New Britain herald., 1914-06-02
Legislative Degencracy. (Boston Advertiser

A remarkable and striking estimate of the Rhode Island legislature has been voiced by the Providence Jour nal. which declares that in the entire senate and house, today. there are not a dozen members fit to hold public office, and certainly not that num- Der who have any concern whatever in the honor or dignity of the state of Rhode Island. Men who have been familiar with the Rhode Island legislative bodies for many years, the Journal says, declare that there never was an assembly whose standards Of intelligence or decency were so shock ingly low. Tn lieu of patriotism there Is the most brazen selhshness. drunken revelry has taken the place of deliberation and the beautiful and stately building that General Ames and men of his character have given years of their lives to keep physi- cally clean Is overrun and defiled with the dregs of the state, who make q mockery of their solemn obligations" Having described the situation in such plain terms. the Journal says:
 Tt Is time to end it. And when it is ended we must make up our minds that no such conditions shall again exist Ninety mine per cent. of the people of the state are for decent politics and honest government. The reign of the party jackal has lasted long enough"
 This is a startling sort of comment to read in New England. where the legislatures have long been noted for the dignity and sound sense which characterized their deliberations. But the plaint of Rhode Island is not very strikingly different from what Is being heard and said in every state which has adopted the direct primary" form of nominations or elections. Even in staid old Massachusetts. the sub ject of the striking and amazing de- terioration of the legislature is heard wherever men get together who have been familiar with former conditions on Beacon Hill. Every such man will bear us out in the statement that the verdict is almost unanimous that the fall in character. in ability, in dig nifty, in all that commands the re- spect of intelligent observers, is sim ply amazing.
 Senator Hoar was wont to say that the Massachusetts legislature was one of the most dignified. impressive bodies
 
 long and honorable political career. He could not and would not say that. if he were alive today and were to witness some of the antics which have been seen on Beacon Hill, this year, and if could sec how men elected as decent republicans in the legislature were trucking to Boston boss in the interests of corrupt politics in Bos- tal pressing need for an organization for the purpose of presenting the admit ted facts to all voters of Massachu- setts, that, necessity exists today, be- yond any question. There is a plain and imperative duty before those pub lie men who profess zeal for the public welfare. and desire to keep Massachusetts politics on decent plane.
 The Boston Chamber of Commerce has made many loud protestations of its zeal for honest and honorable pol itics in Massachusetts. It has made many suggestions for the maintenance of high standards i'm legislation. It has plain and pressing duty before it, in this very connection. It will be interesting to see how the Cham Der confronts its responsibilities. The  method of procedure is self-evident. The Chamber should do. for the state, what the Good Government associa- tion has so ably and SO efficiently done for Boston. We believe that the voters of MassaC husetts are just as strongly in favor of having able and dignified men in office. today, as they ever were: but the trouble is that they do not know what Is going on. day after day. in the legislature. It Is time that they should know, before the legislative primaries are held.
 No organization, now in existence. could carry out this work any better than the Boston Chamber of Com r1erce. There is no question on that score. The real question Is. is that body possessed of enough moral cour- age to accept it's plain responsibII- tiles?
 IR HnIpnI tIan