Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-10-29
A GREAT MUD SLlNGER
CasdIlale Lillsy uss All Others Prayed is . IrsSzle. Ur
 Sherwsed.

Editor Evening Democrat:
 Having read h yesterdays Demo crat Mr Eherwoods two column ar ticle In which he endeavors tc boost" Mr Lilley, I should say of 1, what the dramatic critic sometimeI says of a new production. 1t is too "talky." What do you read. my lord?" says Polonius, and Hamlet replies. Words. words, words"
 In considering the case of MT LII ley there are two horns to the diem ma with which we have to contend, One the blighting effect of ma chine politics of which MT Lilley ii the chosen representative. the other his career as public official in Washington. Before replying to Mi Sherwood, however, just few Ques- tons to the voter: Suppose, MI Voter, that for any reason you be. lieve My Lilley has been the victim of mud-slinging. Is this of itself alone reason why you should cast your ballot for him for governor? Suppose. from your point of view, some misguided friend has caused to be sent to you daily some newspaper opposed to the election of MT Lilley, Is this a good reason for supporting him? Ask these questions of your self honestly and seriously, endea- voring to do the right as 1t is given you to see the right. Or, If in your judgment the Investigating commit tee in Washington treated him un- fairly, does 1t follow that he thereby possesses the necessary qualifications for the highest office in the gift of the people? Can 1t fairly be called mud-slinging to criticise in a tenn. perate manner his official conduct in Washington in order to determine his qualifications for the honorabls ofilce for which he is striving? Be. cause, as he says. he was brought up on a farm, enduring hardships in early life, or because he has a great ambition to be governor, or because he waived his claim to the nomina- ton two years ago in favor of Gov. ernor Woodruff, honor bright, now, should any or all of these reasons have the slightest weight with you in trying to determine MT Lilley's present qualifications? Isn't 1t true tIat as governor the questions of a general utilities bill, an employers liability bill, tuberculosis bill, and all the other bills will be for the leg islature to enact, and that so far as recommendations go he Is on the same plane with Judge Robertson, who has made the same pledges?
 Now in reply to MT Sherwood, and let us start with the convention that nominated MT Lilley. There are men in this state belonging to the re- publican party. referred to by Mir sherwood as "a few embittered men," who believe, as a fundamental principle of republican form of gov ernment. that the people should rule. They say, and 1t Is admitted, that two years ago when MT Lilley stepped aside in favor of Governor Woodruff, 1t was positively agreed among the party leaders that LllIey should be the next candidate. and that in pursuance of that hard and fast agreement he is the candidate. MT Sherwood knows that that state convention was not deliberative as- sembly, and that all the argument and all the oratory of which the case was susceptible could not have turned the scale against MT Lilley. He knows that there is an all pow erful machine in this state against which it IS useless for popular will to contend. He knows that the ques- tion of machine politics is of vital importance in other states as we'll; If he doesn't he has only to read in the November Outlook an article showing the struggle that Is being made in other states and the results of trials of the direct primary. It ought not to be difficult for a man of MT Sherwood's calibre to believe that there are men in his own party in this state of lofty ideals who are op- posed to MT Lilley because of the bargain he entered into, and because he is pre-eminently and conspicuous ly above all other candidates the pro- duct of the machine. And in the event of MT Lilley's election the ma chine will exact it's pound of flesh. No question about this, MT Lilley will pay his political debts. Every thing cut and dried for the next two years, and then the same thing over again. Governor Woodruff's politi- cal doom was sealed the moment he opposed the machine. Everybody knows this; and what do you think of it when MT Lilley promises to carry out Governor Woodruff's poll. cies? What reason is there for hoping that MT Lilley will succeed any better than Governor Woodruff? Oh, we have to clean house once in while, and the way to clean house is to clean it. In regard to Mir LII. ley's personality, MT Sherwood does not need to say word; we know all about it. It was characteristic of MT Lilley upon his entrance into poIi- tics to offer to take care of outside