The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-08-17
THE WEEKLY JOURNAL,
MIDS UMMER POLITICS.

The direct primary movement has
more to 1t than the determination to
return to the people their constitu-
tional power to select for themselves
their political rulers. That is very
important feature of it but in addition
and Of equal Importance is its desire
to have aspirants for Office tell the
nominators in advance for what they
stand and what policies On govern
ment they represent. Under such a
direct primary act as the special Con-
necticut commission reported to this
General Assembly it would be impos-
sible for dummy to undertake a can
vass for the office Of governor for ex-
ample
We call attention to this purpose Of
the direct primary movement because
of the lively discussion in certain
quarters over the successor of Gov
ernor Woodruff. II the public prints
are to be trusted the task Of selecting
the man has been completed; all is
over but the shouting. Congressman
at-Large I4illey Of Waterbury coyly
admits that he is in the hands of his
friends and that if the Republican
party Of the State of Connecticut de-
sires him to run for governor and
says so in convention assembled he is
ready to make the race. This is
somewhat like the attitude of Mr..
Benedict of Greenwich, who at one
time aspired to the Democratic nomin-
alton for governor He softly denied
being an aggressive candidate, but as
IKE" Bromley observed at the time,
should he be taking constitutional
walk some morning after breakfast
when 1t was known that the nonin-
--sation was abroad and their paths con-
verged Mr.. Benedict would not be the
one to dodge the conveyance. This Is
exactly Mr.. Lilley's attitude. with this
difference, that while keeping one eye
on the constitutional habits of the
Republican nomination he keeps an
other on Lieutenant Governor Lake Of
Hartford, to whom he comedies only
two supporters, former State Senator
Allan w. Paige Of Bridgeport and for
mer State Tax Commissioner Frank
q. HeaIy of Windsor Locks, deposed.
Assuming, as Congressman Lilley
does, that he is to be the next governor
of Connecticut, 1t is in order to ask
respectfully a few logical questions
which have not been asked before be-
cause his candidacy was more or less
a matter of speculation. 1t is not a
question of the good fellowship of the
gentleman nor Of his personal popu-
Iarity. Those are qualities which
would have an influence with the
working of the direct primary princi-
alone. It, is desirable to know, for
example, what the forces are
back Of Mr.. Lilley which make
him and his friends so confident /oi
success? With a direct primary law i
would be necessary for these forces t.
disclose themselves. In the absence o
that law how is the voter to dete mlnt
thai Mr.. Lilley is the best man in tn
State for the office Of governor two
years hence: We have seen no popula
demand for hisnomination though thert
are no end Of powerful political lead
ers who favor him. Could they so con
fidently predict his nomination or tn
nomination of any other man If the,
were obliged to shoulder the publicit!
which must precede an effective use o
the direct primary law? They not onl!
could not but the fact cannot be over
lacked that the very confidence thes
men Rave in their ability to nominal
any man they want, whether he spell
his name I.illey or Lake, proceeds iron
their skill and experience In controlling
the nominating convention and it /
the dominating influence of that ma
chine power which the advocates of tn
direct primary GEEK to destroy, not 70
the purpose of substituting themselve
for the powers deposed but for the pur
pose Of reviving actual self-govern
ment under the terms of which tn
people do their own bosslng. 1t is tn
bold appearance of the Lilley boom
year and a half before he can take of
fee if elected which adds Significant
to the direct primary principle.
The Journal and Courier expresses n
solicitude for nor opposition to the am
bition of Mr.. Lilley in this connection
It agrees that he is charming fellow
but it cannot on that account close it
oFi.,o4s to the absurdity Of the situatio