The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-28
GOV. DYER OPENS CAMPAIGN.

Former Governor Dyer made his first public address as a candi-
date for mayor at the Republican rally in the Eighth ward last even
Ing 1t Is not at all surprising to find his speech to be moderate in
tone free from vituperatve criticism of political opponentss and
modest concerning his OWL position as the standard bearer of the
Republicans of Providence Indeed there is no hazard in saying that
last evening the former governor revealed himself, as he had done
many times before, a S a gentleman in politics.
A large part of his address was devoted to an explanation of the
new ballot law which will become operative at the election in Novem-
Der. He declared the chief aim of the trainers of that law was to
secure greater simplicity and ease in voting to the end that the num-
Der of defective ballots might be greatly reduced. Accepting that
declaration a 5 tfHe, 1t nevertheless remains a fact that these same
trainers placed in the ballot law distracting and confusing conditions
that render independent voting even more difficult under the new
than under the old system The former governor appears to take
thought only of those who vote a straight party ticket, but his long
experience in politics ought to have taught him that there is in Provi-
dence and throughout the state a large and steadily growing body of
independent voters Why should not the new ballot make lit as easy
as possible for these independents to cast effective votes; why should
they be burdened with conditions calculated to induce rather than
prevent the defective marking of ballotsa Assuredly the Republican
mayoralty candidate will hardly claim that none but the voters of
straight tickets are entitled to the benefits of a law designed to facili-
tate and simplify voting.
Perhaps the former governor is not open to criticism for telling
a Republican assemblage how to vote a straight Republican ticket on
election day. but it is really surprising to find him advising them to
support a constitutional amendment, which, if approved, will permit a
partisan gerrynander of the larger cities and towns in the state, reduce
the voting power OF the citizens in those cities and towns to almost
nothing, and at the same time make hrmer the grip that twenty country
towns, through their dominance in the senate, have already secured
upon the law-making and governing functions of the commonwealth.
During Ex-Governor Dyers service in the senate he had a practical de-
monstration of the mischievOus power exercised by this country town
domination, for it was through it his own worthy and commendabe
measure providing strcter rules to govern the employment of child
labor and insisting on compulsory education, was robbed of most of
its effectiveness and virtue. There were other similar instances
proving the harmful results that flow from a substitution of govern
ment by a minority for government by the majority, and in the light
OF these it is gravely disappointing to the former governors we'll
wishers to hear him urging the adoption of a constitutional amend
ment, the inevitable effect of which must be the perpetuation of gov
eminent by a minority OF eight and one-half per cent. of the popula-
ton OF Rhode Island and the continuance of those political evils and
abuses from which the state has suffered SO long and SO grievously.
Equally dhscouraging to the former governors friends must have
been his absolute silence on an issue that is of paramount Importance
to every citizen whose support he is seeking. That issue is the
restoration of home rule to the city of Providence. 1t is an issue that
cannot be snothered, for it affects the rights and the interests of every
member of the community. Party platforms may ignore the desires
OF the people, but the people make their own platform when they go
to the polls and support only such candidates as they can trust to
stand upon it with unfinching courage. Although he saw ht to put
aside the scandal and outrage perpeuated on the city of Providence
through the fundamentally of the notorious police commission law
former Governor Dyer will discover when the votes ae counted that
a despoiled citizenship has neither forgotten nor forgiven the flchng
from them the right OF local sefgovernment.