The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-06
THAYER
Addresses The
Frenchnlen.
SCORES HIS RIVAL
For a Labor Record Alleged
To Be Bad.

The democrats held rally in st. Fa-
mile Hall, Vernon square, last evening,
which was attended by about a hun
dred Frenchmen. The speakers for the
evening were John R. Thayer and John
e. Sullivan. In the absence of DR.. F.
D. Fontaine, who was to have been the
chairman of the meeting, John A.
Thayer presided and introduced the
speakers, who confined their attention
to strictly local questions.
Mr.. Sullivan took for his text the
speech made byCongressman Walker at
the republican county convention, in
which he said that there is no pledge
that was made by the republican party
two years ago that has been fulfilled.
He said that that statement was utter
ly devoid of truth, as was any other
statement made by Mr. Walker on that
occasion. He maintained that wages
have been decreased and work is more
scarce today than it was two years ago.
He dwelt at some length on the war
and its Encouragement, and said that
for years to come Algerism will be
synonymous with neglect and favorit-
ism.
Turning his attention again to Con-
gresham Walker the speaker said
that if Walker is an example of a pro-
tector of labor, thiln heaven defend la
Dor from its protector!
The strike among the shoe workers
in this city in 1870, he claimed, was
caused by the order issued by the
knights of st. Crispin. The trouble
arose over a schedule of prices, and a
compromise was finally effected and a
contract entered into which the labor
ers claimed abrogated their rights as
citizens. The speaker asserted that
Mr. Walker was the leader of these
employers of labor He said that Mr..
Walker afterwards told Andrew Athy
that the manufacturers lost by that
strike over $4,000 Mr.. Sullivan assert
ed that the only way the laboring man
would ever get his rights would be by
their own unaided efforts. If it is
right for the manufacturers to COM
bine then the same right ought to be
accorded the laborer
John r. Thayer was the chief speak
er of the evening, and was able to
elicit frequent applause. After thanking
the voters for their attendance, he re-
ferred to the strike of the St. Crispins
touched upon by the previous speaker,
and said that perhaps the most import
ant fact in that matter was the hiring
Of Italian laborers by Mr.. Walker to
take the place of the strikers. He said
that he believed that both capital and
labor should have their fair show IF
there is any one thing l hate said he,
"it is a hypocrite. When a man under
takes to sail under false colors l am
after him in earnest. don't know what
/ shall do when / get to congress, but
do know that 1 shall try hard to be
recognized by the speaker. l shall say,
7 Il u
banking bill under my arm, and I have
no fear but what I shall be heard. 1
will guarantee not to write a reply to
any man such as Mr. Walker sent to
the Central Labor Union of this city
some years ago.
Although I may not win I shall keep
close to Mr.. Walkers shadow and make
it interesting for him, as the returns
next Tuesday will show. Mr.. Walker
has a powerful organization in his
hands and has the money tn control the
primaries, but we will prove that we
did not have to buy our way into cons
gress. There is great dissatisfaction in
the republican ranks and I am going to
get many republican votes. l shall not
look a gift horse in the face
In my former campaign against Mr..
Walker it has been stated that he
spent over $4,000. If that statement is
true, tnen say that Mr.. Walker has
done more to corrupt the politics of this
district than all other agencies com
bined. 1 was told today that the
Walker heelers were waiting for the
tapping Of the barrel. By Monday it
will be necessary to knock out the
bung. I should advise you to take adj
vantage of this state of affairs and
take the opposition's money and vote
for me; they will never know the diff
ference. Was there ever a time in
Worcester when the republican press
never said a word in behalf of their
candidate? These papers reflect repub-
lican public sentiment, and the con-
clusion is obvious.
Il want every democratic vote in this
city and county l can get next Tues
day We must not rely too much on
republican apathy. We have not much
money for our campaign and we will
not run on our faces
He closed by asking those present to
use every means to get out the vote.