Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-07-20
OSBORN SIDE STEPS 1T
The We'll Known New Haven Editor and Gold Democrat k Too Busy
 Editing
CANNOT ACT AS CHAIRMAN

New Haven, July 2O.--Col N. G. Os- born of this city to-day sent letter to the three local members of the democratic state central committee announcing his declinati0n to act as temporary chairman to the approach ing democratic state convention. Col Osborn thanks the committee for the compliment and says that my duties as an editor compel me to serve that mistress exclusively The letter is as follows:
 John E. Doughan. Edward J. Maher
 and David E. Fitzgerald.
 Gentlemen-I have delayed until now the final consideration of the in- yitation of the democratic state cen tral committee to act as the tcmpor- ary chairman of the approaching con. yentiOn from a sense of embarrass ment, growing out of the appreciation I have for the compliment. Were it possible for me to accept the call, with out complicatlng duties and demands, which have stronger hold upon me, Il of the invitation, which would shape my acceptance, and not feyerish ambition to appear before the public in this, or any other capacity.
 I have decided convictions as to the wisest course for the indestructible democratic party to follow at this pc riod in the history of the state and the nation. 1 am old fashioned in my political views, to this extent at least, that believe new laws are not so much needed as the enforcement of those already within easy reach. The democratic party should, therefore, stand for the enforcement of the law against all offenders, high or low, rich or poor. l would revive the days of the party, when it was the acknowl edged defender of the constitution, for I cannot understand the imperturba- bility of those who view, without pr0- test, the gradual absorption, by the federal government, of the powers re- served for the state in the purpose of the founders. There Is need for the elimination of government by clamor and the establishment of government by orderly and tradition loving means. This is much more to be desired than the success of any political party.
 The greed of the average modern commercial giant should of course be met and punished, just as the greed of the individual Is met and punished and any political party, which claims the right to an existence, ought to make its position clear on that point, with full consideration for existing laws before clamoring for laws of m experimental character. If the mod ern public service corporation for ex- ample, abuses its powers under its charter, or persists in withholding from the community 1t prctends to serve. adequate consideration, or in any other way tranples upon the s,l- perior rights of the people for any reason whatever, 1t should be first brought before the courts to show cause, why Its charter should not be taken from 1t. If that proves ineffec- tive. the state. or the town. as the case may be. should itself take over the even though in doing so it more intolerable to free people than the corporate form of slavery, and nothing Is more important for their political education than that they should at all times feel the righteous burden of self government.
 The state of Connecticut needs mo- thing so much today as a courageous and intelligently led party of opposi- ton. The welfare of the common wealth is threatened so long as one party feels itself assured of continued power. The record of the past ten years. as compared with any previous record covering the same time shows as nothing else can show the costll- ness of this partisan exclusIveness not that the dominant party has been will in the weakness of its nat ural enemies has made it indifferent to political enterprises. which should have been undertaken. and. which if would have saved the state thousands of dollars. It Is all to talk about an economi- cal administration of the peoples af- fairs when policy of annual expendl- ture Is persisted In. which ignore es. tabllshed business principles. In al- most any other state of the Union. ...the easy come. easy go" policy of would make 1t a state of grafters. and it is wonder that we are not worse than we are.
 These and other matters, which at once suggest themselves in this con nection. I should undertake to discuss if 1t were possible for me to accept the position. The truth Is that my posi- ton as an editor compels me to serve that mistress exclusively and to he careful not to permit the kind of par tisan service here called for to attach to my journalistic work the suspicion of it's being provoked by other than and conscientious convic- lion. But I nevertheless am deeply grateful for the compliment paid me. and wish for the movement in which you are engaged every success.
 Respectfuiiy yours