The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-06
MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 1906.
THE REFORM CAMPAIGN.

In no previous political campaign in Rhodc
Island were the people more united in their deter
mnation to crush ring rule, nor were the prospects
of a sweeping victory for representative govern
ment and an honest and efficient administration
ever brighter than they today
1t is not hope for partisan success that mpcls
the decent citizenship to extraordinary and enthu-
siastic activity but a spirit of loyalty that leads
them to make supreme effort to compass The
political regeneration of the state. In this cam
paign party lines have been obterated and .he
honest electorate is making common cause against
the peoples enemy-Braytonism.
So wise and prudent has been the management
of the reform forces thus far that there is little prob
ability that success will be imperiled by mistakes in
the future. Two things have contributed to Bray
tonism's continuance of its sinister domination i'll
the past the passvity of the people themselves and
the blunders of the opponents of the machine.
No longer are the people inert. They have
awakened to the nfamy of existing political condi-
tions and realize they can be rooted out only by
united and aggressive warfare against the common
foe With the lessons from the costly blundcrs OF
the past we'll learned, the leaders OF the reform
movement will be able to follow course that will
insure a vindcation of popular government at the
polls and that will at the same time bury Bray
tonism SO deep that its resurrection will be i'm
possible.
Those who march under the banner OF reiorm
appreciate fully the necessity of nominating for all
offices men Of known ability, character and courage
Candidates will not be chosen simply because they
are Democrats or Lincolntes. They will be selected
because they are known to possess the confidence
OF the people as we'll the capacity to efficiently
and fearessly serve the people.
TLa Al hun he xuho
seeks public Office not from praiseworthy desire
to promote the welfare of his fellow citizens, but
for the selfish motive of personal gain need expert
no consideration from the reform forces for he
will receive none
Candidates of the people in this contest will he
representative men in whom trust can be implicitly
reposed, not only to enact laws that will safeg
popular rights but to enforce all laws imparti .ly
They will be men who by their conduct have sho n
themselves to be the enemies of Braytonsm and the
foes of machine rule in all Of its mischievous and
demoraAing manifestations.
Nor will they be the choice of any clique OF
ring but of the whole body of the honest electorate
of the commonwealth No slate will be prepared
in secret to be jammed through caucuses and con
ventons but the selection will be the free choic,
and will represent the best judgment of the people
Nominations will be made earlier than has ever
been the custom hitherto in this state for the pu,
pose of giving the people ample opportunity ,c
scrutnize the character and fitness OF the men e
whom the forces OF reform purpose to entrust the
governing and law-making functions. And the
most searching scrutiny will be courted with en-
tire confidence that the result will be to materially
increase reform strength at the polls
This will be plain challenge to Braytonism
but one that will not be accepted Braytonism il
playing its familiar game of secretly selecting can
didates whose endorsement it will compel iron
Braytonzed conventions few weeks or DAYS be
fore the election.
Already Braytonism has secretly decided :,
drop Senator Wetmore and name Colonel Colt as tn
Republican candidate for the United States senate
II mendaciously denies such action because il hope
to have the support of Wetmore's money and Wet
more's friends in its fight to retain control of tn
general assembly.
1t is deceitfu and contemplate attempt 4
play both ends against the middle, and is quite i
line with Braytonisns customary craft and Gun
ming, But it will avail nothing. Braytonism
doomed. The candidates OF Braytonism are doomed
The honest citizenship OF Rhode Island ha
decreed the destruction OF the one and the chas
tsement OF the other and that decree will be ca
forced at the polls on Nov. 6.