The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-10-24
Continued from page one.)

| childhood was passed during and follow
Ing the War OF the Rebellion. in an at
mosphere Of intense political feeling. to
my young intelligence. the name Repub-
lican was synonym for patriot, the
name Democrat for traitor. or at best.
'copper-head.' My father was a jealous
Republican and staunch protectionist.
actively interested I'm the conduct of the
party. and a close friend OF Senator
| Anthony and George w. Danielson.
| Upon becoming voter the principles
1 or the party commended themselves to me.
| and when / desired TO take some part in
public life there was no question In my
mind as to with which party l should act.
] was elected member of the common
council In 1884, 1 thing unanimously.
1 There was practically no Democratic
party In the old Second ward at that
| time.
George Peabody wetmore was COVER
nor of this state In 1885 and 1856, and in
my opinion he filled that office satisfac-
torily as did his immediate predecessors.
! IL was the custom then, 10 an even
greater extent than ii is now. TO give
the office of governor TO the millionaire
| who wanted IL most and would contrib
ute most generously TO the campaign
funds
| JOURNAL OPPOSED wETMORE.
1
Senator Anthony and Mr. Danielson both
| died, and the Providence Journal passed
/ into other hands The new owners, or
some OF them. were violently opposed to
Mr.. Wetmore, and the paper said that
he should not be nominated. Senator AL
drich, then. as always, mindful only OF
his own interests, joined with them in
| their opposition. This excited my fathers
| intense Indignation. He was loyal more
perhaps to the memory of his dead
| friends than To the living, and he was
determined that Mr.. Wetmore should be
| nominated.
81 was offered an opportunity to make
| the nomination speech and I Jumped st
1t. II seemed TO me the opportunity of
a lifetime for young lawyer, anxious TO
make himself known in the community
| MORE LIGHT NOW
1T was seven or eight years after this
before a full knowledge OF conditions was
| forced upon me. This came I'm connection
with my practice before the legislature.
"The bill which was introduced in ths
senate was referred to the senate COM
mittee on judiciary. among the members
OF which were several men who were
recognized as leaders OF the Republican
party found II impossible TO get this
committee to consider the bill and COM
plete its hearings.
"one day Gen. Brayton came to me and
said: Gardner. your bill is going to be
reported unfavorably tomorrow. There
will be eight votes In favor of ii and "a
votes against It, But tell your people that
IL they want IL passed at the next session
-tist come and see me and they can have
1t. / have only promised the other fell
lows that IL shouldn't pass at this ses-
sion
'This did shock me. AMI commenced
to look into conditions and their cause.
found that measures generally were
treated as my measure had been treated.
discovered that Gen. Brayton controlled
the legislature. That the weak men
i'm the small communities owed their cleo
tion TO him. and that the stronger men
likewise owed their committee appoints
ments and their opportunity for prom
nence to him, and that all obeyed him.
That he had become the master Of the
nominal leaders of the Republican party.
instead of being their servant and tool.
as he had been in the days of Anthony
and Danielson.
IT discovered that his power and the en-
tire system was based upon the contr'-
buttons of candidates. which were used
TO buy votes and to secure the choice OF
men who would follow Brayton's dicta-
tion, and by which he was enabled TO
levy toll on all persons who desired leg
islation.
"As I watched the system further, I
discovered that while officeholders gen.
orally contributed to some extent. at that
time the annual contributions OF Senator
Wetmore were the main reliance OF Mr..
Brayton. and that so long as he contin
ued to be senator the spring and source
of corruption would never run dry. That
he especially. ty the payment OF great
sums of money. as TO the disposition OF
which no questions were asked. secured
the return TO congress year after year
Of Melville Bull. while the city OF New
port was handed over to his political OPP
ponents.
DECIDED TO FIGHT.
"It required very little investigation TO
realize further that this system OF cor
ruption was infinitely easier and infinite
lv more effective than Ii could otherwise
possibly be by reason of the system OF
representation of the towns in the gem
eral assembly, and from that time de-
termined that I would do what I could
10 change conditions. absolutely without
reference TO the effect OF what I might
do upon any political part.
''In 1896 I got further insight into the |
operations OF the Republican machine. In
that year was member OF the common
council. That body endeavored TO obtain |
fro mthe Union Railroad Co. a system OF
transfers and the matter was put In |
charge of special committee. of which |
was a member. Mr.. Aldrich and Mr. !
Perry appeared before that committee |
and stated that the giving OF transfers !
was an utter impossibiity. That the COM |
pany might as we'll surrender its fran |
chise as TO attempt the Inauguration of |
such system. That the public would |
cheat Il and it's conductors steal from |
II. and they fatty refused compliance in |
any degree with our wishes. |
LAS a result this committee was au- |
thorlzed to apply TO the general assembly |
for legislation which would compel them |
TO issue transfers and as a member OF |
that committee | appeared before the |
judiciary committee of the house. We told |
them frankly that I'm view OF our past ex- !
perience we applied TO the Legislature with !
hesitation, and begged them If for any |
reason they could not grant what we ask |
ed TO do nothing. AS "A result OF this, a |
law was passed which did not require the |
railroad company to issue transfers. but /
which did provide that they adopt "A sub |
stitute measure which the city did not |
want. and which expressly provided that |
II the railroad company should accept the |
terms OF the act In writing, the act should |
thereupon become n contract between the |