The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-05-21
VICTORY AHEAD.

gates TO the peoples convention 10 be held tofnOr-
row in Music hall, were carried out quietly and
without friction in any ward, except the Fourth
from which two delegations will appear for seating
in the convention. This matter will undoubtedly
be decided in accordance with justice, and the dele
CATION having right its side will be given place.
voice and a vote in the convention.
The general unanmity which characterized the
primaries is cheering sign Of the harmony and
sngleness of purpose that animate the men who
constitute the rank and file of the forces of reform
In but single ward was contestng ticket pre-
sented and, already stated, that contest will be
settled solely on its merits.
In the other nine wards the delegates known
to be unalterably in favor of the denomination Of
Colonel Robert II. /. Goddard elected with
out opposition of any kind, fact that may be taken
as positive proof that Colonel Goddard has behind
him the solid Democratic and Independent elector-
ate in this, the largest and most populous COM
munity in the state.
That the citizens Of Providence recognize the
steadfast loyalty of the Democratic and Indepen-
dent delegation to the general assembly, who never
wavered during the more than three months strug-
gle over the United States senatorship, was made
convincingly clear when at every caucus in this city
last night this resolution unanimously adopted
The electors of this ward desire to express
their sincere commentator of the senator and rep
resentatives in the general assembly from the city
of Providence for their support of the candidacy of
Robert H. l. Goddard for the United States senate
also for their support of measures introduced for
the improvement of conditions in the government
of this state. We earnestly recommend to the
voters of this ward the denomination and reelection
of said senator and representatives"
Under conditions more happy, more promising
and more indicative of complete success tomorrows
convention will be more enthusiastic and har-
monous than that held year ago by which
Colonel Goddard was made the leader in the move
ment to secure here in Rhode Island escape from
the mischief and malice of Braytonism and the es-
tablishment of government of the people honestly
administered.
Last year the convention marked the initiation
of the campaign. This year it means the pressing
to that complete triumph of the honest citizen
ship that will rid Rhode Island once and for all of
the sinister and sef-seeking oligarchy that has
flched public rights throtted representative gov
ernment and brought odum and disrepute on the
name of the state.
The same enemy is to be fought. Braytonism
has been scotched but not destroyed and there can
be no security against its maleic usurpatons and
manipulatons until it is wiped entirely out of ex-
istence.
A good beginning was made last November,
and the work will be finished effectively next No
vember. Those who are disposed to be timorous as
to the results of the next election have but to note
the real significance of the last.
AS matter of fact the forty-one senators and
representatives supporting Colonel Goddard
represented $4,000 of the total population of the
state, while the senators and representatives voting
for his two Republican opponents represented COM
bined but $4,000 Of the population. Thus it is
that sixtyseven per cent of the population of the
state was back of Colonel Goddard's candidacy,
while only thrty-three per cent. supported the can
didacy of all his Republican opponents.
1t needs particular keenness of mind to per-
ceive that if we had here anything approaching real
representative government the legislature of 1907
would have had Democratic and Independent
majority in both houses, and that Colonel God
dard would have been chosen senator on the first
vote taken on the 18th OF January last
Unhappily we have no such government
Majority rule is and has been unknown here for
decades. 1t can be secured only by a new consti-
tuition and such constitution can be obtained only
by the election OF general assembly that will make
possible the holding of convention in which all
the people will have fair and just representation, to
rewrite the states organic law.
Is the election OF such an assembly next No
vember impossible? BY no means. On the con-
frary, judging from what accomplished last
November, il ought to be certainty next Novem-