The morning journal-courier., 1908-10-01
SUBSTITUTING A PLATFORM.

SUBSTITUTING A PLAItOhMs
 The readers of The Journal l-CoSrier are familiar with its view of the re- markable platform adopted py the re- publican state convention. It con tented itself with endorsing the a1- ministration of President Roosevelt, approving all of the acts of the repub- lican congress thus upholding MT. Sherman and condemning Mir. Lilley. recommending Governor Woodruff's administration and mentioning few inferior things which need attention. It was drawn purposely to avoid clear statements of interested fact, in order that the decapitation of Governor Woodruff could be undertaken the more effectively. It was fitting over ture to what followed.
 We sincerely congratulate Mir Lilley upon haastS<l Discovered the error of judgmt which the convention was guilty ts.rlS upon having begun the work of substituting another platform for it It Is sadly needed. We have read his Southington speech with !. pleasure and we hope with profit We Aill cheerfully admit. we can find lit- .Gfle in 1t to critlcise. His view of the new situation which has arisen in Connecticut among public service cor porations as consequence of the recognition by the state of Connecti- cut of the principle of natural monopoly, Is sane and sound. He Ia ,in favor. as every right minded man must be, of the proper control of these corporations, not for the purpose of batting them but for the purpose of protecting the general public against all temptation to abuse or misuse tho vast power involved. We find him alro in agreement with us as regards an employers liability act and the pro posed resistance to tho spread of tuberculosis His suggestion that a ldep- -tment of information be created % Late is good one though not
 ,he usefulneses of 1t is treated
 length in the report to the
 assembly of the commission
 Id to inquire into corrupt
 8 and direct primary legisla-
 Such department has long
 4 constant use in Wisconsin.
 quarrel is not with the views S far expressed by the republican ndidate for governor. He says for ample: If there is any one part of
 New Haven platform moro than
 fer that meets my approval 1t is
 which commends the administra-
 'of Governor Woodruff, and at
 pliedly pledges the party to
 lind of administration dur
 two years" Our quarrel
 plitical spirit which so
 the excellence of the ~N nlstraton as to kick out rA--. Where he was needed longer the chief architect of 1t, and nominate in his place a man who had nothing whatever to do with the poli- cies now so strenuously approved, and who on their account has no claim whatever upon the sympathy of the electorate. If Mir Lilley goes on from day to day building platform out of the hitherto discarded blanks of the Woodruff platform, and finally con- structs one that meets with the warm est approval, 1t will only become the clearer what shocking act of in- gratitude 1t was in the machine--not the organization--to ignore the sub stantial claims of Governor Woodruff to G renomination in order .and for no other reason, than that the machine i, might have it's own way. Swallowing Woodruff whole will not change II the ' slightest degree the impressive fact es hat Mr. Lilley Is not the choice of Yrepublican people of the state but 1.-the especial choice Of the most in- ,Zlerant and selfish machine the state 7 of Connecticut ever saw.
 To be even more candid, while we assent to MT. Lilley's views upon the subject of a public utilities commis- sion to take the place of the discred- dted railroad commission, we dare not, under the circumstances of his nom ination, trust him to appoint the com mission He would not be free to make his own selections. He would be under the weightlest obligations to confer with and consult the members of the political machine which has made him two of whom arc already