Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-12-13
OUR MUNICIPAL ELECTION,

my. The introduction of water would neces
sarily cause great expense; and Col DAVIS is
understood TO be opposed 10 water. lie ha
very large farming vuse for that reasun; and
we must never forget that there are many
voters in Worcester, miles away from Nam
street, who are opposed to any great eNpenui
ture for the benefit ui the center district lhere
has been some talk of new high school house
1t is not probable that anybody expected 10
Law the corner stone during the coming year
vet the election OF Mr.. Davis renders 1t certain
that nothing s-ill be done before Jan. /, 1862.
The public library has cost $4,000; many
fear further expenditure in that direction.
All these ctrcums lances united to help elect
Mr.. Davis
On the other hand, the nomination Of Mr..
Rice did not inspire that enthusiasm in the
republican ranks that the leader of large
party sometimes communicates to Ills follow.
ers. For thirty years Mr.. Rice has been an
unwayering, steady, consistent friend Of ten
peral &C. His record has no shadow of doubt
about it. Aud yet there were such and so
many rumors about the Willingness Of the
more liberal wing of the republican party TO
vote for him on all occasions, and for which it
was said that they expected return from
him, that the temperance men did not consider
him their leader. Mr.. Rice represented neither
wing of the party"
Some readers of the Transcript saw these
paragraphs with no little surprise, partly be-
cause one of them has such an awkward rela-
ton to an editorial article in that paper of Dec.
It'll, in which the republican candidate for
mayor was, without the slightest authority,
fully committed to the policy of introducing
water Immediately. Ordinarily, such things
are not Sorth much attention, but, in this case
the matter is Of too much Importance to pass
without some notice. There are three points
in these paragraphs to which we desire to call
attention.
l. The first is this water question. 1t is
true in point OF fact that neither Mr. Geo. NJ.
Rice nor the republican party of Worcester
were committed to any particular policy on
this question Republicans and others have
discussed the question, and there is a gen.
eral admission that at some time in the
future it will be necessary to introduce
more water into the city; but agreement
as 10 the time and method is not as
general. Those who nominated Mr.. Rice
did not take pains to ASCERTAIN his views, be-
cause they had no purpose or wish to make
the water question an issue in the election.
They did not interchange views on the ques-
ton. Most of them had not fully made up
their minds as to when and where to get the
water, and, if a vote had been taken, they
would have voted to wait for more investiga-
ton and discussion, And yet the Transcript
OF Friday previous to the election was stimu-
lated to speak on the subject as follows
"Mr Rice and all his adermanic ticket are
in favor Of the introduction of water. They
consider it indispensable to the future growth
of this city. They will take such measures
as shall best prepare the way for making Wor
cester city OF 80 900 inhabitants. Col. Davis
OH the other hand, so far as is known, is op.
posed to water. He thinks it costs too much.
When water can be brought into Worcester
without expense, he will doubtless be in favor
of it."
This unauthorized and gratuitous attempt
to commit Mr.. Rice to a policy which might
turn against him "a very large farming vote"
seemed to get a new meaning from the edito.
rial in that paper On Tuesday after the election.
Why did the Transcript forget that there
are many voters in Worcester, miles away
from Main street, who are opposed 10 any
great expenditure for the benefit of the center
district! we must not forget it, says the
Transcript Of Tuesday. Was it really for
gotten by TIE Transcript of the Friday pre-
Yious? Some think not others admit the
possibility of an irregular memory. We are
informed that the Transcript of Friday was
diligently circulated by the engineers of the
ri MT mi in fla ,l,or
hood OF "the farming VOTE" but in every
other locality where it was possible for them
TO gain a vote ty representing that Mr.. Rice
and his friends were in favor of the immediate
adoption of an expensive water project, which
Mr.. Davis would oppose. The sinister para.
graph having done its work, it was certainly
rather cool proceeding for that paper to turn
round and accuse the republican supporters
pf MIR. Rice of having injured his chances
Of an election by putting him forward as the
representative OF an expensive project for the
introduction OF water. This accusation ap.
pears IN the words which represent them as
having forgotten the "many voters miles away
from Main street." who, according TO our
neghbor, are sure to oppose all such enter
prises If the Transcript had limited this
accusation TO itself we would not question its
justice; but, when made against the repub.
lican party Of Worcester, the charge is false.
2 1t is intimated also that the whole ques-
ton Of municipal economy, was, in the judy
ment ofmany, involved in this election. "Mr.
Davis is a decided advocate of municipal
bo
1t is possible, however to get a reputation for
municipal economy by questionable methods.
If all the repairs and improvements, actually
necessary next year, should be withheld, less
money would be expended, and this might be
quoted, at the end OF the year, to prove that
Mr.. Davis tavors municipal economy" BUTT
is wasteful extravaganza to postpone necessary
expenditures. The thrifty man does not un
dertake to save money by allowing his build
ings to become dilapidated. He believes with
the old proyerb that "a stitch in time saves
nine" Experience and observation have
taught him that to be truly economical he
must provide today what is necessary today.
II Mr.. Davis should advocate unthrfliness in
city affairs, and call that economy, he would
deserve censure rather than praise, for the un.
thrifty parsimony Of one or two years of such
management would be severely felt in the
largely increased taxation Of subsequent years.
g. The other paragraph copied from the
Transcript is in some respects very singular
one, 1t closes thus .--"Mr. Rice represented
neither wing of the party" The whole para.
graph is very suggestive, but we leave it for