Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-03-28
Poor Little RhodxI

Everybody at all acquainted with
Rhode Island politics knows that for
many years General Charles r. Bray
ton has been the Republican boss of
that tiny commonwealth 1t is neck
and neck race betwixt Pennsylvania
and Rhode Island as to which exhibits
Republican corruption at the worst. 1t
ought to be stated, however, in ordi-
nary fairness that there are signs indi-
eating that the public conscience, SO
long dormant in both states, is aroused
ut last. In 1904 Pennsylvania gave
Roosevelt more than half a million ma
jorfty, but in 1905 the Democrats, work
ing hand in hand with conscience Re-
publicans, elected state treasurer by
nearly 100000 majority In 1906 the
Republican candidate for governor, Mr.
Stuart, pulled through by small ma
jority because he everywhere declared
his Independence of all bosses and
promised the people that IL elected he
would be governor in fact as well as in
name and would give them a clean,
honest administration They took him
at his word and elected him. He has
his opportunity. What will he do with
1t? 1t will be remembered that year
or two ago a great moral wave swept
over Philadelphia, temporarily sub
merging the bosses, but this spring
they got their second wind, won a de-
cisive victory over the reform forces
and caused the City of Brotherly Love
to follow the example of the SOW
and return to her wallow. That's not
an encouraging fact and seems to show
that the forces of corruption may bring
all Of Governor Stuart's good inten-
fions to naught Lovers of good gov
eminent everywhere wish him well n
his more than Hercules task Of purging
the Augean stables at Harrisburg. 1t
is rumored that certain big thieves
who stole themselves rich in building
and furnishing the new state capitol
are liable to land in the penitentiary,
but in this case seeing is believing.
In passing it ought to be stated that
Governor Stuart is a handsome man
ana looks like an honest one, as no
doubt he is, but it remains to be seen
whether he can successfully battle
with the Republican machine which
has so long dominated political affairs
in the keystone State. Let US hope he
win.
But to return to our mutton. Last
year the Democrats managed to elect
a governor, but lost the legislature, in
which there has been long senatorial
deadlock betwixt two men whose only
claim to the high position is their vast
wealth. The Democratic Governor Hig
gins appears TO carry his nerve with
him. as is demonstrated by the fol
lowing dispatch:
Providence, r. T., March Ex-Governor
James FL. Higgins yesterday renewed his
efforts to Gust General Charles r. Bray
ton, the legislative agent. from the Rhode
Island statehouse when he sent a letter
to the high sheriff of Providence county
General Hunter c. White, directing him
to refuse General Brayton the use OF the
sheriff's Office for political purposes. The
governor In his letter to Sheriff White
says In part:
an the name of the citizens Of Rhode
Island demand that you refuse to allow
Mr.. Brayton to use the property or thu
state OF Rhode Island for his private
pleasure and profit. Year In and year out
he has occupied and used your office for
his vile purposes with your knowledge
and consent.
ssThe mans continued presence in the
capitol offers daily scandal to the men,
women and children of the state.
s1n the name Of the decent citizenship
Of this commonwealth demand that you
clean this moral and political pest out Of
Your Office. In the name of common civ
ilized virtue demand that you no longer
persist in allowing part of this capitol
to be used as the headquarters Of no-s
torious lobbyist
There is certainly nothing meaIy
mouthed about that utterance Of bis
exceilency He hits straight from the
shoulder. and to a mere looker-on in
Vienna It seems that there ought to be