The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-10-17
Rathbone Gardner.

Senator jerks. after a hattering eulogt'.
presented Senator Rathbone Gardner,
who was wildly applauded. Some of the
most telling points he made were as fol-
lows:
Heretofore have been an advocate
of biennial elections. believing that bet
ter men could be secured. But / am free
to confess that, now that the Lincoln
party has gained the confidence OF the
people OF the state, IL can come To its
constituents annually and ask for further
proof OF their confidence. !
I'VE have commenced upon another
campaign. but the commissioner Of indus
trial statistics has not yet called together
the survivors OF the Dorr war and no
congressman from Maine or from Mime
sofa has yet come into Rhode Island and
told us how TO perform our duty at the
ballot box.
"The Republican convention said some-
thing about Senator Wetmore, but thank
God there has been no Senator Wetmore
since March last and thank God there
never will be. 1t is MIR. Wetmore now
and the contributions which he has made
To the campaign fund Of his party to the
amount of fully $6O.0O0 will be put where
they will do their work among the coun-
try towns OF this state.
"a portion of it, after next Monday.
will be used for the payment of the rent
the Republican party for next year ana
for the next three years, so that we shall
have to go out into the various parts OF
the state and expound the principles or
Democratic reform.
.sWhen the Lincoln movement first came
before the voters of Rhode Island year
ago Il had nothing but promises to give
the people. Some believed that the party
might make noise but tonight II has
IN Il
Il has brought out many reforms already.
"When this party first began TO tax
about bossism II was laughed at But
finally we brought tho conditions to the
attention Of the Rhode Island voters so
forcefully that we have driven the Re-
publican party TO accepting every plank
that we Incorporated I'm our platform a
year ago.
eve have made them swallow the equal
representation principle, the returning OF
| the veto power TO the governor ana the
driving out of bossism
"But the Lincoln party has done IN
nnitely more than this. Governor hlg-
gins has driven from the state House
| that notorious lobbyist Gen. Charles r..
Rrayton. who by his recent letter would
try to make the people of the state be-
| leve that Governor Higgins had nothing
| to do with IL.
"In that letter he says that he was
| there because many members OF the sem
ate wanted 20 consult him. Yes. they did
want 20 consult him. because they did
not know OF their own Volition how he
| wanted them to vote and they knew that
| N they did not vote as he wanted them 10
they had no chance OF returning to the
senate.
81 do not know the members, although
sat there for more than 90 days. but
they never spoke so that could become
acquainted with them and there were no
distinguishing marks so that l could rec
ognizc them.
"The Republican party promises reforms
in the matter OF the appointive power. the
veto power and n bank examiner. We
want something more than this We want
TO insist upon n law that no member OF
the general assembly shall hold any elec-
tive office.
what we want is corrupt practice
law. We took the lnitiatory In this respect
In the last general assembly. looking to-
ward the reforming OF the laws relative TO
conducting OF elections and OF caucuses so
that anyone violating the laws will he
made to pay the penalty. What we want
ls the bank examiner. and we want
more careful Inspection OF the insurance
companies"
"Thc Republicans cannot and will not
carry out the reforms to which they are
pledged, and II ls TO the Democratic and