The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-15
GODDARD S LETTER
ST|RS THE PEOPLE


has for many years controlled matters
in this state.
son national matters he has, In my
c,tnion struck at the root OF most OF
our troubles and that Is the legislation
by congress I'm favor OF special INDUS
tries. think Col. Goddard stands In
national matters distinctly for equal and
exact Justice for all and special fayors
for none, and II seems 10 me that this Is
as good a political platform as anyone
needs"
Former Alderman Charles Sisson OF the
Democratic independent campaign COM
mittee: "Ahe letter seems 10 meet the
situation very satisfactorily. hope AZ
may be favorably received by all parties
interested, and i see no reason why
should not be-"
Col p. H. Quinn said: ut is a straight
forward and manly indictment of condi-
tions as they prevail In this state TO-DAY:
The letter reads just as Col Goddard
talked to the committee that waited up
on him.
Certainly every member OF the Demo-
cratic party who Is really Democraus
must support the sentiments expressed IN
The document. and every Republican who
places country above party Will be COM
PEELED 20 do the same thing unless he does
violence 10 his own conscience
.sThe campaign committee as named IL,
IN my opinion, a splendid one. When citi-
sens OF the calibre of Col GODDARD ana
Mr.. Hodgman can be induced TO take
stand OF this kind II is proof that there
is son,ething about the political condi-
tions In our state that needs reforming.
Gen. Charles r. Brayton, boss OF the
Republican party, whose personal power
and craft are threatened plainly displays
his great fear of the statewide reform
movement and winces visibly.
He pretends to believe that Col. Cod
dard does not agree with Hon. Rathbone
Gardner. Lincoln Steffens and others who
have denounced corruption In Rhode ISL
and: but this only shows that the person
who read Col. Goddard's letter to him
could not have put the proper emphasis
on the following statement made by COL
Goddard:
..ft Is a base calumny TO say that cor
ruption Is geenral among the people OF
Rhode Island. The governing pohticai
machine In certainly corrupt; and the peo-
pie have submitted tamely so long to It's
arrogant DEGREES that they have become
urtustly involved in the general charges
of corruption made against the state. !
Gen. Brayton argues ingeniousy. but
with Characteristic Brayton effrontery;
How are we to buy votes IL the people
are not corrupt7" as Is II is necessary TOT
All the people TO be corrupt In order that
two. or 200. votes may be bought. .
The Republican boss didn't discuss the
fact that. though the purchasable vote.
assures his purposes and Is used WIN
reterminine effect at elections In the close
country towns dominated by the Repupn-
can machine he controls. ss
Boss Brayton chortIes with giee wnen
he reflects that Col Goddard Will not
.open his barrel" This is taken by the
machine crowd as meaning that the vote
market may be beraed at their pleasure
next fall. which would mean the largest
possible number OF purchaseable votes
FOR the smallest necessary outlay; but the
Republican Boss. against whom many OF
his own party are now arrayed, hasn
vet walked up 10 the fact that the people
battle is to be fought on facts that he
cannot deny and on principles OF which
ne knows nothing and that these VIII
triumph over Col. Colts money and that
Standard OIL Is 10 furnish through SEN
ator Nelson w. Aldrich.
Machine control is all wrong then, Is
IT." commented Gen. Brayton: ona.sn nho%
presidential elector? He was elected py
the Republican machine. Did he get the
position through dirty Politics?
'Who are the high officers OF state
that are elected by unworthy means?
Does he mean the judges of the supreme
court and the governors or the stateT
means, too. How about the laws that
have been passed for the beneflt OF his
corporation? All his companies have got
what they wanted.
How about the time Col. Goddard was
IN the senate and wanted TO be placed on
the retired list OF officers? II was done
by the machine; but we've never heard or
Col. Goddard refusing to accept the honor
on that account.
'sThe talk about this convention being
made up OF both political parties is all
nonsense Who elected the delegates?
Who filled I'm the delegations from the
towns that were not represented? Who
were the speakers? There wasn't a Re-
publican in the whole convention.
There wasn't anything wrong about
fllng the vacant delegations with men
from Providence. That's the usual thing.
But they were filled with Democrats.
He says he believes In the Views OF the
views Of the Massachusetts, tariff reform
ers. but what does that mean TO the fell
lows over in the Third ward? We have
heard that the Massachusetts, tariff re-
formers want free hides. Do they want
free hides 80 they can make a bigger
profit on their shoes. or do they want IL
so the operatives In Col Goddards mills
and other workingmen can buy shoes
-eheapeFA IL ia reduction Ia -tAe-taEiA
90 that all goods can be sold cheaper
except those manufactured by Col God
dard and his frends?'