The morning journal-courier., 1908-08-19
THE CONNECTICUT WAY.

It a perfectly hopeless task to un- dertake to make the usually observ- ing newspaper printed outside of the state of Connecticut understand that we have here sacred traditions and venerable practices which are. in their way, every bit as commanding as the sacred cod of the state of Mas sachusetts. A few days ago 1t was the Springfield Republican which dared to discuss the Connecticut point of view, as revealed by MT. Lilleys selection for governor year and 0 half in advance of the caucuses. Now 1t is the Providence Journal We are amazed at such daring.
 The Providence Journal takes as its text the impressive pleading of the waterbury American, that Governor Woodruffs announced willingness to run again "conflicted with party prac- tice and with an understanding among party leaders to which he was supposed to be party, at least a party consenting by silence" The be- nighted old Providence Journal re- fuses to accept this philosophy, which slides so cunningly down the throats of some Connecticut republicans, and actually proceeds to discuss the situa- ton. It says: Precisely. but the Con- necticut practice of giving 0 governor, good, bad or indifferent, only one term is wrong practice. It is founded on the theory that the governorship is reward and that nobody is entitled to deprive others of that reward by de- manding or accepting a reelection. The trouble in Connecticut is that the whole state Is saturated with the old unworthy idea that public office is a party prize rather than public re- sponsibility If MT. Lllley Is the one best man for the executive post, he should be chosen to 1t without hesita- ton; but if his chief claim upon 1t is connected with his industrious parti- sanship, hds liberal subscriptions and his courteous sidestepping for other aspirants in days gone by, the repub- lican party of Connecticut would do itself the largest honor and the state the greaest service by renominating the man who has commended himself to the rank and file without regard to party by his business like adminlstra- tion."
 We pass abruptly from this perfect ly hopeless and effeminate view of representative government to quote from a private letter just received frsm one of the most distinguished citizens of the state, written to give encouragement to the growing Lilley protest: Cannot our politicians see that new spirit Is abroad and that the voters refuse to be bought and sold like cattle?" We frankly confess that such views are heretical, and if insist cd upon, the holders of tirem may ex- pect to have some noisy chap rise in the audience and ask, amid the cheer ing of the faithful: Where did you get it?" The Connecticut way is to permit few distinguished gentlemen who understand what representative government is and how the offices can best be distributed, to gather together and determine first what tradition is and second who fits most easily into It's atmosphere. This accomplished, as only those can accomplish 1t whose hearts burn with the conflagrat1ng hry of undiminished patriotism and whose fingers move swiftly over the keys of the deepest human emotions, they permit, these divinely inspired leaders of the people, the holding of caucuses the assembling of nominat- Ing conventions and finally an elec- ton. This is the Connecticut way Tradition and practice say 1t Is the best for the people of Connecticut. Where, pray, did the Springfield Re- publican and the Providence Journal, md the distinguished man from whose letter we have quoted, and who should be content with his philan. lhropes, get their right to muss hings up?
 Seriously, we believe there Is new spirit abroad among the people of the Itate of Connecticut and If the repujo- llcan party machine succeeds in fore Ing the nomination of MT. Lilley in .he face of the opposition which Is manifest 1t will take upon It's shoul- lers responsibility which only the popularity of MT Taft and the stupid. ty of the democratic party can relieve t of and then only for two short