The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1908-01-07
DEMOCRATS TO
VOTE AGAINST
JUDGE PALMER?

Edward NJ. Sullivan, member OF the
Democratic state central committee from
Cranston. says that efforts will be made
TO turn the votes OF the Democratic MEM
bers cs the general assembly TO Judge
Willis S Knowles, at present the clerN
of that district.
1.-The Democrats OF Cranston have no
candidate for either the judgeship or the
clerkship, he says "because we recog-
nize the fact that there is no possibility
OF Democrat being elected TO either Of
flee. Were the Republicans agreed upon
a candidate for each place. so that what
ever the Democrats might do, these par
ticular Republican candidates would be
elected, IL would be proper for the Demo-
Gratis to put forward candidates 10 show
that they could produce men who could
fill the places. In the present Instance
however, the Republicans are not agreed
upon candidate, and consequently the
Democrats have an opportunity To use
their influence i'm the matter
1T seems TO us that the Democratic as
semblymen, under the circumstances
should vote not only for the best man
available. but Tor the least Objectionable
Republican, as voting for a Democratic
candidate will be simply using tho party
candidate as a stalking horse for the ma
chine candidate OF the Republicans
Where there is a chance 10 elect a Demo-
cannot be elected, he should not be used
to pull chestnuts out OF the fire for a Re-
publican candidate who has opposition IN
his own party.
"In substance. this question was dis
cussed i'm the state committee the other
day, upon a suggestion that Democrats
only should be voted for by the Demo
cratic members OF the legislature.
LAS "A general rule that is true but in
such cases as arise here in this district
the power of the party organization ought
TO be used TO defeat any Republican cam
ddate who has been an active opponent
OF the Democratic party.
I'm so far as this is a Cranston mat
ter, the wishes OF the party organization
in this town ought to be considered. The
other towns I'm the district can do as they
please, but they must not come into
Cranston and select Democratic caI.si-
date for US. and the Democrats in the
legislature must not select Democratic
candidate for us
when we want n candidate we will
choose him ourselves.
II don't think we will be imposed upon
at all. AS ] understand II, the members
or the legislature OF our party will as
whole, vote In accordance with the wishes
OF our local organization. We may have
TO talk about one or two men who will
pretend to know more about what we
want than we do ourselves
Judge Palmer has been about as OBJ
tectionable a partisan as could have been
found. as the members or his own party
will agree almost unanimously. So much
SO, that he lost standing as n candidate
for public office. and would have been
defeated had he been candidate for SEN
ator this past year.
Judge Willis $. Knowles on the other
hand, has not mixed up In politics at all.
and. although a Republican, has not
made himself Objectionable. Judge Palmer
violated n policy of the Democratic party
In permitting himself TO he a member Of
the general assembly while holding the
office OF Judge. / do not think Il proper
for me to pass any criticisms upon his
record as Judge OF the court. | might
be prejudiced."