The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-06-17
DARK HORSE" TALK.

With complacence and with cheer the forces
of real reform here in Rhode Island view the
present disturbance and division in the ranks OF
the Republican party, which has permitted itself
TO be used by an INSCRIPTIONS boss for more than
quarter of century for the suppression of popular
rights, for the pollution of the electorate and for
scandalous merchandising in laws and in public
offices.
No party in any state in the union ever
more grievously torn by internecne strife than is
the Republican party in this little commonwealth
today and it is thus divided into warning factions
largely because Of its outrageous treatment of the
people in the past, which has united them in a
crusade to recover their fched rights and because
each faction hopes in the end by some means or
other to secure the plum of the United States SEN
atorship for its particular candidate candidate
acceptable to it second choice.
dark horse senatorial candidate is now
talked about industriously by Republicans as a
means Of promoting harmony and uniting the party
in such way as to insure victory next November.
That is to say, it is proposed to throw over both
candidates who have heretofore figured in the
senatorial contest and to select a new one, in the
hope that he will have better chance of success
than either of the others who have been so long in
the conflict 4.
Compromises often settle differences and
sometimes settle them right That compromise
Republican candidate will settle the senatorial
battle in this state is not probable in the face of
the present uprising Of the people and their deter
mnation to send representative OF real reform to
the highest legislative body in the land.
No man upon whom the Republican state
central committee, or, for that matter, no man
upon whom the entire Republican party can posi-
bly, unite will be satisfactory to the people as a
whole. Indeed what would agreement on COM
promise candidate, SO far as the reforms for which
the people here are struggling in this state mean
Absolutely nothing. In support of such can
didate would be exerted not only all the powers
and resources of the Republican party ITSELF but
all the sinister arts of chicane and mischief known
to men who have heretofore been leaders, at one
time or another, of the Republican machine. Under
such consummation the people would have a
combination OF bosses to battle against, and it is
this possible condition with which they are now
confronted by the dark horse" proposition of a
dscredited political enemy.
The fact is that here in Rhode Island the
people are determined to carry on their campaign
for reform irrespective of the individual whom the
candidate. The establishment of representative
government the roofing out of bossfsm, the secur-
ing OF equal rights to all citizens with special
privileges to none, are what they seek
For all of these Colonel Goddard has plainly
and emphatically declared and that declaration
gave him the support Of 81 per cent of the popu-
laton of the state last November
Whoever may be the opponent of Colonel
Goddard at the polls next November. whether he
be regular or compromise candidate for the
senaorship. will be destined to defeat because he
will not represent, as Col. Goddard does, the solid
sentiment and aspirations of the people OF Rhode
Island for emancipation from condition of politi-
cal wrong amounting to political slavery.