The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-18
What Is Thought About the Coming
Municipal Canvass.
COL, 0LNEY WILL Be ELECTED
That Is the Opinion OF q Man Who Has
Felt the Public Puise-How the Pub
lie Works Department. Might BE Made
Political Machine.

Atthe city hall one OF the chief topics
OF conversation is the coming city election
ana II the opinions OF those who are sup
posed to be able to form correct judG-
Hieht are worth anything. Colonel 6fney
VIII De elected by good majority
Even some OF M. McGuinness' friends
say they do not expect to elect
their candidate without hard battle.
ms admission. in the face OF the usual
democratic method of claiming every
thing, is significant at least. An official,
VINO IS well posted on municipal mat
tels. said this morning that as far
as he could judge there is not the slight
est doubt Of Colonel Olney's election.
III some other man had been nomi
mated" be continued, "the contest might
be very close. but with Colonel Olney
the republicans are bound to win I'll
tell you why | am so confident
on this point. live In the First ward
and since the convention have made IL my
business TO ascertain what tb. sen
timent of the voters is, havo
talked with Republicans and with
Democrats and am confident that Col.
olney will have the support OF not only
every member OF his own party but OF
considerable number OF Democrats.
This Democratic support will go TO Col
Olney because OF tho confidence the peo.
pie have in him. He is very popular and
has large following which will support
him irrespective OF party lines. a year
ago he was endorsed by the Dsno-
seats for alderman, snd this year they will
vote Tor him. although they have candi-
date or their own. What is true OF the
firs, is true Of other wards to great
or or less extent. aud because
have found the SCI timent SO strong in
his favor am convinced that Mr. Olney
vii! receive vote that will be larger tLan
his friends hops for or expect"
1he Public Works Department..
The next mayor will have the appoint
ment OF com mmissioner OF public works.
aud this fact adds Interest TO
the present campaign. The Demo-
Gratis, or some OF them at least, say that
il they can get a man of their
political persuasion in that Office
the future success of their party
wll be assured. or course it is easy to
understand what they mean. A
commissioner OF public works, who is SO
disposed can make his department
powerful political agency. AT GER
At certain ssasous of the year there
are employed more than eleven hundred
men. Ii these were compelled TO vote as
the head OF the department disctated IL
Will be seen very readily-that
the commissioner would become a politi.
cal dictator. Otherwise the work Of the
department. which is really the most
important ia the city, would in such an
event suffer.
Commissioner Smith the present i'm.
cumbent has kept his department out of
politics entirely. He has never asked a
man employed or an applicant .or work
10 what party he belonged. The questions
asked are simply To ascertain whether or
not those who apply for employment are
capable and are citizens Politics does
not enter into the matter st all.
While no one says Mr. McGunness, in
case lie is elected. would appoint com
missioner he did not believe t. be compe.
tent, it is contended that the chances ar.
the appointee would prove TO be a par
tisan Que for the purpose OF prolonainQ
his own term as we'll ~ that OF the party
appointing MIN would yield to the tenn
tation to use the department for political
purposes However, from present indi-
cations there is little danger that Mr.. Nc.
Guinness will have an opportunity to ex.
exercise the appointing power