The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-30
MONDAY, JULY 80. 1906.
NOT FORGOTTEN.

Long has it been the habit of legislatures SUI
pinely subservient to Brayonism to hout the petit
tions and defy the wishes OF the wageworkers who
constitute such large part of the intelligent cti-
Eenshp of Rhode Island. Long, too, has this impu-
dent treatment escaped rebuke and chastisement
through apathy and naction but there are cheer
ing signs that it will do so no longer
At its meeting yesterday afternoon Typo
graphical union, No. 80. not only administered A
Btingng rebuke 10 the assembly of 1906 for its inde
fensible action in throttling the eight hour bill
offered for its consideration, but appealed TO the
wage workers OF the state to oppose at the coming
election every candidate OF the Republican party,
which thus affroned and insulted the 10000 labor
Ing and qualified electors who signed the petit
tion asking for the passage OF the measure.
The bill provided for the establishment OF an
right hour day for all persons employed by the state
either directly or indirectly through contract. With
Iaboring men, all of them electors, the bill was in
Produced in the house of representatives and was
referred to the committee on special legislation.
That committee smothered it in secret and
committed it to the graveyard in which repose so
many other measures designed to benefit the
people, but upon which Braytonism had set the
seal of condemnation.
There was no difficulty at the time nor is there
any today in discovering the reason for this sum
mary throtling of measure demanded by large
and worthy part of the citizenship. Braytonisn
condemned it not because it was unwise, unjust or
questionable, but because it would affect the firm
that for years had enjoyed monopoly of the state
printing and the head OF which had been an active
member OF the Brayton machine until the aroused
and indignant citizens of Central Falls repudated
him, and retired him from public office
Though out Of Office this man is still loyal
TO Braytonisnl. What he do TO perpetuate
its sinister hold upon the government Of the state
he can be implicitly trusted to do. Braytonism
killed the eight hour bill for his benefit and in
doing it treated with contempt 10000 voters who
had asked its enactment.
1t smothered it i'll committee in order that
the firm OF which this supporter of Braytonism is
the head might continue TO draw the substantial
sum of about $4,000 year for doing the state
printing, a which has been characterized
excessive by those in position to know both the
quantity of work done and what would constitute
a fair price for it.
Nor did Braytonism halt with the killing Of
the eight hour bill. Coincident with its command
to throttle that measure came its order that new
contract be given the firm, and to it contract
awarded il is understood on trustworthy authority,
for period OF three years and without any attempt
by advertising to secure competitive bids.
No doubt at the time Braytonism counted on
the usual passivity and forgetuness OF the people
to escape punishment for this braZen and con-
temptuous treatment of reasonable and just petit
ton and its costly disregard of the financial inter
ests of the people; but il fooshly ignored the
rising tide of public wrath its high-handed and
dangerous methods had set in motion.
The action of the Typographical union
is manifestation and expression of that
wrath. 1t shows unmistakenly that at last .he
people have aroused themselves from their long
passivity under many and grievous usurpations
and abuses of power. 1t shows that now at least
they do not forget the outrages and insults to
which they have been subjected by arrogant and
malevolent Braytonism.
Most encouraging OF ALL it shows that the
wage workers of Rhode Island are determined to
maintain their rights by exercising their power at
the polls In the present campaign they have ar
rayed themselves against the Republican party
because that party is responsible for Braytonism
and its iniquties
They realize that Braytonism can be DESTROYED
only by administering crushing defeat to the
party that made Braytonism possible and power
full and to accomplish that defeat they purpose TO
oppose every candidate put forward by RepuLli-
cans.
This means that the wage workers of Rhode
Island are enlisted under the banner OF reform and
that the candidates of the Democratic and Lincoln
parties will receive their ballots on Nov. o.
Their support insures sweeping victory for
representative government, for decent and honest
political methods and for equal rights, and it makes
certain the utter destruction OF Braytonsm and the
blotting out of the infamies il has brought upon
the commonwealth.
EVERYDAY HEROES.