kept iaith
with the people OF this state. Ii has,
in the fear that at some time even the
long suffering people OF Rhode Island
would awake 10 the fact that the powers
of government were used not for the
beneht of the people but for the benefit
OF the few, passed such political legisla
tion that IL is possible for minority
party to still rule and control the func-
tions OF government In this state. The
Republican party proposed amendments
TO the Constitution. doing away with the
May session at Newport under the pledge
OF its party leaders that there should be
no post-election legislation. Nevertheless
an adjournment until after election has
each year since perpetuated the same
system. For years IL has been. as II
now is the scheme of the Republican
party 10 keep back all important legisla-
tion until after election and then. having
again secured power 10 pass bills against
the interest OF the people believing that
the people would forget these crimes be-
fore the next election; and this confidence
has in the past been only too
well founded. but II Is TO be hoped
that now the people of this state are
fully aroused An examination OF the
records of the general assembly Will show
that important bills affecting the vital
interests OF the people have been passed
and hurried through without the oppor-
tunity for discussion or hearing at the
last days OF the session, important legis-
lation which was planned by the party
leaders and intended at the beginning or
the session. has been rushed through the
general assembly.
The Democratic party pledges the peo-
pie OF this state that II its nominations
are confirmed by the choice Of the people
this method of legisla ton shall be chang
ed. II announces as its unalterable In
tention TO so legislate that a constitu-