The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-01-01
THE NEW STATE GOVERNMENT.

II the government which assumed today d-
recton of the affairs of the state responds to the
plain mandate of the people recorded at the polls
on Nov. last, it will proceed without unnecessary
delay toward the institution of those reforms CON
sttutional and statutory. that are absolutely
essential to the establishment of representative
government and to the roofing out of those polit-
cal evils and abuses that have offended the decent
citizenship and brought discredit upon the state
The popular verdict was of emphatic con-
deinnation of Braytonsm and its iniquties; and
one of the first acts of the new government
should be to thrust out of the state house the nso
lent boss who has had the amazing impudence to
carry on his miserable legislative merchandising
within its walls.
Honest and decent citizens throughout the
state entertain doubt that Governor Higgins
will act in this matter promptly effectively and
fcaressly. His solemn pledge has been given that
h will exhaust all the powers of the executive
office in an endeavor to put an end to the boss
mschievous traffcking that in the past has been a
continuing scandal and disgrace That pledge will
be redeemed
They will look also to the assembly to support
the governor in his efforts to Danish from the
house those practices that bring dscredit and dis
rcpute upon Rhode Island 1t does not seem pos
sible that in the Republican majority in the legis-
lature there not men enough of independence
and courage TO join with the strong Democratic
minority in upholdng Governor Higgins in his
praseworthy attempt to rid the state house of the
boss and his legislative auction outht.
Moreover, there ought to be among the ma or-
ity sufficient number of fearless and patriotic
members who will assist the minority in promoting
those constitutional reforms the people demanded
in no unmistakable way at the polls last November.
Representative government has not been
known in this state for decades nor can il be cs-
tablshed here until the constitution is radically
amended or rewritten altogether. Until the law
making body is constituted on a fair and just basis
of representation until the control OF the senate is
wrested from the representatives OF twenty
small towns, rule by mischevous political oil
garchy will continue TO the exclusion of rule by
the people
No measure for constitutional reform that
does not provide for fair and equitable representa-
tion on the basis of population in the senate as
we'll as in the house will eradicate the abuses and
evils that affct the commonwealth, or rescue it
from a condition of ignobe political vassalage.
The endeavor of the Democratic minority dur
ing the present session will undoubtedly be to
initiate constitutional reforms that will give the
people OF the state that representative government
which is their inaenabe right as American citi-
zens. In that endeavor they ought to have the
hearty cooperation of every self-respecting Re-
publican who believes he was elected TO serve the
people rather than TO render serve obedience tc
malefc machine that has usurped the people
rights and made mockery OF popular government
In the interest OF fairness and honesty the
minority will not fail TO strive 90 amend the laws
relating TO elections as 10 render impossible IN
future the suppression OF the popular will and 70
remove the unjust and unwarranted restrictions
placed upon certain classes OF the electorate for thc
sinister purpose OF serving partisan interests
The registxastea law should be SO changed tha,