The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-11
LOTS OF FUN IS
AHEAD FOR THE
REPUBLICANS

'It seems strange that there should be
reports OF a conference OF Republicans
elected 10 the next general assembly be-
fore the session opens" said politician
To News-Democrat reporter this morn
ing.
Zone would think" he continued, 1.-THE
agony would be postponed as long as pos
sible. When the men have TO confer IL
will be bad enough. for how TO define
policy when you haven't one In mind is a
task that a man does not go half a mile
out OF his way to meet.
''rhe trouble with the Republicans Is
that they just want to hold on TO the Of
fees. They don't care who writes the con-
stitutional amendments or prates about
reform as long as they have the keeping
OF corporation and franchise measures
and can draw the salaries from the state
and city treasures.
There will be lots Of trouble for the
Republican majority I'm each house. In the
senate, while the Republicans may have
10 hear unpleasant remarks concerning
the makeup OF that body from the sena-
tors from Providence, Pawtucket and
other places, the Falstaff army is proba-
bly, big enough 10 whip the abler fellows
OF the opposition into quiescent mood IL
is safe TO say that the Warwick peer
less won't take any southern trips this
year. His big and burly form will be
needed 10 support the threatened pillars
OF fast decaying constitution.
1T is the Republican lads in the house
though, who Will have the time OF their
lives. There Will be one redeemlng fea-
ture about the game there Speaker be
Bliss won't have as hard a time as his
predecessor in giving places TO Republl-
cans In the last two houses OF repre-
scntatives. according TO reports of the
faithful. the speakers had difficult prob
II l.
place on respectable committee and at
the same time carry out the orders OF
Boss Brayton
"rhe Republicans OF Rhode Island long
ago determined that Flanagan OF Texas
was the ideal kind OF a lad He once
asked, when civil service reform was an
infant Industry, What are we here for?
The gentlemen who get any prominence at
al! I'm the Republican party are after the
offices-even the honorary ones of com
mittee appointments. There not being so
many Republicans elected this year as
formerly, the new speaker ought TO have
an easy time of II.
"As for the Democratic members. the
speaker would like. as matter OF
courtesy TO give them good appointments
but there are the unbroken traditions OF
the speakers party and the dislike TO be
counted an innovation to prevent the
members OF the minority being fairly look
ed after.
"One thing the men who talk reform In
this state didn't seem 10 realize, and that
Is the power OF a legislative majority. II
can be as bold and reckless In Rhode
Island as a house of lords can be in Eng
land.
The trick that will bother the boys will
be the senatorial one. however. IL will be
real amusing to see II there Is a count OF
noses on this question a the preliminary
conference. VIII the men who believe i'm
adding to the conservative forces at the
national capital declare In favor of new
or old fortune? | do not believe this ques-
tion will figure at all In the speakership
contest; but IL has got TO begin It's trou-
BILE making at the very dawn OF the new
year The chances are said just now 10
favor Col. Colt: but II is not likely his
friends are any too anxious to begin the
contest and start the storm scenery NOV
ing
"This talked about preliminary confer
ence is an Innovation and as such doesn't
meet with much favor; and you can get
bets that II will never be held, or at least
that there will be no meeting OF Republi-
can senators and representatives until the
day Of Inauguration. There will be trou-
bic enough i'm the so days OF legislative
duty without looking for any advance
payments.
LAS for the house OF representatives, IL
remains to be seen IL the Republicans will
be able 10 find so tactful leader as they
had when the house was very close in
1905. The indications are that Samuel
Wind Kurler Allen won't he as successful
as was Hon. Clark H. Johnson in the role
of emuator OF the celebrated Fabius.
There will be lots of fun. however,
UP at the marble palace this winter; and
the sooner il starts the better I will like
it.