Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-07-13

tasted. He is willing to run in order that he may complete the work he 30 strenuously and intelligently began two years ago. It is less than a month ago that he gave another illus tration of his thorough understand ing the obligations of the office by taking the first and original step to- ward locating the school fund com missionership where 1t belongs, in the treasurer's office. Doubtless other op- portunities will present themselves naturally before the convention meets to further show the need there is for his continued public service.
 In fact, it is difficult to see how a fair minded man, leaving entirely out of consideration personal view and partisan preferences, can advocate the nomination of Mir Lilley or any other man over the prostrate form of Governor Woodruff. The lame ex- cuse Is made that the people of the state are not yet ready to drop the tradition that single term in the governors chair means automatic re- tirement at its close It Is altogether overlooked that there is another tra- dition quite as sacred and presum- ably quite as sacred and presumably quite as dear to ehtradition loving Connecticut republicans. It Is the one which provides that the occupant of the governors chair shall auto matically pass up to first place at the expiration of single term unless good and sufficient reasons can be given why this should not be done. Litutenant Governor Lake has put poser to the various town leaders when he asks them to point out wherein he has failed to keep faith in such manner as to forfeit the continued support of the party If he has been given reason 1t has failed to reach the public eye. Of course, there is no reason, and so it should follow that If Governor Woodruff, who has more definite programme of importance than any man spoken of in connection with the governor ship, is to be literally fired out of office to suit silly tradition. then his successor should be Lieutenant Governor Lake, not Representative Lilley.
 It is when one comes to calmly weigh all of these considerations that the injustice and humbug of the Lil- ley movement become apparent It is all well enough to dwell upon the al- legged unfair treatment MT Lilley got at Washington which comments him to the good will of the people of Connecticut, but it cannot be intelli- gently dwelt upon unless some one rises in the market place and pleads fair play for Governor Woodruff and Lieutenant Governor Lake. If MT Lilley deserves vindication it can only properly be given in the shape of renomination to congress. In that event Connecticut would present the front of saying to congress, You have encroached upon the duty of sovereign state; you have treated un- justly representative of this people; we meet your challenge by returning to the national halls of legislation the victim of your malice" That would have some meaning in it, but to avoid that course of action and multiply the number of injustices to be thrown on the canvas is foolish leadership gone mad
 It is probably true that owing to circumstances which are entirely for eign to the republican situation that the national republican ticket will pull through the state ticket, however 1t Is made up. That is, however, very dangerous thing to depend upon in a political campaign. The mem- ory of the Blaine campaign, with it's unsuspected possibilities of demorali- zation at the last moment, is still fresh and elsewhere has taught party leaders to make every part of the po- litical ship as successful as possible in resistance. There is an unusual amount of independent thinking in the state of Connecticut this year. Radical republicans, like conservative democrats, are likely to go their own way. It will be practically impossi- ble for the party managers to watch their movements, so quietly will these independents go their way. It is ineonceiyable. however, that thess same party managers will keep their eyes closed to the wisdom of nomi- mating the strongest state ticket pos- sible. Obviously this Is the presen, offlceholding set. Two years hence q free for all fight can be had with immunity