The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-07-30
OUR BOSTON LETTER.
interest In Politics Begins With
Month of August.

Interest In POLITICS Begins WlCH
Month of August.
Affairs In the City In Complicated
Condition-Several Candidates In Both
Parties Quincy and Curtis Likely to
BE Regular Candidates - Proposed
Change In City Government-Subwa
Not Completed Another Mystery-A
Klondike PooI-WooI Market-Drama-
tic.
With the approach of August this city
annually becomes the center of political
| interest, and from that time until after
| the city election in December there is
no cessation of hostilities. Circum-
stances vary the intensity of the strug-
gle, but it is always present. This year
the wire pulling and fence building has
begun earlier than usual. 1t is not a
contest between opposing parties, but
rather mild form Of smuggling match be-
tween men of the same political belief
Boston is naturally and upon national
! issues a Democratic city. 1t is so much
Democratic that a united party can
hardly be expected ana is seldom fact
The fellows who are in, known as the
+ machine" by patronage and all recog
nized and some doubtful practices,
strive to maintain their power, while
those who are out calling, themselves
the people, are equally earnest in try
ing to pun the other fellows down, that
they may climb up themselves.
Then, again, there are the gold bugs
and the silver bugs" and, try as hard
as they may, it will be hard to keep this
issue out OF the coming campaign
Mayor Quincy, who represents the ma
chine just now and who will be renomi-
mated for mayor by it, has tried hard to
keep out of the currency fight. When
the Chicago platform has been men
toned in his presence he has been as dumb
as an oyster or anxious to talk of the
printing plant or some other pet project
OF his own that does not involve national
issues, but his conduct has displeased
! the silver men, and silver candidate is
not unlikely to appear. Another fac
ton, led by John B. Moran, the Hubs
most notorious political guerilla, are
rallying around eXCongressman Nc
Ettrick and insist that he shall enter
the lists and sweep the boodlers from city
hall. 1t is needless to say that three
candidates would be a heavy load for
the party to carry at one and the same
time.
| With such condition existing in the
Democratic organization, the Republic
cans ought to win with ease, if united,
but things are not tranquil in that camp.
That party has "a machine" too, and it
stands committed, it is said, to the re-
nomination of ex-Mayor Curtis. Cur
tbs has money, brains and ambition. He
has been mayor once, and wants the hon
or again. He will do all in his power
to again get the Republican nomination,
and in all human probability will sue
DEED to that extent. But he has enemies
! Ix-Alderman Sanford and Alderman
Berwin would also like to rule at city
! hall, and either might hear citizens
| CALL" if it were loud enough. Indeed 1t
is said that petitions in favor of Sanford
are already in circulation and that BeI-
] VIII ) IElelluS nave Lie llidlIGl uIINlGl COIl-
sideration. AS we cannot have six
mayors, things are badly mixed, with
little doubt, however, that Quincy and
Curtis will capture the regular nomina-
tons.
Another thing that tends to stir things
rather earlier than usual is the fact
that in November the people of Boston
are to vote upon a proposition that prac-
tically revolutionizes the form of govern
ment. By an act to be submitted to the
voters for endorsement, our common
council, as it is generally called, is
wiped out, and if the people approve,
we shall have a single Legislative cham
Der. The present legislative department
of the city consists of a board of alder
men of II members and a common coun-
Gil of rs members. The aldermen are
elected at large, after being nominated
III party conventions. The councilmen
are elected by wards three from each
ward, nominations being made in party
caucuses.
The new body, as proposed in the act
which is to be submitted to the people,
will be made up Of SO members, ~ alder
men to be elected at large, the president
of the body to be elected at large and %
other members to be elected by wards,
one from each ward. The old style of
making nominations by conventions is
done away with to an extent, and the
candidates to be placed on the ballot
must come direct from the people, each
political party making nominations for
the entire membership of the body, and
electing, if it can. the entire number. In
other words all nominations are made by
nomination papers, even if endorsed by
party caucusses, and anybody can make
the run, regardless of party affiliations.
OF course, there will be caucus nomi-
nations, but when a man has to get
nomination papers to get into caucus
and then beat out the other fellows be-
sides there will be a strong tendency to
go the race without caucus backing.
Under the act six of the aldermen at
large will be elected for two years and
six for one year at the first election.
The candidates for the longer term will
be those who receive the highest num-
Der Of votes in the caucuses After the
first year this provision VIII be dead. as
then six members only of the at-large
representation will be elected, and all CT
+Isrl for terms of two wears In this