The morning journal-courier., 1908-09-05
Saturday, sept. 5, 1908.
MIR. LILLEy's CANDIDACY.


 In the confusion of comments with regard to the candidacy of George l., Lilley for the republican nomination to the following from the editorial columns of the Hartford Times apro- pos of the attitude of The Journal Courier towards the mpudent repub- lican machine: Yet probably like some others, 1t (The Journal-Courler) Is ready to incur disfavor in a good cause, and cares more for the welfare of the state of Connecticut than for that of any single group in the popu- lation." A better statement of our position could not have been made and we pass 1t on as if penned In these offices
 In violent contrast with this state ment of fact is the assertion of the Waterbury American; we are prob ably as much in favor of reform as the Times is, but we have great con tempt for hypocritical pretence of su- perior virtue, which takes the form of an unwarranted attack on man who has earned the right to be a candi- date for governor, and If elected, will make as good a one as We usually have" We will not discuss the phase of the assertion which talks of hypo- critical pretence and superior virtue, at the best very vulgar language used to no effect. We are more interested in the assertion that Mir. Lilley has earned the right to be a candidate for governor of the state of Connecticut. How has he earned 1t? Up to the time of his being elected to the general as- sembly. Mir. Lilley was engaged in business. As member of the state house of representatives he gave the service the average member gives and was conspicuous for neither great tal- ents nor inferior talents. The one thing he might have done to gain dis tinction, l. e., urged the enforcement of the lawo the United States with regard to the redstricting of the state into five congressional districts. he delber- ately abandoned at the dictation of the party machine. In the very gener- al assembly which he, adorned with his presence there were twenty five men in his party, to use a small num- Der, who are his peers in experience and judgment.
 As a member of the national house of representatives his service has been the least impressive of all five Connec- ticut members except in the one in- stance where he earned the reproba ton of his colleagues The very na- ture of his office precluded him from serving his constituents except as the generosity of the four district mem bers permitted His political constit- uency has been the concrete evasion o fthe law of the country and his pres ence in the house of representatives, has been tolerated only because he has been in political sympathy with the majority Had he been demo- crat the slightest reference to the law ably have led to his removal until such times as the state obeyed the law In all other respects his service, in it's impressive features, has been limited to his absurd and ungenerous submarine enterprises; absurd in that he never had any facts In his possess sion to prove his charges and ungen- erous in that he got his chance to be heard in an investigation, which he hoped to boss as judge and prosecut- ing officer, by defaming three of his fellow citizens. two Of them personal friends A more discreaited member of congress Is not on the rolls of that body to-day, queer title ito ones right to a nomination for the high off, flee of governor of Connecticut. It vet remains to be proved that Connec- tlcut is ready to accept irresponsible defamation Of respectable citizens as a right to its choicest honors.
 The only right Mir. Lillay has earn ed to be considered in connection with tho governorship springs from his lih- eral campaign contributions, his lay" ish hospitality and his lively conrade- ship. And yet theae are such feeble claims upon tho odico 10 which he as-