The morning journal-courier., 1908-09-01
The Connecticut Republicans.


II remains TO be said. concerning the
political situation in Connecticut, that
the republican state campaign shows
no sort OF elevation In ideals above the
campaigns Of the past. The Lake-Lilley
contest for the governorship is about
Oh level with many others that could
be mentioned. Neither candidate rep
resents that moral awakening, so long
overdue, against the party machine and
It's corporation alliances. Such a move
ment as Winston Churchill has led In
New Hampshire has yet to appear, al
though ConnectIcut's need OF one Is mo-
torious throughout the east.
Has Connecticut remained unaffected
by the moral disturbance which the
country has experienced the past few
years? The republicans OF the state, at
long range, have applauded Mr.. Roose-
welt Justify; and they warmed up glo-
rlonsly TO his designated heir In the
presidency. Why is 1t that In their
home affairs. they should go on in the
old complacent way. accepting the
rulers designated by the little party
oligarchy with as much grace as they
sent Mr.. Buckley 10 the senate or saw
Mr.. fyler made head railroad commits
sloner OF the commonwealth? Connect
lieut. republicans, even the best OF them,
applaud railroad regulation when 1t
emanates from Washington, or close
state supervision OF public utilities
when II halls from Albany and stops
at the Connecticut line, why, then, are
they so serenely content to let the In :
terests dominate their own household
Our Connecticut correspondent init
mates that majority OF Connecticut S
! voters would be pleased with change,
/ for this is what he says
"A question closely related with all
this, but OF more importance than any
| faetional fight, Is the attitude OF the
successful candidate. toward the COM
mon desire Of most voters of Connect!-
! cut for check ON interference with
legislation In behalf OF special rather
than general interests. MIR. Lilley as
the candidate OF the organization can
not be expected to stand strongly
against what the organization demands
Mi. Lakes association with former
members of the organization who have
attempted to create rival machine
does not augur too well for him In thi.
huential advisers some good men, bu
some in whom advocates OF the desired
changes can feel no confidence. Gov,
ernor Woodruff 10 the only one OF TIL,
candidates who has said or done any
thing positive and definite to encourag,
the belief that he has genuine In
clination to reform OF the kind want
ed
But Governor Woodruff, having In hi
administration OF the past two year
demonstrated desire to follow In tn,
footsteps Of Roosevelt and Hughes, II
his plans for reform. is Just short o
nowhere In the contest for the nomin
alton; while Mr. Lilley. the lendinf
candidate and the probable nominee
owes his advancement entirely TO tn,
machines support, and Is not In tn
least likely TO run counter 10 the or
ganzations wishes when In ONCE. In
deed. Mr.. Lilley as governor must b,
more subservient TO the party bosse
than any Connecticut governor In years
In view of their stubborn support o
his candidacy as originally agree,
upon, In the face of his fasco at tn,
last session OF congress He could no
easily declare his Independence OF then
now that they have seen him through
a very dangerous chapter OF his poll
teal career.
To be In the least consistent with tn
ideal republlcanism procla lined an,
taught by President Roosevelt and MI
Taft, not TO say Governor Hughes. tn
Connecticut republicans must rejec
both Lilley and Lake. and nlace Gov
ernor Woodruff In Office again. Ye
they seem determined to do nothing o
the sort, When will their day OF reck
onng Gomez