The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-07-06

complete reorganization OF the
Republican state committee and of the
executive committee. which has been
directing political campaigns. is under
consideration by the Wetmoreltes.
The idea is to have only true and
tried friends OF the ex-senator on
guard when the problems OF the next
campaign are TO be solved.
The rule which the present state
committee adopted two years ago OF
not permitting the new members OF
the Republican state central commit
tee to take office until the reorganiza-
tion meeting Is held. between Nov. 10
and Dec. Is, or after election. can be
easily brushed aside, IL is stated. Those
who may care to rely upon that rule
TO perpetuate themselves In office. IL
there are any members so vain as TO
believe that the rule protects them,
will he swept aside by authority of
the next state convention. which the
Wetmoreites plan 10 control absolutely.
THE rule was adopted at the time
Col. Gross was elected chairman" said
prominent Republican today, "and
was designed to give to the new COM
mittee control of two elections There
is no sense in permitting a committee
named last year To run this years
campaign, particularly when conditions
may have so changed that the large
majority OF that committee may be
absolutely out OF touch with the con-
ditions.
NO convention can make rules to
govern other conventions. and IL the
next state convention says that the
new committee shall conduct the cam
paign the conventions will will be the
party's law regardless of the old COM
mittee's rule regarding organization in
November or December.
To MEET IN OCTORER
THE convention will meet early In Oc-
tober. The new committee will then be
| selected. and II should organize immedi-
ately and conduct the campaign, In my
opinion. There Is no law nor common
sense that would prevent this action from
being taken, and 1 am sure, 1t Will be
taken"
II is known that Col. Rodman Of South
Kingstown, staunch Wetmoreite, who
was an aspirant for the position OF state
chairman, is still a candidate. and that
he has considerable following in the Wet
more ranks. II Chairman Joseph p. Bur-
| lingame OF the Wetmore league does not
| care for the position, there isn't any
| doubt that 1t will be given TO Col. Rod
man, who will be more closely In touch
with the Wetmoreites In control OF the
general committee than is Col. Harold j..
| Gross the present chairman.
| Moreover II is not at all improbable
| that Col. Gross may get out voluntarily
before the next state convention, having
little taste for politics, and having served
as chairman chiefly because there was
such determined opposition to the ma
| chine politicians who had been occupy
\ ing that exalted position.
DESIRE TO GUST BRAYTON.
In this wetmore move to choose a now
state central commbtee may be seen evil
dence OF a desire to gpt Boss Brayton
off the committee entirely. He is now n
member OF the general body, and has re-
tained his membership In the national
| committee, the principal office the Repub-
| lican party OF Rhode Island has To be-
stow upon one OF it's directors. If the
| Wetmoreites control the next state organ
| ization and do not elect Braytcn TO the
| general committee from the town or War
| wick next October, they feel that consid-
cradle public criticisw will be averted. as
| II will show that they mean to cut Nose
entirely from the old boss.
There seems TO be grave doubt In the
| popular mind, Judging from expressions
J heard on the streets, as TO what the boss
| meant by his letter OF resignation. Few
believe that IL means his permanent re-
| tirement Most politicians agree that his
| resignation from the executive committee
| while holding on 10 the membership IN
the state central committee Is the string
! which the willy old leader has retained IN
order 20 pull himself back into the Inner
circle whenever he pleases.
"If he really meant 10 retire, why didn
| ne get out CoilplelelSs ihSA'"h VI ia'iN''>
on To this position In the general com
| mittee and his membership I'm the Repub-
| lican national committce?" asked a mem-
ber OF the Lincoln Union today.
"Nty Impression Is that the old boss Is
playing a deep gpme He has the repu-
| tatlon OF never having lost senatorial
contest before last winter, and he is pro-
tecting that reputation so far as he can
| by his present course.
"Tho Lincoln Union isn't going 10 be
deceived by his manoeuvres. 1t proposes
TO indorse Col Robert Hale Ives GoddG I'd
and TO support candidates for the general
assembly who are pledged to him. Tht
| surrender OF the Colt men Co WctmOrs
hasn't changed the situation SO far as II
affects Col Goddard. little bit. ASIDE
from the senatorial bug. Wetmore hasn't
any settled convictions. Hr merely pay.
I'm 80 much money and accepts any old
platform that the convention lays before
him
Even the Wetmore league declared
that the campaign was 10 be one OF prin
| elples rather tha nof men. and IL canno