The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-05-22
FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT.

When little more than year ago. on tho In
itiative of the Democracy of Rhode Island. pop
ular convention for the nomination of candidate
for the United States called, there were
many who doubted that anything really worth
while would result. The opponents of political
reform in this state attempted to ridicule the
movement and openly declared union OF the
Democratic and Independent forces of the state
would not and could not survive until election day
But it did survive More than that, 1t made
breach in the entertainments of political iniquity
that affrighted those who lurked in supposed
curity behind them. 1t elected James H. Higgins
governor over an executive who throughout the
campaign contended there no bossism at the
state house, but who the eleventh hour and fac
ing defeat confessed there was bossism; that he
had been silent under the sinister machnations
and finally that the boss was menace to the
state of Rhode Island"
Still further, 1t sent forty-one senators and
representatives to the assembly, who besides
standing firmly in support of Colonel Goddard
throughout the long battle over the senatorshp.
introduced more measures of real public benefit
and prevented the enactment of more measures of
dubious character than any delegation represent
ing the people has been able to do at any legisla-
tive session within memory.
Those who considered the Democratic-Inde-
pendent movement a case of sporadic attempt
at reform have seen their theories shattered and
have witnessed welding together in permanent
unity of the forces of civic righteousness such as
has never before occurred in the history of Rhode
Island.
This unusual but fortunate thing has happen
ed because the men engaged in the crusade for real
representative government and for the crushing of
Braytonism earnest, honest and determined
What they started out to accomplish they de-
termined to achieve. They steadfast in pur-
pose and realize that persistent effort is the only
thing that the state from its present
condition of gnoble servility to corrupt ma
chine.
And today amid enthusiasm unbounded and
cheers that echoed and re-echoed throughout the
big hall Colonel Goddard was renominated and re-
ceved the pledge of the support of the honest and
loyal citizenship of Rhode Island
There was nothing of the perfunctory in the
course of the proceedings The action taken
spontaneous and the applause that greeted it
enthusiastic. The convention itself was a real
gathering of the people and it gave expression to
the real sentiments of the people.
He would be partisan of partisans who, wit
Messing the work of the convention, could reach
any other conviction than that at last the people
themselves are aroused to the enornity of the in
quities from which the state suffers and are de-
termined to root them out once and for all.
He would be poor interpreter of passing po-
ltical events who would not declare after today's
convention in Music Hall, that Colonel Goddard's
election, and the rescue of the state from degrad
ing and disgracefu condition of political servitude
certain anything human can be-
Colonel Goddard, in his speech of acceptance
put the purpose of the present campaign fairly
and squarely before the people when he declared !:
LET 1T BE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD
THAT THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE IN THIS
CONTEST is NOT THE u. S. SENATOR
SHIP, NEITHER is 1T THE VICTORY OF
ONE PARTY OVER ANOTHER. 1T is THE
TRIUMPH OF PURITY AND GOOD Gov
ERNMENT IN THE STATE OF RHODE
ISLAND FOR WHICH WE ARE STRIVING"