The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-29
DESPERATE AND DESPICABLE.

ne desperate and deSpcaDe character OF ulS
First ward Hessians is plainly revealed in the ms
cradle attempt made before the board OF can
vassers and registration to defeat the verdict o.
the honest Democratic voters by having the primary
election declared illegal
Only arrant knaves could have conceived and
precipitated condition such as existed yesterday
afternoon, when, because one of the check lists was
missing, recent recruit TO the ranks OF the Swiss
mercenaries asked to have the vote invalidated ly
1be board
The whole contemplate course of Braytonism'
brigands shows beyond the possibility of doubt that
they were beaten fairly squarely and hopelessly
IT shows that they knew they beaten, and that
they purposely sought by the most monsrous trick
cry to have the expressed will of the Democratic
electorate set aside in order that they may still be
able to few more OF Braytonism's dirty dol
lars by traffickng in their own dshonor
When the polls were closed the traitors knew
well enough they had been repudiated. They knew,
too, that so keen watch would be kept upon them
that any attempt to nullify or change the popular
verdict by their familiar method of ballot box
stufng, the announcement of false figures, would
result in immediate discovery and exposure
They dared not take the hazard, and so the
ballot box sent to the city hall to be placed in
the custody OF the board of canvasscrs That vas
done to gain time, during which to devise some
scheme by which Braytonism's board could be ur-
n;shcd with an excuse however trivial or fimsy, to
declare the proceedings OF the caucus illegal
Such excuse was found. check list is said
TO have been lost. In whose custody was this list
and whose duty it, under the law to preserve il
il not that of the warden and clerks? Who is
responsible, If it has been lost or made away with
if not the officers? They had possession of
it and it was their duty to retain possession until
it was turned over to the board of canvassers.
Is it conceivable the honest Democrats who
fought the mercenaries and mountebanks and knew,
by the count they had kept and by the names they
lad taken, they had thrashed them, would commit
the crime and the folly of destroying check list
and thus furnish excuse for a notoriousry par
tsan board to rob them OF the fruits of their
victory?
No sane mind entertain such contention
Who could hope TO benefit by the making
away with or destruction of that list? Assuredly
not the honest Democracy, for it had the votes to
entitle it to victory. 1t knew it had them and the
CO unit yesterday afternoon at the city hall showed
it had them
In whose interest then, was that checklist
sequestered stolen or destroyed?
Will any man, endowed with ordinary reason
ing power and possessing scintitta OF common
sense, reach any other conviction than that the
disappearance of the checklist was deliberately
brought about with the maevoent intention of
defeating the will OF the Democratic majority
AT other caucuses in the First ward outrares
no less despcabe and no less desperate were COM
mitted in the interest of Braytonsm's banditti SO
there is nothing new and nothing surprising in this
latest manifestation of villainy.
1t serves however, to show to what dirty
depths Braytonism is ready to go in its frenzci
efforts to shield itself from the wrath of the people
1t shows to every decent Republican the nfamy
brought upon the party by the rotten machine that
has usurped its functions and that uses il as an
instrument in furtherng corrupt and criminal con-
spracies.
There is this comfort for the decent Denoc-
racy, whatever may be the result Of this ATTEMPT
TO override their verdict in the First ward-that
the party organization is safe from the assaults Of
the traitors.
Whether not the First ward IIessians are
permitted by Braytonisms puppet board OF regis
tiation TO remain noxous parasites is OF little
practical moment Democrats control the organisa-
tion. Democrats will direct its destnes and real
Democratic candidates will lead the party to victory
in November.