The morning journal-courier., 1908-08-10
A CONFUSED LEADER.

The shore banquet of the Ninth ward fighting republican club Satur- day evening was manifestly an occa- sion for innocent mirth and disngen- uous political side talk. Not all the things said in the Sunday morning pa pers to have been said could have been said since the saying of them had no basis upon which to rest, but since there Is lack of understanding among the reporters present as to what was said the resultant confusion need bother no one.
 What Colonel Ullman, the militant leader of the local republican party had to say about the political future of Governor Woodruff was and still is interesting. The colonel testified to the fact, generally accepted, that Gov ernor Woodruff has made one of the best, If not the best" chief executives Connecticut has ever had. All of us present" he is said to have continued to say, would be glad to support him for renomination if he was candi2 date. As yet, however, he has not told me that he is a candidate, and I think that I would be one of the first that he would tell. if he was" In the meantime, according to the newspaper reports. the efficient and intelligent glee club had rendered a song. the re- frain of which was: We want Wood ruff" This was received with ap- plause. The reporters present were unable to find a display of Lilley but tons though Lake buttons were there in more or less profusion If there was any greater enthusiasm for the congressman from Waterbury than was disclosed at the Waterbury repub- lican primaries 1t appears to have al- together escaped the attention of those whose business 1t is to record events as they pass in review, In oth- CT words the banquet of the Ninth ward club was not a demonstration for Lilley
 This in a measure confirms the gen eral understanding that Governor Woodruff is the choice of the rank and file and the business interests of the city of New Haven. With this fact clearly in mind, the attitude of Col onel Ullman, whose political mission in life is to conform the attitude of the organization to the wishes of its con- confusing. He would be glad to sup port Governor Woodruff for renomi- nation, who perhaps has been the best" governor Connecticut has ever had, according to the colonel, but the governor has omitted to tell him that he is candidate. If 1t is true--and he has himself explained that a party leader Is under moral obligations to Interpret the popular will and not be led astray by selfish ambiton--and the popular will of the republican voters of New Haven is to renomnate Governor Woodruff, why should Col onel Ullman want the governor to take him into his private office and say: Colonel, have been fooling everybody in saying that If the people want me and say so I'll run again. In reality l am 8 candidate and look to you to land the goods"
 We can readily understand that Col onel Ullman would not reject that kind of q confidence, but we cannot understand Governor Woodruff giving it even to his former political support- CT. In fact Colonel Ullman's position is such delicate one that the repub- lican voters of the city, for whom he ,has done so much, should relieve him. This they can do by registering for the caucuses, and, taking the gover- nor at his word, voting for Woodruff delegation to the state convention. This attitude might show less solicitude than Colonel Ullman's attitude shows, but it would reveal better under- standing of the attitude of the gover- nor who, while not an avowed candi- date for the nomination, had said to the many who have told him that he is needed again at the gubernatorial helm, put your professions into acts and I'll not fail you" An attempt to ,heckle Governor Woodruff into the at- titude of claimant and, in event of the failure of the attempt to succeed, leaving him adrift on sea of neglect is so new an interpretation of the duty of party leaders as to justify the sus- picon that no matter what the repub- llcan people want the republican ma chine dent want Woodruff.