The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-28
TUESDAY, AUGUST aS, 1906.
A GAME OF DUPLICITY.

earnestly in his interest and affect air OF cheer
fulness that would be accepted indication
of assured success were it not definitely known
that more potential if sinister, agency has already
1nade the denomination OF the Newport man an inn
possibility.
The Wetmore supporters relying on Bray
tonism's crafty statement that as yet no Repub-
lican senatorial nominee has been decided upon ;
that the field is still open and that choice of
candidate will not be made until after the election
in November next They do not appear yet to
realize that such statement is its face nimical
to the junior senator that it is made for the
purpose of keeping him and his friends i'll line until
after the battle at the polls has been fought out.
They cannot that in assuming this attitude
of apparent openness Braytonism is s'mply playing
cunning game of duplicty, game designed to get
as much OF the sinews OF war as W etmore wifi con-
tribute and all of Wetmores voting strength to aid
it in escaping defeat at the hands of the forces of
reform
Is it not obvious that if Braytonism were
friendly to Wetmore it would make no such dubious
statement as that the field is OPEN? Wetmore
should be the logical Republican candidate to sue
ceed himself in the senate His service, if not CON
spicuous has been satisfactory. If his senatorial
career has not been marked by brilliant achieve
ments, it shows at least record of unremitting
industry and close attention to duty. In way
has Wetmore offended against the party which sent
him to Washington.
Under these circumstances then, if Braytonism
had even a remote intention of supporting him,
would it openly avow that intention and let the
rank and file of the Republican party know that
Wetmore will be the party's senatorial candidate ?
Why does it adopt the shifty course of declar-
ing that the field is open? Only to dupe Wetmore
into the belief that he has chance of renomina-
ton, when as a matter of fact Braytonism has
secretly decreed that he shall not again fill seat in
the United States senate.
Braytonsm's plan is to use Wetmores money
and Wetmore,s men to aid il in winning the cleo
ton if possible and when the ballots are counted it
will reveal its netherworld conspiracy by present
ing the name of Samuel p. Colt to the general as
sembly George Peabody Wetmore's successor
to the Junior senatorship from Rhode Island in the
United States senate.
III can redully enough De UNDERSTOOD tnat w Ell
and his friends hesitate to believe that such
dupcity will be practiced but that is because they
do not realize the desperate situation in which
Braytonism finds itself in the present campaign.
Were conditions similar to those surrounding
earlier elections, were Braytonism not itself men
aced by destruction, it would probably not deem it
necessary to practice the deceit and double dealing
that renders its present course so contemplate.
In this campaign, however Braytonsm is con
fronted by aroused and militant electorate,
justly angered by the outrages inflicted upon it,
and determined TO chastse and crush those who
perpetrated those outrages. To have any hope OF
withstanding the assault OF the forces OF reform
thus arrayed against it, Braytonism realizes it
needs big corruption fund as it can extort
by promises cajolery or threats and every vote it
secure by fair means or foul.
Braytonism, therefore cannot risk the loss OF
the Wetmore votes which would unqucstonaby
follow the announcement OF its real purpose 70
make Colt the Republican senatorial candidate Tc
retain this support until the polls close is Bray
tonism's policy and TO do that it will hesitate at nc
measure of mendacity or depth OF duplcity.
Perhaps Wetmore and his friends will realize
before it is too late, the actual condition of affairs
as we'll as the fact that the cards stacked