The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-30
M ELLEN
w thin nAce
of Defeat.
CITY CONVENTION
Names Six Aidermanic Can
didates But No Mayor.

The tobacco smoke circled lovingly
around the familiar form of James H
Mellen in democratic headquarters last
evening; the gas light danced gaily in
the counterlight Of that broad. bland
smile, the very chair he sat in, like
some miscarried throne, took on
touch of dignity, and the floor beneath
swelled with pride which revealed the
dirt IN the cracks between the boards.
On every tongue was heard the name
of Mellen, the noise of the street float
ed up the winding stairs, and within
the sacred presence, a subdued and
drOwsy hum; the reaches in the corners
walked with lighter tread and all
Things great and small rose up and
called him blessed.
And why not? Hadn't James. our
James, saved the honor of the demo-
cratic party2 Hadn't he, himself, his
Ratchet, City Solicitor Rugg and other
things, hurled back in the teeth of
false maligners," the reports which
would rob the democratic party of all
It's pristine glory? Yea, verify! he had
smitten the rock and water had burst
forth. he had raised up a sign in the
wilderness and the fatted calf or any
other old calf that democratic cam
palgn funds could buy was none too
good for James-and James-he knew
IT, He was not unduly exalted. neither
was he pulled up with vain glory. as
ne told his constituents that the city
solicitor had decided that the demo-
cratic nominees We're legally entitled
10 place on the ticket for the forth
coming city election, despite reports to
the effect that the caucuses had not
oeen called in accord with the provt-
slons of the law. And those democrats
present listened and laid 1t all to James
Ihey gazed tenderly upon the form
Of their leader re-read his fountain
speech and newspaper clippings about
nm, pasted up on the board partition
and cast about for spot wherein to
hang his portrait and joy reigned over
lhe city convention of the Worcester
democracy.
The con rention was called to order
al 80 by Chairman James H. MeIlan
OF the democratic city committees In
opening the convention he said he mere
~ desired to say with regard to certain
criticisms Of the democratic Marty
made III the public prints relative to the
matter OF caucus procedure, that he
mad received pretty good evidence that
All caucuses had been legally held, and
no democrat need be alarmed All
nominees would be officially recognized
and the names appear on the official
ballot ON election day
The convention then organized. with
the choice of Daniel F. Rourke as
chairman, the nomination being made
by John S. Cavanaugh and seconded
by James f. Ryan.
In accepting the appointment. Mr..
yad IN g.
honor conferred. John Henry Maher
was then chosen secretary.
David f. 0'Connell, a ward 4 dele
gate, then took the floor He said:
Il am here tonight as a delegate from
ward 4, but I am not an aspirant for
office. l notice that my name appears
on the ticket as a candidate for alder
man. We realize down in ward 4 that
we have had perhaps more representa-
ton upon the aldermanic board than
we are entitled to, and ! have come to
the conclusion that rather than force
my candidacy upon the convention. I
Will withdraw and allow other wards
a chance of recognition, and for person
al reasons, known to some of the gen
tlemen in this hall. Therefore I ask
you not to vote for me. The democ-
racy of Worcester has been loyal to me
and l have been loyal to the democ-
racy. If [ have made mistakes they
have been mistakes of the head only.
and not mistakes Of the heart"
Hardly had Mr.. O'Connen taken his
seat, when James c. Luby of ward
took the floor and protested against the
withdrawal He thought the strong
est men were needed, regardless Of
ward interests, and hoped the conven-
ton would not heed Mr. O'ConnelIs ac-
ton.
James T. Timon of ward moved that
n committee of three on credentials be
appointed, and Martin Dougherty
moved that the ward delegates be EN-
powered to fill any vacancies existing
i'm the convention. jeremiah Murphy
of ward 4 moved that lists of the dele
gates be supplied the several ward COM
mittees. Mr.. Timon withdrew his mo-
ton and Mr. Murphy then moved that
the list of delegates be read aloud This
prevailed, and the list was read John
Harmon of ward 1 appeared as a sub
stitute for Dennis Cronan. absent
The chair then stated that the several
aldermanic candidates had agreed that
all ballots marked for less or more than
six candidates should be thrown out.
Delegate Dougherty objected. saying:
MIR. Chairman, this convention cannot
dictate as TO whether we shall vote for
one, three or six candidates" The
chairman replied that he was simply
stating the agreement Of the candf-
dates.
Genial James-James II. Mellen-then
took the floor and explained that in
asking each delegate to vote for six
delegates and no more or less, the OBJ
ject was to avoid juggling.
G. Eugene McGillicuddy made a mo-
ton covering the point and it was car
ried. An announcement was made
that Richard Joyce, candidate for al
derman in ward l. desired to withdraw,
but no action was taken Delegate
Breen was appointed to distribute ball
lots
A delegate moved a committee Of one
from each ward be appointed TO count
the ballots Delegate Murphy moved
that every eight ballots be deposited
with the clerk of the convention. Mr.
Timon repeated his motion The chair
ruled that committee of three be APP
pointed Delegate B. H. Mcmahon
rose to a point of order Delegate Nun
ply Withdrew his motion, and Delegate
Timon's prevailed.
The following delegates We're APP
pointed on the committee Ward l.,
Harmon: ward >, McCafferty; ward 5.
Sanderson: ward 4, Dougherty; ward
5. Timon: ward 6. Curran: ward Z.
Mullins: ward s, Luby The name of
Delegate Zaeder was substituted for
that nf nalegata S9udersOn from ward