The morning journal-courier., 1908-09-19
NO PERSONAL ABUSE.


 In speaking of the progress of the campaign in this state this year the Waterbury American says: If any thing has been shown so far, 1t Is that the voters of the state of Connecticut do not sympathize with personal abuse of George L. Lilley. He Is bound to be the issue as far as the national issues permit, because of the fight against him of leading news paper. and some elements in the re- publican party who place confidence on the condemnation of him by a vindlctive committee of congress, But the personal opposition to him can be overdone and may be made to re- dound to his advantage, as in the contest for the nomination"
 Let us repeat once more as emphat- ically as we can that there has been no personal abuse of Mir. Lilley, cer- tainly not in these columns, and so far as We have seen in the columns of no Connecticut newspaper The controversy has been consistently con fined to the consideration of a candi- date for the governorship, who has the official backing of the political party which has for fourteen years remained the dominant party, and who on that account ought to be more seriously considered than any one of the other candidates. If the voters of the state are to align themselves at the polls as they have done for the past fourteen years, the time has actually come when nomination by the republican party Is the equivalent to an election. fact which should compel the dominant party to nomi- nate with scrupulous care and the voter to examine his credentials with like concern. It is because the nom mating convention did not make It's selection with the care 1t should that 1t has become necessary for the voter to exercise hts privilege in analyzins it.
 Only those things have been con- sidered in connection with Mir Lilley's candidacy which tend to illuminate his moral and intellectual fitness for the office The moral phase of the discussion relates to his boast made before the caucuses were held, with the exception of the two or three which were improperly held in the spring, that he would have 400 votes in the nominating convention. He had, if we mistake not 402. The very fact that he could see so accurately in advance what support he would have from the delegates reveals machine organization, under the preposterous enrolment law, which cannot be re- conciled with the principles of repre- sentative government. His remark able vision involved not only his own control over the republican electorate of Connecticut for personal uses, but his control of 1t to an extent which tt ,f administration easy of accomplish. ment, and the suspension of party tradition. relating to the advancement of capable lieutenant governor tt first place, sure. The exposure of Mir I.illey's power in these connections 1. not personal abuse; it is a moral pro. test against that kind of machine domination which cannot be recon. ciled with good government.
 The intellectual fitness of MT. Lii. ley for the office of governor has beer brought under discussion through nc desire to personally abuse Mir Liley It has been brought under discussion by his own conduct as a member o congress. Granting for the sake O. argument, and to avoid confusion O. statement, that he had satisfied him self that questionable methods were being used by the offending boat com pany to advance their cause, and tt do whatever else was necessary to ad vance the price and sale of theil goods The fact still remains that h, committed a serious breach of legis lative manners in attempting to US, suspicion without thought of the in evitabe effect of 1t upon the reputa ton of congress and his fellow mem bers in that body. He then and ther, revealed recklessness of tempera ment which In business transaction would deprive him at once of tn, confidence of his associates. It ha. now deprived him of the confidence 0 thousands of voters who are repub