The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-03
- NV A PROTEST AND WARNING.


~ w A PROTEST AND WARNING.
1t is both acheering and significant that
the civic conscience of this community aroused and
alert when such splendidy representative body Of
citizens filed Music hall last night assemblies to
record ringing protest against the prostitution of
the election machinery base and fraudulent parti-
san purposes and to voice solemn warning that
any attempt to suppress subvert the verdict Of
the citizenship will be followed by swift and sure
punishment if the power of an outraged people can
procure the punishment of political vainy.
The merciless arraignment of Braytonsn's pup
pet board of canvassers and registration should
make clear to it that its malevolent abuse of the
power 1t exercises, power it has used to advance
the interests and facilitate the foul and noisome
schemes of polluting oligarchy, has drawn upon it
not merely suspicion, but the and contempt Of
every citizen who holds honor and decency above
party success.
This board, by the record of its official acts IS
shown to have ignored every consideration of JUS
tice, fairness and honesty In its treatment of the
Democracy and to have placed in control of the
election machinery of this city many of
torious character, men who in the belief Of very
large part of the community have, the promise
of receiving Braytonsms dirty dollars pledged
themselves to attempt by scandalous manipulation
of the ballots that will pass through their hands
overturn nullify the verdict of the people.
1t will be useless for this board of miserable
manikins to attempt defence by claiming they did
not know the regulations of these purchased de-
ilers of the ballot The records of their past
RACES against the sanctty of the ballot laid be-
fore it. yet it thrust that foul record aside and put
these harpies and Hessians into places that will
enable them to the money that is to be the
price of their rascality.
To the ptiless indictment framed by Mr.. Com
stock the indsputabe record of its official doings,
these servle servants of Braytonism make
defence that will either satisfy decent citizens
lessen the measure of contempt in which they
held
Professor Macdonald voiced the sentiment, not
only of every man who listened him. but of every
man in this community worthy the name of Ameri-
can citizen when he declared:
protest against the action of the bonrd OF
csnvnssers unjust and immoral, nngrant
Outrage the community, ns nm insult 90 the
honesty, intelligence and decency of this city.
I protest against a. ss a violation of our right
to free election and fair count protest
against IL as creating a strong presumption OF
fraudulent intent the part of whose
hands should he clean. How this election
goes II n small matter compared to the inaiien-
able right Il every his vote hon
estly counted, and the right Of every can
didate who is elected 90 be declared elected
Will the protest recorded and the warning
given last night prevent the consummaton OF the
conspiracy steal the election? OF itself il will
Braytonism's purchased polluters cunning
and crafty; they skilled in the tricks and de-
vices by which the votes of honest men may be de-
stroyed; they past masters in the art of mis-
counting and there is no chcane of which they are
either ignorant or incapable.
First, then if this conspiracy is to be defeated
every citizen who uphods the of representa-
tive government and civic righteousness should
vote straight ticket by putting in the circle
under the Democratic star. To attempt to vote
split ticket will be dangerous and may result in dis
franchisement.
Straight tickets will afford corrupt election Off
GERS fewer opportunities for mischief and nanpula-
tion than split tickets. Straight tickets give the
only against crookedness and they should
be voted by every who does not wish 10 incur
the risk Of Acknowledgement
Second. Braytonism's election officers should
be kept under the strctest watch from the moment
the polls open until they closed. They should
be kept under vgilant scrutiny while the ballots