The Washington herald., 1906-11-04
srsciaI 70 The Washington Herald.


remarkable political campaign is IN prog
ress in this little State of Rhode island and
Providence plantation It is a contest
of such unusual features and such mo
mentous possibilities that il is strange
the outside world has not been attracted
to it and impressed BY its full signil-
cance.
Apparently. neither the administration
at Washington nor the general public 8p-
preciaJes the character of the struggle
that win end al the polls next Tuesd3y.
Il. however. the forces. that are arrayed
against the dominant Republican org nj
zaiion shall win the victory, which Their
leaders think is witain their grasp the
attention of the United States viii be
riveted upon this important midget Com
monwealth
Governor Not Always Republican.
A State ticket is to be voted for. two
Congressman elected municipal officers
chosen. and a general assembly elected
that viii choose a member Of the United
States Senate to succeed Gecrge Peabody
WetmoTe. whose term viii expire March
4, ls07
Rhode Island, although popularity sup
posed to be Tock-ribbed in its Republi-
caHism and immovable in its devotion TO
the basic principle OF the Republican
psTty-protecticn 10 home industries-has
more than once been shaken, stem to
stern. on local issues and had a Demo
CTat forced mo the executive chair but
never in her history has she been stirred
in a political contest as she is stirred to-
day -ss
Theodore Roosevelt carried the State
by the unprecedented majority Of more
than 1I.(00, but the Republican candidate
for governor, an honest, in,ell gent, but
somewhat timid man. who had Unde-
servedly incurred the dislike of labor or
ganiZati-ns, squeezed through only by a
beggsriy few hundred. The governor
Of Rhode Island. be il known, has no
power or patronage whatever. He is a
hgsrehe ID pure and simple, but the
moral effect of his defeat would be dis
astrous 70 his party just the same.
Had TO Repudiate Boss.
To-day that governor. George H. Utter.
iG running again, and so hot has the race
been made for him by the elements VINO
have banded together under the name OF
the Lincoln party Of Rhode Island 70 de
feat the Republican "oligarchy" that he
has been forced publicly to throw ovtr-
board the boss" of the Republican ma
chine, by admitting that he is q menace /
10 the best interests Of the STATE" and
promising, whether elected Jr defeated. L
do al in his power 10 remove the blot
Ir-m her escu,cheJn-
The Lincoln party is composed of Dem
ocra-s and Ind5 pendent Republicans VII
resolving To bring - a focus the inter
few years aimed at breaking down "a.
Republican machine" nominated IN May,
az primary convention. the first in N,
States hist-ry, a candidate for United
states Senator in the person Of CJL
Robert Hale Ives Goddard, and around
his standard have gathered the forces .
that are Almost hysteTicaI in their yea. T.
10 wrest the control Of political interests. /
State and Federal from the hands -
those who have so long held IT,
Promise Liberation from Trusts.
The members of the Lincoln party ar,
specific in their charges against theiI I
opponents. and in demanding and promls- 4
ing reforms. They aim, first, 10 elect a .
majority OF Lilcolnites 10 the genera. +
assembly. II order that provision may be I.
made for the adoption Of a new consLtu- /
ton to replace the integrated documeu, /
under which the Republicans coatrol al :
legislation and patronage by giving little .
country towns equal representation with .
the cities Of the STATE; second, 10 drive
from the Stateh0Use the Republican
S." Gen. Charles r. Brayton, th- I
blind man. who. although holding no Of
nee, is nevertheless popu5ariy supposed t. /
exercise absolute control over legislation
who passes or defeats every measure b.: +
a md. and who is the sell-c0nfessed paid
attorney Of certain powerful corporations.
and third, 10 pat an ED 10 what Juey
charge has long been the practice OF con-
trolling legislation, patronage, and eiec-
tj0us by the corrupt use of money, by
driving Mr.. Wetmorc from the Senate
and sending IN his pace Col Goddard,
lifelong Republican. man I4acturer
whose wealth, much Of il derived firm
The benefits Of a protective tariff, IS very
great but who stands since his nomina-
zion pledged 10 work and vote for tariff
revision, 90 help down the boss" and
90 aid in puIislmg those VINO would sea
or purchase the electorate.
People Fighting for an Idea.
Col. Goddard is fine type OF the
American ariseocr3t. wealthy. proud. ex-
elusive Living out of JoJch with his fel-
low man in his pceteniOus Providence
residence. HCps.on House, in the wiH,er;
at his country estate. PouoWomut Point.
IN NarTlgdnsett Bay. or ia Europe fE
the summer and appearing among h-s
neighbOTs only in pIJiic or cerem0n.Ous
Occas. .oDs He is patriotic, wiJa "a credit
able army service, and pJblic-spir. led,
law-abid.nG, charitable. fair dealing with
his employees and coTTec, in has private
life TO thc last degree. He IS however,
nearly seventy. O "a would be ab8I. rs
effective in Washington IN changing the
course OF legislation As a Senate page
But he sands for an idea, and il is this
idea that has taken ho.d Of Rhode IS
LADDERS as no political issue ever before
has done. lie Sac really seems at last
10 be aroused and the bitterness of The
fight win leave lis sears for many a long
day to come.
All Cry Against Blind Boss.
The blows thai have been and are being
given on both sides are very serious, fol
the campaign has resolved itself into
personal warfare IN which social Circles.
business firms, educational co,erics. f.
clubs, and even religious organizations
are divided among themselves. The at
tacks upon Boss Brayton here come
from every quarter, and the charges
ag linst him as Il corrupt and arbitrary
boss OF The Republican majority in the
general assembly give chapter and verse
Tor the Illegal and Immoral ac,s laid al
his door.
The ciergymen are crying out against
him from tse pulpit, tie reputable Provi-
tence Journal. unique IN its influence
early in ne campaign opened lis col
umns 10 his detraclion. and in fac,
stands sponsor for the indictuan 4