The Worcester spy., 1898-10-11

towns, and l told Mr.. Ladd that
thought that he ought to take thes
letters to Mr.. Rice, as chairman Of TIL
committee, and say to him that would
be pleased to do anything in my powe
that would advance HIS cause, and en-
sure his election by an old-fashionet
majority, so Mr. Ladd writes Ootobe
26th. Here is one of the letters tha
Mr.. Ladd took to Mr.. Rice;
VIM, Knowlton & Sons, Straw Good
Manufacturers.
West Upton, Mass, Oct 25. 1886
Hon. I. c. Bates.
Dear Sir: At an enthusiastic meeting
of staunch republicans, held in this Of
flee, on Saturday evening, the desirJ
was very strongly expressed that yol
be invited to address the townspeopl,
! in opposition to the free trade doctrine!
of Mr.. Russell who spoke here las
Friday evening.
You know that this town elected
Bates delegates, and your presence here
would ensure you a rousing reception
and breathe the breath of life into what
has been SO far a dead campaign.
We fell that in your position il
would be a very magnanimous act or
your part but trust that the law OF
compensation would make matters
right with you in the future.
We were glad to reach you by tele-
phone Saturday evening.
Respectfully yours,
VIM. r Warren, Clerk.
Here is the reply / sent him:
EXTREMELY AWKWARD.
Worcester, Mass October 26, 1885.
| George W. Knowlton, Esq, West Up
| ton, Mass:
My Dear Mr.. Knowlton-
-
liam r. Warren of West Upton, Mass.
kindly inviting me to address the vot
ers of Upton some evening this week
which I would be only too happy to de
| in return for the great good will anc
I appreciation shown for myself by the
republicans Of Upton a few weeks ago
| But Mr.. Rice has informed the chair
man Of our congressional district COM
| mittee, Mr. Ladd of Spencer, that he
does not propose to make any campaign
| speeches and does not propose to have
him do it either; as he thinks Mr.
| Bates friends would claim they had
| secured Mr.. Rice's election, and mainly
due to his influence, etc, and as he is
| not going to speak himself, he would
prefer not to have Mr.. Bates.
This makes it extremely awkward
for me. How can I take the stump and
comply with the request of my friends
when 1 am informed that it is against
the well known and expressed wish OF
Mr.. Rice himself?
Now think you as a member of our
| congressional district committee have a
right to know what we have done in
our endeavor to make a good campaign
as we have been accustomed to have
in years gone by, in behalf Of our can
Gidate.
I have done everything in my power
to bring about a better state Of feel
ing in this district Mr.. Ladd, chair
man of the congressional district COM
mittee, has written three letters to
Mr.. Rice, and has been to see him
twice, urging the calling together of the
committee with himself to consider
plans with him as to what should be
done.
Mr.. Ladd has been at work at least
three weeks on this same thing, COM
| mencing it Immediately after this con-
vention of September 30, and not till
last Friday has Mr.. Ladd been able to
have free and full understanding and
talk with Mr.. Rice, who then informed
Mr.. Ladd that he did not intend to
take the stump at all, and that he did
not want Mr.. Bates to do so either
He was working upon documents which
he was sending out and he would take
his chances on the result. And, there-
fore, the committee has not been called
together, because there was nothing to
do,
If Mr.. Rice did not want to speak
himself and did not want his friends to
talk or any Canvass made, what could
be done?
ALL EFFORTS FUTILE.
No. friend Knowlton, everything has
been done by Mr. Ladd, Mr.. Wellington
and myself to bring about a lively
campaign IN this district, and the more
we have urged 1t and desired it, the
more Mr.. Rice crawled into his shell.
And as a last resort, have suggested
to the chairman OF the county commit
tee and the cha-rman of the congress
sional committee and the chairman Of
the councillor district committee, that
we have conference, in Worcester, Of
1ll the committees, county, congress
Eional and countilor, and all the town
committees through their ehairmen and
secretaries, and the city committees
and invite Mr.. Hoar and Mr.. Rice and
the county officers. county commission
ers, district attorney, high sheriff and
the candidates for the senate and
house, and see If we could not do some
thing to wake up Worcester county.
ard this, too, is entirely my own sug-
gestior.
[ drew up the circular myself. and
communicated with the chairmen of
the committees by telephone or tele-
graph, and received their consent to
sign their names; and l have certain
ly done 9ll that know how to do to
bring about the best party result in
this county and congressional district;
and / cannot be blamed if Mr. Rice
does not get as large a majority as he
wants.
Do you think I could have done any
more? Now, if, under all the circum-
stances, friend Knowlton, you should
think, and Mr.. Warren also, that it
Is best for me to come to Upton, please
drop me a line and | shall waive all
my own personal inclination, and Mr..
Rice's, and do just what the repubn-
cans of Upton think best; because any
request they make of me, it will be a
pleasure to comply with, so far as 1 am
personally concerned, as / feel very
grateful for their considerate and great
kindness toward me.
Awaiting your response, I am
Very truly yours,
Theodore c. Bates.
Now. 1 could go on here and read let
ters like that for the next half-hour
from gentlemen all over the district.
Here are two or three from Hutchins-
vile and from other towns, which
will not trouble you to take the time
to read.
ANOTHER INCIDENT.
Now, there is another little incident
that / would like to call your attention
to. The city committee of Worcester
invited me to speak in Mechanics Hall
with Mr.. Rice and Mr. Hoar, and when
that mention was made to Mr.. Rice,
he refused to speak from the platform
with me- That was known all over
the city and all over the district. And
won't you tell me why it was done,
after all had been doing? There were
some circulars sent out. And there