The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-22
Who Will Carry the Dem
OCratiC Banner?
Some Words That Lived Long
After They Were Spoken.
Figures From Days When Pr0vi-
dence Had a Foreign Trade.

Although the State campaign has not
opened yet, there is good deal of specu-
lation as 10 who will be chosen as stand
ard bearer for one OF the two leading
parties. OF course every one knows that
this speculation is INDUCED in only with
reference to the Democracy as the Repub-
licans, always selec ing good material. are
i'm the habit of re-electing their State ticket
when the private affairs of one or more of
the officers do no compel them to with
draw There is already apparent the usu-
nj split among the leaders, actual and al
legged, of the Democracy. Mr.. Franklin
Pierce Owen, chairman OF the State CEN
tral COMMITTEES, announces himself as IN
favor of the denomination OF Hon. George
l.. Littlefield of Pawtucket and the re-
mainder of the ticket of year ago, with
the exception OF the candidate Tor Secre-
tary of State. On the other hand, from
Pawtucket comes he announcement that
Hugh j. Carroll is out for Gen. Olney
Arnold and viii back him in the conven-
tion. IL the fight as 10 whether MIR. Lit
tleield or General Arnold should be the
candidate were to be settled by contest
between the chairman of the State central
committee and his tuft-hunting confrere
from the second city there wouldn't be
any question no to Mr.. Littlefield again
leading the Democracy TO foreordained
defeat. But these astute politicians VIII
not settle the question, and therein lies
the uncertainty which at pre- ent sur
rounds the Democratic gubernatorial can
didate.
could not be induced TO accept a nomina-
tion and in proof of that they refer TO his
distinct declarat ion a couple OF years ago,
when asked to stand for Mayor of Paw
tucket, that his private concerns demand
&c too much of his time to permit him to
attend TO the duties Of public octfie. Pos
sibly conditions have changed since then.
1t may also be that Gen. Arnold may feel
that the Office of Governor of the State
of Rhode Island makes fewer demands
upon the time of him who hosts it than
that of Mayor OF Pawtucket. If that is
so, General Arnold may be considered as
possibility as the Democratic candidate;
but as previously stated those who CAIN
to know insist that under no circumstgn-
ces will he enter the canvass II is
understood that Mr.. Littlefeld is per-
sonally not very anxious TO be again
the victim in another political walk-over
His lack of enthusiasm is certainly natu-
raj. A man who has been beaten by
plurality of nearly IL, 900 votes in a State
which has on some previous occasions
given Democratic candidates a plurality
has about as much to cheer him in pros
Mr.. Littlefied may have come TO the wise
conclusion that il isn't safe to calculate
on the short memory OF the people. and
he may trace in the avalanche of ballots
under which he was buried a year ago
significant echo of his words of some
years ago when he declared that dollar
Q day was enough for a laDoring man and
that out of that he ought to provide his
own shovel
Officer Joe Curtis Is one OF the members
of the police department who would be
entitled to retire should've city adopt the
service pension system.
Mr.. Curtis has given the city the best
years of his life. For 81 years he has been
in its service and more faithful and eff
cient officer never donned a uniform.
Long service anc exposure have tCld upon
him and he is now in a weakened and
broken condition. Why should not men,
such as he, who have devoted more than
half their lives to the service of the pub
lie, be given the poor boon of pension
when infirmity compels their retirement
from active service?
THE News reminds the Gossiper that in
telling the story of the disastrous gale of
September %, 1915, a few days ago, he
forgot TO include very important fact i'm
the Renaissance. "You tell the num-
ber OF vessels that went through the
broken bridge and got stranded on the
shores of the Cove; but you don't tell
whether any or them ever got out again
or whether they were allowed to fall to
pieces. / would like to know about it IL
you will be kind enough TO tell me. -
The Gossiper hastens to make up for his
remissness and for the benefit of the young
inquirer will say that not all of the ves-
sells that were cast up on the shores of
the Cove remained there. Some of them
were fioated and no doubt rendered ex-
cellent service TO their owners for many
years afterward.
Altogether the stranded vessels num-
bered "a. There were three full rigged
ships, nine briggs, seven schooners and 10
sloops. Very soon after the storm abat-
ed work on temporary bridge was be-
gun and little more than q month later
this structure had been SO far completed
as TO permit the passage of carriages over
1t. The chronicles OF that day say that
when the Temporary bridge was open-