The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-26

by an inquiry regarding the chances of
some of the candidates for city Offices
The number of candidates makes it inn
possible to venture any predictions, as
every candidate has his supporters
some for the first ballot and others for
first, last and all the time
Only one candidate looms up in front
with the ruck back of the distance flag.
He is Charles Marvin, present city mes
Senger, who seeks the position for an
other year. His competitors in the race
are William I. Gould and Charles Il.
Davis Friends of City Messenger Mar
vim predict that his race will be prac-
ticaly a Walkover. His opponents are
saying nothing, but they have not lost
heart.
EX-Alderman NJ. e. Gilman is spoken
of as a strong man for the board of as
SCISSORS, but those who favor other can
didates say he has no cinch on the
place The others are putting in big
ticks A quiet hustle will be put in by
the democrats to land the place for D.
G. Leonard, who is thus far the only
democrat appearing for any of the
offices. Members of the minority party
will not reveal their plan of campaign,
put that they are out for a trade with
friends of some other candidate isn't
difficult to guess. They have thus far
made no talk of holding caucus to de-
eide on their plan of action, but the
democratic members of the board OF
aldermen will have what they style a
'runtogether" some evening this week.
Even among members of the city
council it has been generally thought
thatth minority portion will be bitter
~ opposed to the amendment to the city
charter which Frank B. Hall, president
OF the common council, has promised to
introduce. The amendment, in brief
provides that the selection of aldermen
in the future be by wards instead of on
the plan of minority representation
which now exists. An aspect of the
proposition which has not yet appealed
to members of either party was sug-
gested by a democratic member of the
common council yesterday When
questioned regarding the probable pO-
sition of the minority on the amend
ment, he said the democrats would
doubtless oppose it, but not for the rea-
sons which have been given from time
to time.
~In his opinion the plan, as suggested
by the amendment. would be more ben
eficial than any measure which could
be devised, even by democrats them
selves. It would be an admirable thing
to build up the democratic party, which
is now split into factions on account of
the jealousies and chickering's of men
who are recognized as leaders of the
party, With such measure in force
the democratic leaders would be com
PEELED to drop all personalities and
work for the interests of the party. By
doing this the democratic councilman
thinks ward 5, which is now in the
doubtful column, would revert to the
democrats.
But, he said, he and other democrats
fear there is a rat in the meal. They
fear the object of the proposition is not
what appears on it's face. 1t is, in their
opinion, simply a stepping stone to re-
instate the old method of electing al
dermen by a vote of the entire city.
Such plan would give the republicans
the entire board.
Maybe the democratic members are
worrying themselves with fears which
will prove groundless. There are re-
publicans in the city council who do
not look On the proposition as a party
measure, and thus do not feel that they
are especially called on to support it..
Such was the statement of republican
member of the common council to a
Spy man yesterday.
No contest is expected on the order
tomorrow evening. According to the
program mapped out, it is to go over to
the next city council without debate
regarding its merits. Democratic mem
bers do not expect to be called on to OPP
pose it, They rest securely in what
they say is a promise of the mover to
refrain from attempting to push it
through.