The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-11
SATURDAY, AUGUST II, 1906.
A PARTISAN GAME.

Signs multiply that in spite of its organs an
nouncement that the campaign has not opened and
will not open for many weeks, the Brayton
machine is active in its neither world fashion, not
only in this city but in other parts of the state
The amazing action of Sheriff Hunter c. White in
sending force Of deputies into the city OF Central
Falls TO make Sunday raids on liquor sellers was
nothing less than manifestation OF the machines
activity.
Does any citizen believe that exploit was
prompted by any sincere desire to vindicatc the law
and punish law breakers? Does any one imagine
it conceived and executed solely as a public
duty? Can any one be found so fatuous as to con-
tend that if Republican instead of a Democrat
were mayor of Central Falls that city would have
been invaded by Sheriff Whites deputies the local
police authorities ignored and seizures made in the
most spectacular manner?
Violations of liquor laws, indeed of all laws
the most glaring, Hagrant and open might go on
under Republican executive without exciting
even the sembance of activity on the part OF
Sheriff White Indeed conditions infinitely worse
than are even alleged to exist in Central Falls at
present were publicly known to prevail in that city
under Republican mayor, yet the sheriff OF Prov
idence county did not deem it his duty to send
deputies there to make seizures and arrests.
The sheriff says he ordered his deputies to
Central Falls because he requested to do so
but he fails to state who made the request 1t did
not come from the mayor. The city councils
records reveal no action on its part inviting out
sders to enforce the law within the municipal
boundaries The police department neither de-
cared itself incapable OF doing its plain duty, nor
did it ask for aid.
From what source then did this request come,
if not from the Brayton machine which saw, or
thought it saw, an opportunity to make partisan
capital by using the only too willing sheriff who,
by its grace, is the highest paid officer in the COM
monwealth, to carry out its contemplate scheme
The Sunday raid in Central FILLS was All ont-.
rage and an insult to the people The excuse that
the liquor law was being broken is no excuse at all
If such were the fact and the municipal officers
failed to do their duty the people could and would
have applied an effective corrective.
Has Sheriff White fit to send raidine
parties into other cities and towns in which corli
tions are today and have been for years.
scandal and disgrace? Has he ordered his depute.
to raid the places in Cranston, which furnished the
comedy contingent in the house of representative:
in the person of Henry A. Palmer-places engaged
in the illegal traffic in liquor every day of the year
Sundays included!
Not at ALL Such communities are safe from
invasion by Sheriff Whites deputies because the,
are subservent to the Brayton ring and aid it il
maintaining its mschicvous domination in thi.
state.
This Central Falls exploit is counterpart o
the action OF Governor Utter. recently in ordering
zens viewed that spasmodc attempt at law en-
forcement merely as political device.
1t could be regarded in no other light b,
thinking who remembered that but year age
gambling on races was carried on openly and will
no attempt at concealment at Narragansett Park
Governor Utter then issued no order 10 eniorc,
the law against gambling did Sheriff Whit,
send deputies TO raid and arrest the bookmakers
In view OF this spasm of activity in the line
of the suppression OF gambling it is worthy OF at
tion that the Narragansett race meeting at which
pool selling was conducted openly was ADVERTISED
regularly in the Westerly Sun, a newspaper owned
edited and published by Governor Utter.
However, consistency is not TO be expected
from those who pay allegiance to Braytonisn
When that malign power is destroyed 2h dc
Island will have officers who will enforce a aw,
at all times and in all places impartially and gor
ousy, and will not by sporadic activity and spec
tacular raids seek to make political capital 'pr
corrupt oligarchy.