The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-13
BROKEN FOR GOOD AND ALL.

In its issue yesterday afternoon the News
Democrat published an interview with General
Charles R. Brayton, for three decades the Repuo-
lican boss of the state of Rhode Island. In that
interview General Brayton makes this significant
statement: Il shall have nothing more to do with
politics as boss or leader but as private citizen
] shall exercise my rights without let or him
drance"
Had General Brayton confined his operations
in years gone by simply to acting as private ct-
zen the people of this commonwealth would never
have been placed under the odium OF living in a
state whose Offices and whose laws were COM
monty known to be for sale by boss.
Had General Brayton contented himself with
being private citizen and with using his political
influence as a private citizen it would not have re-
quired an uprising of the decent citizenship to
force his withdrawal from the state house, IN which
his methods and practices had grown to be pub
lie reproach.
He appears still to believe he will be tolerated
there in his old capacity for in the News-Demo-
Gratis interview with him. after indicating that
as a citizen of Rhode Island he will pay his re-
speets to Mr.. Higgins when the new governor is
inaugurated, General Brayton makes this state
ment:
"As to going to the state house otherwise, l
am citizen of Rhode Island. / may, perhaps,
be invited to call upon the governor, or may be in
vited by the high sheriff to call upon him, or by
others who occupy rooms assigned to them in the
state house by the state house commission.
I'm such an event shall go into any room in
that building, into that OF the governor, as l
may have business with him."
If General Brayton means by this that he will
attempt renewal of his former practices at the
state house. there is every reason to say, with all
possible emphasis, he will find himself grievously
disappointed. AS citizen of the state he is en-
titled to the consideration and courtesy forth
coming to any well-behaved citizen-no more and
no less.
Should he labor under the delusive idea that
ne can use the sheriffs office or the office Of any
other government employe, for the continuing OF a
business that has disgusted the people of Rhode
Island and brought the state itself into disrepute,
he will find himself sadly mistaken
One of the chief reasons for the splendid sup
port given Mr.. Higgins by the citizens of the en-
tire state is their confidence that he will put an
end to the scandal of Boss Brayton's practices at
the state house. No has the slightest doubt
he will end that scandal, because he has said he
would end it.
SN"N~
house during the coming year. but it will be as
Rhode Island citizen and not as the boss of
Rhode Islands lawmakers.
In General Braytons declaration that ne is un-
slterably opposed TO constitutional convention
based upon equal representation and to manhood
suffrage there is nothing new
Whatever political power he has heretofore
exercised came from unfair and unequal represen-
tation, and from the denial to class of citizens
of rights granted to another class. General Brayton
realizes fully that with constitution based upon
equal rights and suffrage based upon manhood,
instead Of money, his occupation political boss
would be gone.
He is simply fighting for his political life. He
fails to see the true meaning to the handwriting
he read on the wall week ago.
The people read that writing rightly and their
reading Of it is that Charles r. Braytons power
at the state house has been broken for good
and all
General Brayton may still remain the boss of
the Republican party, but his bossing must be
done elsewhere than in the capitol of the sovereign
state Of Rhode Island.
REFORM AND THE PEOPLE