The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-04
BATES.
Will He Run
Independent?
SO UNDERSTOOD.
Will the Democracy Nomi-
nate Anyone Against Him?

Possible storm signals are up in the
third congressional district.
Unless present signs fail there will be
opposition to the reelection Of Con-
gresham Joseph H. Walker.
The unpleasantness in the convention
yesterday was the ripple of wave Of
discomfort that may be gathering force
for fight against the return to Wash
ington of the Grey Eagle Of the
Quinsigamond.
The expression Of discomfort was
throttled by clever move on the part
of the Walker managers The opposi-
ton vote, as appearing in the returns
of the ballot which nominated Mr..
Walker for the sixth consecutive time,
was not the full measure of the anti
Walker feeling in the convention.
The rumblings Of discomfort had been
heard by Walker men on Sunday, and
with all possible haste chocolate color
ed ballots for use in the convention
were prepared and distributed among
the delegates. Any delegate that voted
white ballot was a marked man, an6
many Of the delegates who were in full
| sympathy with Mr. Cochran of South
bridge had not the courage to Oppose
with white ballots. Otherwise it is
claimed that there would have been a.
least 80 votes for Frank p Goulding
when his name had been given to thl
convention.
The vigilance of the Walker men
however, has not been without cause
There has been a definite movement OF
foot for the past few days for an op.
position candidate and the movement
| took definite form yesterday when the
name Of Hon. Theodore G. Bates was
again mentioned by several promin
ent republicans and an effort made t,
secure his consent for the use Of hi
name.
| In this effort there was co-operatio1
on the part of leading democrats o.
the district, but from the reports tina
came to The Spy man, 1t isn't known
| as yet whether Mr.. Bates will conseu
to make the running. A Spy repre-
sentative called at the Bates residence
Last night but was unable to obtain al
interview with the gentleman.
The idea of the anti Walker men h
to run Mr.. Bates, or some other strons
man, in case he refuses to enter the
contest, as an Independent candidate
against Walker. 1t Is claimed tha'
nomination papers will be circulated
and signatures obtained In sufficient
numbers, one in every 100 of the repub-
| lican vote cast at the last state cleo
| ton. The names must be secured ir
time for the fling Of the papers Satur-
| day, for according to the election laws
| nomination papers must be filed al
least four weeks before the election.
! The republican leaders who are iden-
| titled with this movement have been
in consultation with prominent demo-
Gratis and have received assurances
that in the event of TIE Independent
candidacy of Mr.. Bates, there may not
only be no democratic nomination, but
| that many of the democrats will lend
their support for the success of the
| independent republican movement
| These assurances may have considera-
| bic influence it is believed. in shaping
the decision by Mr.. Bates. The pos
sibilities of a straight democratic
movement are not worthy of consider
| alton as the district is now formed, but
with candidate to draw largely from
the republican vote and also most OF
| the democratic votes, It is argued that
there is a fighting chance for success
| Although there has been no assu-
rance of a reply from Mr.. Bates, it is
believed by those who have approached
him on the subject, that no will inform
them one way or the other Immediate
ly, in order that another man may be
found, if his decision Is adverse. AT all
events, an Independent movement
would afford plenty Of life and excite
ment for those voters who like an ac-
tive political campaign.