The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-06-10
COUNTERFEIT REFORM.


cuss the new political purity movement in sup
port of the candidacy OF George Peabody Wetmore
for reelection to the United States senate, the
stronger becomes their conviction of its utter in
sincerity. To them it appears attempt to be-
fool the people to lead them TO believe that in the
past Wetmore has been the opponent of machine
methods and hostile to the debauching practices
of the boss when they know he has profted by both
to the extent of securing a governorship for two
terms and United States senatorshp for period
of twelve years.
1t was the boss who put Wetmore into every
public office he has held. 1t upon the boss
Wetmore depended to return him for third term
TO the senate. The boss failed TO deliver the
goods in this instance, therefore, the Wetmoreites
denounce him. cry out for the suppression of ma
chine rule and for clean and honest methods in the
conduct of political affairs in Rhode Island
No sane man believes that if George Peabody
Wetmore's ambition for reelection had been graft
fed or even If in the inconclusivc, though long
drawn-out. contest in the general assembly il was
revealed that the boss had done all that was ex-
pected of him, the Wetmore supporters would now
make the pretence of organizing purity league for
the betterment of political conditions in the COM
monwealth.
1t is too late for the chief beneficiary of WET
more's money and Braytons management to put
on the garb of political righteousness and to point
condemning finger at the boss who served him
faithfully for nearly two decades with the snug as
sertion Il holier than thou
1t requires no particular keenness to realize
that if this Wetmore movement for the pretended
roofing out of political evils sincere those
gagged in it would be alignng themselves with the
real reformers who following the standard of
Colonel Goddard, instead of organizing under false
colors for the purpose of defeating Colonel God
dard and every effort toward legitimate and honest
reform.
What do the Wetmoretcs promise the honest
citizenship of the state? Do they proclaim them
selves willing to aid in so changing the constitution
that the majority and not the minority will rule
Do they say they will assist in putting end to the
control of the senate by the rotten borough towns
that they will aid in giving the executive theveto
and appointing powers he should have?
Nothing of the sort With effrontery that is
amazing they assert they "are unalterably opposed
ito government by the Democratic party of the
state" because its principles prove it to be
to the industrial prosperity of the common
wealth."
Democratic principles not only would promote
Rhode Islands commercial and industrial prosper
ity, but their triumph here would establish repre-
sentative government, the equal rights of all
citizens, put end once and for all to Braytonisr
and its sinister domination and render impossible
the election of rich carpetbaggers from other states
to the governorship, the senatorship or any other
office.
The Wetmorcites fear the success of the Demo.
cracy because they fear the real reforms that would
come with the triumph of Democratic principles
The brand of reform they offer is a contemplate
counterfeit conceived in dupicity, born in deceit
and it will hoodwink not single Rhode Island
voter.