The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-10-31
WETM0RE'S USELESSNESS
EXPLAINED TO NEWPORTERS
Rathbone Gardner, Gov. Higgins, Robert Grieve,
Edward NJ Sullivan and John c. Pegram Set
Forth Issues at Largest and Most Enthusiastic
Meeting in Years.

the organization, has denied that the
amount thus placed at his disposal was
$50 900. l asked him publicly nearly
week ago 70 state how much II was. and
neither he nor any one else has as yet
| answered this question.
| AT the same time / asked Mr. Burlin-
game whether for his services In behalf
OF the league he was In receipt of SAL
ary; IL that salary was 5000; II not how
much, and whether his brother enc OF
your representatives. was also in receipt
or salary from the organization. These
questions also remain unanswered. I re-
, quest Mr. Wetmore, who is fully cogniz-
ant. doubtless. OF all these matters. to
answer these questions. Until some one
answers them. the people OF the state
will believe that the allegations with re-
ference TO the Republican League are
substantially true.
QUESTIONS FOR THE SILENT ONE.
II ask Mr. wetmore II he can say To
his listeners at the meeting to be held
on Friday OF this week that he paid no
money to Mr.. Brayton to assist him In
his candidacy for the office OF United
States senator
For myself, I can simply assert that
men high in the councils OF the Repub-
lican party and OF the Republican state
central committee told me that in the
last campaign Mr.. Brayton had taken tho
| money OF both Mr. Wetmore and Mr.. Colt
and that he had assured each OF them
that he would bring about his election In
his own way. assert further that on the
last day OF the legislative session the
leading workers In the assembly for Mr..
Colt told me that MIR. Brayton was at
mat time using every effort to defeat
their candidate, and to elect Mr.. Wet
more; that three other members of tho
legislature. In addition to Mr. Hoxsic,
had agreed to change their votes on that
day from Mr.. Wetmore to Mr.. Colt and
Mr. De- .trt- 4.
fernaps Mr.. Wetmore can state whether
to his knowledge there was any founda-
ton for these assertions
| AS TO Mr.. Wetmore's denial that his
wealth has been used for years to cor
| rupt the state/and uphold Braytonism.
ask him to tell us whether there is any
single year since 1896 in which he has not
paid money to Mr.. Brayton or paid money
! which he knew was TO be used by Mr.
/ Brayton, and IL his payments have net
been largest IN the years in which he was
a candidate for the senate or Melville Bull
a candidate for congress? will ask him
to state, IL he is willing to do so, the
amount OF these payments, and will
leave the people TO judge whether, while
perhaps not extravagant for a multi-mil-
nonaire. they have not been really large
too large even IL no others were received
to provide for the legitimate expenses OF
a campaign; and will ask Mr. wetmore
to state further whether in making the,G
4 appropriations he has taken any means
to assure himself that they were not to
be used In the outright purchase of votes
! INTERESTS NOT HERE.
THAT Mr.. Wetmore's real interests are
without the state OF Rhode Island Is. per-
: haps. matter of inference. He cites as
= all-sufficfent proof OF the falsity of this
charge that he has lived in this state for
81 years He doubtless has lived here. that
Is to he has art -
these years within this state. He has
eaten and slept here. He has given din
ners, he has driven horses. he has driven
In automobiles. He has had money In our
banks. m some of which he has been a
nominal director. without ever attending
! their meetings and taking any part In
their management But these are not real
/ interests-the real interests of a man of
! sound mind. OF great wealth and 81 years
f, OF age.
Somewhere. certainly. he must have
| some interests. Such a man must have
some occupation, some business, some en-
terprise which he 10 fostering, some pur-
suit, as OF art or music or philanthropy.
1t Is charitable to him to suppose that his
life is not utterly lacking in anything OF
this sort, that AL his time Is not given
over to idleness, and II he has any such
interests. Il II without the borders of the
state. for he certainly has none such here.
THE men Of Rhode Island who possess
great wealth and whose interests are
within the state. are the men who are
here engaged In great business enter
prses; who have given and are giving
employment to thousands Of our citizens
who have managed our great financial in,
stitutions. and so managed them that they
have stood drm and impregnable In every
crisis; who have given years of gratui-
tous service on our public administrative
boards: who have built up the institu-
tions OF which the state is proud: who
have been leaders In education, In art
and in philanthropy.
THE name Of one such man. towering
head and shoulders above his associates,
. springs even now to your lips. He also
is a candidate for United States senator.
but a candidate upon the platform that he
will not take the Office by the purchase OF
one vote that he values its honors less
than he values his own self-respect.
SHAMEFUL SENTENCES.
Finally, with reference to Mr.. Wet
mores services I'm the United States sem
ate. I quote his own words exactly az
they were reported: Whether have
made any impression upon the senate of
the country or have enunciated any views
Of government is of much less concern to
me than to have been Of use to my state
and my constituents
This Is the most shameful sentence
ever uttered by man who has represents
ed a sovereign state In the senate of the
United States. IL not only condemns him
as UNIT for the Office, as incapable OF
even comprehending Its duties and It's re-
sponsibilities. but II is an insult to our
state and Its people.
Neither the sovereign state of Rhode
Island nor It's inhabitants are mendicants.
They do not send man TO represent them
, In the United states senate In the hope.
that through his efforts they may get
something for themselves; that private
pension bills may be pushed through con-
gress; that rocks may be taken out of
their harbors; that employment upon pub
lie works may be given To a few citisens.
They send him there to take part. and To
take a leading part. in the councils OF the
nation, and TO make this state and her
people respected in the sisterhood OF
states.
"A man who unblushingiy asserts that
II n q matter Of indifference TO him