The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-06-15


outward appearances. at least, until after
the state convention. which is expected TO
declare for some representative Repubn-
can for United States senator.
One important step in this direction was
taken last Thursday, when tho call for
the state central committee meeting was
formally issued by Chairman Harold j.
Gross OF that body. The executive COM
mittee, at its meeting last Tuesday, de-
termined that the full body should con-
vene next Tuesday at noon, burt the call
is for next Thursday. and thereby hangs
tale
Boss Brayton is expected TO run up
from obscurity into which he has taken
himself at Atlantic City. long enough to
be consulted and perhaps 10 malos state
ment. and Col. Samuel Pomeroy Colt will
drop down from his camp at the foot OF
Mount Katahdin, Maine. Colt. Colt. OF
course. Will not attend the meeting, but
there will be any number of representa-
| tives OF his interests present. and before
going TO the gathering one or more OF
them Is exceedingly likely to see. or hear
from. the colonel. upon whose decision
anent making the senatorial race next
rail- the fate OF the Republican party I'm
the state this year and for years to
come may depend.
One thing seems to be certain, accord
ing to some OF his friends. he is not like
~ to go TO Europe this summer whether
he stays In or pulls out OF the fight.
Ex-senator Wetmore will not he far
away when the meeting Is held Thursday.
TO CLOSE THE BREACH.
Had the meeting been called for next
Tuesday, neither Gen. Brayton nor Col
Colt could have made arrangements to
be within reach AS " is, the Colt men,
who profess to have heard nothing as to
the Intentions OF the Republican ma
torfty candidate" throughout the hast ses-
Sion OF the general assembly. viii have
an opportunity TO act advisedy In the
state committee meeting. and some steps
may be taken toward healing the great
est breach their party has ever seen
IL Ia barely possible that the state OF
Col Colts health may not permit him TO
risk such an srduous campaign rs - ex-
pected next fall, and that ex-senator
George Peabody wetmore. in the interest
OF harmony" which now has become
fetish. will condescend to take himself
back TO New York, or elsewhere beyond
these troubled political waters. That
would leave the politicians free to act.
and one OF the first things they are ex-
pected TO do I'm such contingency is 10
that there Is no other millionaire avail
able whose candidacy would mean to
them the discharge OF mortgages, taking
UP OF long-standng notes. Judgments,
and sundry bills now due and payable.
LOOK TO PERRY.
There is a well-defned and anxious
hope among this element that the chair
man OF the "Old Home Week. commit
tee. which has now become a state body,
may be struck by the senatorial lightning
and that there will be such an insistent
popular" Republican demand for his en-
try into the field. that he will be con-
strained TO sacrifice some of his manifold
business interests for the sake OF the
grand old party which has kindly aided
him 30 far as II could in this state. to
acquire the wealth which Is so desirable
in campaign times.
But Chairman Perry. II he were TO be-
come Col. Colts political heir. would be
less acceptable to the elements which are
antagonizing the genial colonel, than Is
the colonel himself, according TO leaders
among them, and his candidacy would
between capital and labor In this state
which the more astute leaders are en-
deavoring to end,
The big street car strike OF 1902, while
he was tho head OF the Rhode Island
company, is still fresh in the public mind.
and no one recalls II more vividly than
do certain city politicians and country
statesmen who were caught In the popular
landslide. There was no more roundly
abused man I'm the state at that time,
Justly or otherwise. than this same Mars
den ]. Perry and no one knows this bet
ter than does he. II there Is any possi-
bility of n Republican candidate for Unit
upon the Democratic independent
strength In the Blackstone Valley. from
Pawtucket I'D TO Woonsocket, where the
strike sentiment was strongest. that
chance would go aglimmering were Perry
the candidate of the Republican party.
politicians believe. Goddard might well
dispatch TO his friends on the morning
after election that historic message: I'VE
have met the enemy and they are ours.
WON'T M
Another Moses than Perry is considered
necessary, II Colt and Wetmore retire
from leadership OF the twSr big factions.
Some member OF the late Wetmcrc cam
paign committee, which contains several
r;illjonaires, might be selected. but IL
seems doubtful now Even the Hon. Adm
II. Capron, the campaign Joker. has de-
clare for wetmore and this has decreas-
ed visibly his popularity with the Colt
forces. which still control the party or
ganlzation.
Possibly some light will be shed on the
,Ituation when the state committee Is
called together next Thursday at noon.
II will sfford. at least. an opportunity for
tho representatives OF the two factions
To meet, confer and take the initial steps
toward holding big love feast such rs
the old boss once loved to address, warn
ing the Republicans to put only the
guard and the dullest Democrats.
LoP OFF EXCREscENCES.
IL is generally understood In Repub-
lican circles that the Wetmoreites are
by no means alone in their desire for
harmony" or for complete re-
organization OF the Republican party
with the elimination OF certain Gle
ments which have long been malo-
dorous TO tho olfactory nerves OF the
states decent citizenship. While the
head and front OF these eXcrescences,
which have sapped the life or the party
and made it offensive to so many stall
wart Republicans, may be found In
this city. there are branches running
into Cranston. Pawtucket, Woonsocket
and South county towns.
Knowing that a respectable figure
head was absolutely necessary IL they
would cloak their designs upon the
party and the people. they have
striven 10 always head the state COM
mittee with n man who was believed
TO be personally clean, and. for the
past two years. with man who was
politically devoid OF any blemish. alb