The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-20


attention OF the legislature 10 his actions
and | shall leave no stone unturned 10
bring about his removal from the sheriH
office, a place where he has no legitimate
business 10 be.
Now. Mr.. Governor. have you ever
tried 20 drive Brayton from the state
house? VIII you try 10 drive him from
the sherifs office? VIII you put an
end, so far as is in your power. TO MS
pernicious and disgraceful conduct, or VIII
you, II elected, sit idly by. as you nave
done for the past two years and allow
him TO ply his scdndalous trade without
single word OF protest from you?
"You say that you wear no mans col
lar that you are not bossed by any man,
and that Charles r. Brayton does not and
cannot dictate TO you. That is not enough,
sir, For the past two years you have
sat I'm the state house and done nothing
10 overthrow him. YOU say you cannot
drive him out. that he Is a private citizen
and that every citizen has a right In the
state house.
us Brayton there as a private citizen2
DO you admit that men guilty OF criminal
practices have a right 10 sit every day
the legislature is In session and every
hour OF each day within 100 feet Of your
office and practice the most disgraceful
conduct i'm the line OF criminal lobbying,
Matchmaking Of corporations and dictat-
witnessed in any state house that floats
the American flag?
You say that you have been I'm office
20 years. II you have, you know what
Brayton Is better than | do. You know
that not an important act. can come be-
fore the Rhode Island legislature and re-
ceive its sanction without first being
O K'd by Brayton. You know that good
laws are held up day after day because
BraVtOn nuts his veto or them.
when did you ever raise your strong
arm to thwart the sordid purposes OF
Brayton In so doing?
DAY after day. you have sat In your
office In the state house and seen this
despot led up by a guide through the cor
ridors OF the marble palace past the very
door OF your office. to the various com
mittee rooms where he influences and
dominates the actions OF those commit
tees. When did you ever protest against
this?
you know that Brayton sells laws.
DULLES legislators. scandalizes the conduct
OF state affairs and preys upon every
seeker OF legislation with all tho unmer-
ciful cupidity OF a pirate OF ancient
times, with all the hungry ra-
pacity OF vulture devouring it's car
rion: and yet you have never raised a
word OF protest
Your attitude has been passive and NOT
aggressive. Do you think that you fIl-
pt IliLed your duty to the honest people OF
tions 70 exist7 Do you think thai Won
nave fulfilled your duty to your Cod nv
not irving TO better such scandalous
ana outrageous state OF afYairs7
do you think that you can defend
yourself before the honest citizenship OF
hnode island by the plea that Won your
ser nave taken no part In these affairs ,
MOI Tor an instant. sir.
10
energy 10 put stop TO them. II was
your duty 10 bring this state OF afYaIrs
70 tos tne attention Of the people OF Rhode
condition OF things publicly and openly 70
me legislature OF Rhode Island Won
should have asked IL to enact laws which
would bring a remedy
"As the governor of this state vou uera
me oHicial head Of the commonwealth. as
tne successful nominee OF the Republican
RT1..y Thn you were the head OF that party.
Ihe Iegislature or this estate has been
overwhelmingly in the control OF tbe Pc
publican party during tho two wears Won
nave been In office 80
for WY dhyo6n1i did you not take up this battle
TOT uecency, carry II TO your party con
ventions and carry II further, into the
general assembly,? '''o
With Republican legislature you
were In much better position 10 effec-
tuate reforms than would be a Demo-
cratic governor, and yet you neglected
your opportunity to accomplish these re
lorms. You cannot now defend yourself
by the simple statement that Won vour
sell were not partaker in these abuses
III an officer OF a town or city. sworn
TO enforce law and prevent crime should
see a burglar pilfering homestead on
his beat, what would be the duty OF that
oftlcerY DO YOU suppose the officer could
DEFEND himself with the fiimsy plea that
ne did not encourage the robber. did not
had stolen nothing? You, sir would he
among the first to ridicule the absurdity
OF such an argument
Yet sir, for two years you sat quietly
and allowed crimes to be perpetrated in
the state house of Rhode Island infinitely
more destructive TO the sacred powers
OF the American government. infinitely
more vital 10 the holy institutions OF our
land. than the crime OF burglary or high
way robbery.
You say that you cannot drive Bray
ton from the state house. Have you ever
publicly used your prestige as the leader
or the Republican party to overthrow his
dictatorial powers and 10 give tho people
OF Rhode Island relief from his oppres-
sive despotism? II not. then why not?
''If you have been 20 years In public
life and two years continuously I'm the
state house, and II. after such expert
ence you did not know OF Brayton's alb
solute domination OF our general assem-
bly,. and OF his wretched and degrading
influence over all public affairs OF this
state. then you confess TO an innocence
which Is more than childlike.
But you know, Gov. Utter, that every
word / say about Brayton Is the gospel
truth. You know he is a brazen and a
shameless boss. You admit that he is a
man OF influence in your party, and that
even you yourself have consulted him.
Knowing his character 20 be such as II
is why did YOU even consult with him2
lis Il your policy to, consult with the
lowest and worst men In your party. or
with the best? As the clean, good man
which YOU are, I can see no other rea-
son for your even doing business with
him than that you were afraid Of his
power and desirous OF keeping favor with
him.
Suppose you did tell him what your
ideas were on the constitutional amend
ment You know that he Is and has been
\ bad corrupt man. and yet you went 10
him on a matter Of supreme political inn
portance by that very act did YOU not
recognize him as a power. as the boss or
your party?
What business did Brayton have with
the constitutional amendment? Did he
hold any official position in this state
higher than yours3 No but YOU under
stood thoroughly that Charles II. Bray
ton was a bigger man I'm the Republican
party and In the state OF Rhode Island
than yourself. and you went TO him be-
g..st.a 90 fHat LnpvNlplgp