The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-23
HIGGINS POWERFUL
PLEA FOR DECENCY

PLEA FOR DECENCY
Hon. James II. Higgins was given a
rousing reception; and his speech made
a powerful impression upon his auditors.
who frequently interrupted him with en-
thusiastic outbreaks OF applause. He
spoke In part as follows:
There is no place I'm Rhode Island that
has felt more keenly the deadly sangrene
of bossism than has Newport The foist-
ing OF police commission upon this city
against the clear and outspoken wishes of
Its citizens forms to my mind at least,
one OF the gravest inJustices OF the reign
of bossism.
"Brayton and his followers wanted to
use the police department of every city In
the state as a sort OF political club. They
believed that IL the power of appoint
ment were taken from the local authorl-
ties and placed in the hands OF the senate
they could club into submission hundreds
and even thousands OF voters through
out the state.
Gentlemen, moral conditions are the
last things In the world that ever occur
to the minds OF the Brayton ring. So long
as they can use the departments OF the
government for building and maintaining
the fences necessary 10 their state ma
chine. morality will cause them no anx-
iety whatever
pointed by the senate for Newport. and
he refuses TO repeal the law creating II.
He creates a commission for Providence.
and after two or three years changes the
appointing power from the state senate
TO the Providence board of aldermen, a
body which he can handle with as much
facility as he does the senate.
THE police commission idea Is now
and has been, simply subterfuge OF the
most shadowy kind for the purpose of
centralizing political power in the hands
OF the state boss. He cares no more about
the moral Improvement OF our city gov
ernments than he cares about the local
management OF the city of Moscow.
If there is one thing noticeable in this
campaign, II is the contrast between the
manner in which the two great parties
present their candidates for the United
States senatorship. The Democracy has
selected as it's leader one OF Rhode ISL
and's most consistent and exemplary citi-
zens, a great employer of labor, a man of
large business interests, a man whose
employees have always received fair and
considerate treatment and a man whose
wealth has not been acquired through de-
vious ways nor from special favors and
privileges at the hands OF the state legis-
lature.
Have we not right to say to our
opponents, who is your candidate and
what are his qualifications UP to date,
Boss Brayton has not allowed his party
to name a candidate. His intention Is 10
get all the money he can out OF both
Colt and Wetmore.
He thinks he can use them both to
line HIS pockets before election, and If
killing afterward by selling the places
to whichever OF the two shall bid the
highest.
"The facts are, of course, that the ma
IA atN.A n,xNG NAs.t
the whole thing was set'up TO throw Mr..
Wetmore over.
MIR. Wetmore declines to be thrown
over, or to be bought off by another po-
sition. AS a result, therefore. the Bray
ton ring will, Of course, GUST him: but
they have not the courage or the decency
to tell him so openly. One OF the objects
In not announcing their candidate for the
senate Is to deceive Mr. Wetmore and his
friends into the belief that they really
have a chance.
Every citizen of this state who has at
heart the interests OF his commonwealth
owes II TO himself TO elect a legislature
that will be free from Brayton domina-
tion and Will elect Col. Goddard TO the
senate.
'1n this campaign much has been said
governor to destroy the power OF Bray
ton and drive him from the capitol.
MY honored friend. Gov. Utter, al
before before his % Nomination lin S in defence s" Of 9a
boss on the ground that he stands by
his friends, has later declared himself in
n general and ambiguous manner as be-
ing opposed to boss rule.
"If he is the independent. free, public
that he proclaims himself then
he ought 10 have denounced Brayton. he
ought 10 have lashed him with all his
power, without any suggestion and with
out any nagging from the outside.
"The governor stands between two
fires, between the devil and the deep
sea. II he denounced the boss then the
latter and all his machine would have
turned against him, Not having de-
nounced Brayton, then he has to square
himself with the Independent citizens Of
Rhode Island.
''Up TO date, the only inference we can
draw is that he would like TO denounce
Brayton. but that he does not dare to
Brayton could not dictate 20 his party for
one single minute IL Gov. Utter the head
OF the Republican organization, In this
state, were sincerely and aggressively op-
posed 10 him.
I'VE have simply tolerated Brayton long
enough. Brayton must go and he Will go.
no matter whether Gov Utter says so or
not. This battle has already begun. II is
on in earnest. and we will drive Brayton
out, in spite OF the governor"