The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-12


ernor Utter which appears to have prompted the
Journals somersault and a careful scrutiny of il
fails TO disclose anything warranting the endorse
ment of any citizen who is honestly desirous o
the of the state from the political evils fas
tened upon it by Braytonsm.
Gov. Utter SAYS he faVors a larger measure OF
responsibility for the executive and the conferrng
upon him OF the veto power. In this he only bor-
rows demand persistently made by the Democracy
for more than a quarter of century Moreover
he is not the first Republican governor TO urge
this upon his party. Others did it at time when
there claim that it put forward an
evidence of freedom from boss dictaton.
II am in favor of the conservative revision OF
our present constitution" says the governor. AS
to how he would revise it the people were given
ample and convincing evidence by the resolution
introduced by him at the last session of the general
assembly
He would have it revised by a convention in
which the representation would be the same in
the present house of representatives. That is,
he would have the country towns, the rotten
boroughs in which is the original source of Bray
tonisms evil power, write new organic law for
the state Does any sane man doubt that consti-
tuition framed by such convention would permit
BraytenisHf to entrench itself still more securely
and make more absolute its dictatorship? Would
it not be as subservient and Servle to Brayton-
ism as the present and preceding houses of repre-
sentatves have been?
ne establishment OF state supervision OF
banks is another Democratic plank borrowed by
Governor Utter for insertion in his personal plat
form. 1t a Democratic senator from Woon-
socket who four years ago introduced a bill pro-
viding for the appointment OF a bank examiner but
the bill, like later of similar import, thro-
tied by Braytonisms orders.
Governor Utter would have the people believe
that he is wholly independent of boss rule Here is
what he said yesterday at Braytonisms conven-
ton II again declare before this convention my
opposition, both a private cit-
zen and public official to any form of leadership
that mistakes itself for ownership and attempts to
sacrifice the public interests to party expediency,
private gain corporate greed.
No man sincerely entertaining such view as
Governor Utter expressed would consent to receive
a nomination from Braytonism No man can be
honestly the foe of corruption and consent to be-
come the beneficiary of corruption
By accepting Braytonisms denomination Gov
ernor Utter shows that all his talk of freedom from
boss dctation and independence of Judgment is the
veriest buncombe If he is the uncompromisng
enemy of the boss he pretends to be, why during
the two years he has been the states executive
has he made no effort to put an end to the scan
daous sale OF legislation in the state house itself?
He has been as we'll aware have the shamed
and shocked citizens of Rhode Island that the boss
established his legislative auction in the
sherff's office and there carried his disgusting
and impudent traffic in the laws of a sovereign
state.
Did Governor Utter make the feebest
attempt to put end to the continuing scandal
and outrage? No. Did he even call the matter to
the attention of the Legislature urge it to stop
this iniquitous merchandising?
No; he did absolutely nothing. Does any cti-
zen believe a sincere and honest opponent of boss
rule would have failed to make some effort to rid
the state house of such degrading spectacle?
Hardly. The sober minded Rhode Islander is
apt to conclude that the who tolerates and as
sociates with Braytonism 3o4 days in the year and
prates against it on the 365th convention day, is
less the foe than the friend of Braytonism.
The people of this commonwealth are not
fools. They distinguish between sincerity and
between pretence and performance.
and so distinguishing they will go to the polls next
November and cast their ballots against Governor
Utter and the other candidates nominated yester
lay, because they the aiders and abettors of
Braytonism and the benehciaries of Braytonism's
political villany.