The morning journal-courier., 1908-11-03
CAMPAIGN METHODS.


 Tonight witnesses the close of the | most remarkable campaign that has ever been fought in the state of Con necticut so far as the memory of man runneth. It will be remembered for many years and ought to serve as a lesson to the voters of the state in formulating a never ceasing campaign of education for the instruction of new corners, especially in the ethics of decent political conduct A polit- cal party like a business institution, should be like Caesars wife, at all times above suspicion.
 So far as the anti-Lillcy republican campaign Is concerned, it will at all times be recalled as heroic in its cour- age and fine In its spirit Several things have been said and they have been said in a severe way, but 1t must be recalled that in every instance statement has carried with it to the sponsible for it. There has been no hiding behind anonymous signatures no attempt to escape the obligation which morally at least attaches to publicity, no lowering of the bars to introduce objectionable personal crit icism or abuse. In this respect the conduct of the anti-Lilley managers has been admirable. and could well serve as a pattern for the older polit ical parties to emulate. We can recall nothing to which to compare it but the gold democratic movement in 1896, when men who held in the high est esteem the principles of their party abandoned 1t from the loftiest of motives.
 It is customary for men to attribute who attach themselves to an. indepen- dent political movement Tradition has insisted that men should stay within the lines of their party and there fight out their differences of opinion, and there Is something to be said on that side of the question. But 1t is when this partisan subservience is taken advantage of by the party leaders, and they undertake to sub stitute their judgment and their selfish purpose for the general welfare that 1t becomes essential to bolt, reluctantly but with grim determination. This is what the anti-Lilley men have done this year and they should be honored for 1t, not ridiculed as if they had suddenly acquired mugwump habits, where, when conventional improve ment became manifestly impossible If there could he wiped out the ser vice, which men of this character and courage have time and time again given the communities in which they have lived there would he wiped ou with it many of the most glorious chapters in history.
 The management of the billey cam paign has been startling in it's inven
 
 tiveness and indifference to politlca tradition. We are careful to say tn, Lilley campaign for we have reason [, believe that%the republican managers have in more than one instance de murred to practices, which are lnde fensble in either morals or politica necessity An illustration was giver on Saturday when bogus labor news paper was issued in imitation of an es tablished labor paper in order to de ceve the voters at the last moment That is not what former Governo Richard D. Hubbard called carryin the habits and practices of gentlemei into political life. If such practice were to become the rule, rather tha the exception of political leadership it would be but a snort time before W should have In the political world tn scandalous revelations which but year or more ago shocked the bushes world and set in motion a whirlwin of suspicion that has uniustly injure practically every sort of corporatio and those connected with their man agement Indulgence in those prac tces weakens the whole fabric of fire government and gives currency to pc litical ideas which in time woul cause the ruin of all that the forefa thers fought to establish.
 Finally 1t has been made clear [ all intelligent observers that the cor rupt practices law must be anlpnde