Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-08-18

all they nave to d0 IS to vote the ticket straight when somebody else has arranged it for them.
 All the same it must be admitted that there is good deal of genuine Lilley feeling MT Lilley is a pleas ant, conipanionable man. He made friends in the legislature, and he has since that spent good deal of time in calling on friends in the country or inviting them to lynch or to dine with him. He has money and he is a good spender. Besides this he really enjoys talking to people and making friends with them. He is not what can be called heavyweight but that seems to them a trifiing matter. He is fluent and affable and he seems to them like one of their own kind. raised to higher power. And that comes pretty near the type of a man to vote for as far as most peo- pie are concerned.
 The persistent attack on the suit ability of MT Liliey to be governor which has been made through the New Haven Journal-Courier may have overreached itself. It has been so persistent and of late so bitter as to disgust some of those who are in vited to believe that the judgments they formed on the report of the Boutell committee and even on the stenographic report of the evidence are wholly wrong. They realize that hi oh mittee business and the report were not so much what was said or done as what was avoided MT Lilley did indicate where, as he believed, evil dence might be had, but the commit tee refused to get that evidence and in effect punished him for daring to suggest 1t. It is not necessary to be- lieve Mir Lilley paragon of virtue or extraordinary fearless, but it is easy to accept his own statement that he was led to believe certain things which he thought the honor of con gress required to be proved or dis proved. The committee seems to most of us to have been determined to see that they were not proved. And now few men in Connecticut accept this report as if it followed an inquiry which sough. facts first of all and did not stop to think who might be hurs by ths:r publication. It is this kild of feeling witch makes 1t unlikely that the declarations of his unavailability will have any im- portant influence.
 Some time ago, before all this talk about Woodruff and the particular attacks upon Lilley, Major Tilson of New Haven announced his candi- dacy for the nomination for repre- sentative -at-large, the place from which MT L!lley is to retire at or be- fore the expiration of his present term of office. In fact 1t was sug- gested as far back as the last session Of the Legislature that he might be candidate. Another candidate for this nomination is Judge Walsh, but 1t is said that the powers that once looked kindly at him have changed their mind and that he will be drop- ped in favor of Major Tilson as far
 
 complications merely indicate the difference between the groups of managers. The old school has made its plan and expects to carry it out; i; the malcontents with MT Paige a principal figure. are playing to es- tablish their own supremacy in the organization, and in a general way they are the Lake packers. But they are playing the game for more im- portant stakes than the nomination of two or three men this year. Dom- ination of the party and particularly the control of the legislature which will elect a United States Senator in 1911 are more nearly the things they have in mind. This sort of campaign sinvolves the constitution of the next general assembly and reorganiza- tion of office holders and political agents all over the state. One who forgets this will not notice half of the campaigning that Is going on at present. The strongest argument against the success of the new or ganization is probably found in the fact that everybody knows now about what may be expected of the old. and fears that a change will be a change for the worse. The present managers may insist on the pound of fesh when they have made their plans and agreements, but they have some human feeling and are willing to let others have a chance when their own their own interests are attended to. There is not quite so much assurance about those who pro- pose to take their placsJ.
 Such situation cannot last for ever. There is every reason why both factions should be thrown out and the voters themselves compel proper attention to demands they have long made but which have pass ed without more than perfunctory at- tention. They are a long-suffering race. these Connecticut. voters, and have been taught their own unim- portance so steadily that they almost believe it, but where are signs of a reaction. It cannot come too soon for the credit of the state and some of the wiser men among the republi- can managers have seen and admitted this for years. Either they must control or the democrats must come into power. before the system is de- stroyed. That is the real problem in Connecticut politics. and perhaps it does not make much difference fin which way the reform comes. But if