The morning journal-courier., 1908-09-16
MIR. suLLIvAN's SPEECH.

Two years ago the democrats held their state convention in advance of their historic rivals, the republicans. It was contrary to tradition, but 1t gave the democrats the opportunity they appeared to enoy of setting forth doctrines of local application. That it was clever platform they put out is proved first by the fact that the republicans appropriated It's more sal tent features week later and second that by accepting them seriously Gov ernor Woodruff won the acclaim of the entire state press and the people generally, but not the machine. So much for the record up to date.
 We can sincerely congratulate Mir. Sullivan of Hartford, the temporary chairman of the state democratic con- vention now In session in that city, upon having in his address last even- ing illuminated the situation as It ex- ists to-day. With clever wit he com pletely exposed the republican state convention for having ignored all of the issues which have made the ad- mnistration of Governor Woodruff distinguished, and for having then marshalled before his hearers the still pressing Influence of those issues as they relate to the deafening silence of both the republican platform makers and Mir. Lilley. He put 1t none too strongly when he said that the inde- pendent voters of the state are be seemingly crying" to the democrats to give them chance to break the insolent republican machine. He struck the nall squarely on the head when he asked how the endorsement of Governor Woodruffs work can be reconciled with no reference to the things for which he stands. He noted as an example the failure of the re- publican platform to consider the ab- sorption by the treasury department of the office of school commissioner, which has now been temporarily ac- complished by Governor Woodruff with the avowed approval of the state press.
 Not content with having gone thus far in his consideration of the omis- sions noted in the republican platform MT. Sullivan continued in his merci- less spirit of investigation. It was Governor Woodruf's belief that thou sands of dollars could be saved the taxpayers of Connecticut by the con- solidation of state commissions, and in that attitude of mind he was support ed by the press of the state. Not a reference to 1t will be found in MT. Lil1ey's platform. Governor Wood ruff exposed the hitherto mysterious political power of county commission CTS when he discharged Mir. Healey from the public service. One will look in vain in the platform upon which MT. Lilley Is standing or lean ing for recommendation touching a remedy of the evils complained of. A republican governor appointed com mission composed of four republican partisans out of five members to in vestigate the direct primary nominat- ing laws wherever in operation, and corrupt practices legislation. The re- port of the commission with regard to corrupt practices was in part emascu- lated; that with regard to the direct primary is still in the archives of he judiciary committee Mir. Lilley's plat form makes no reference to either, leaving the voter in suspense as to what is proposed to be done with these matters of paramount interest to good government in Connecticut
 These references to MT, Sullivan's s speech before his party convention last evening are enough to indicate accurately the manner in which the dominant republican machine has dumped Governor Woodruff with all of his popular issues, in order that a promise might be kept to 8 ddscredited statesman made over year and a half ago without the knowledge of the voters Nor did MT. Sullivan stray out of the straight and narrow path of accurate statement when he said; If Mir. Iilley was maligned and out ragged and his reputation shattered by false testimony or corrupt congress, Mr. Lilley and his friends should seek a vndlcation, not in the capitol al Hartford but in the halls of con gress." Mir. Sullivan's speech would appear to indicate the fetching spirit