The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-12
They Discuss
Candidates.
SENSE--N0NSENSE.
Both Found Expression in
Sunday Mass Meeting.
Bobbie Buns wrote

20 wad some power the Siftie gle us
Tae see oursils as ithers see u.s."
the bonnie Scotch poet must have had
some intimation of yesterdays mass
meeting Of the Central Labor Union.
There was the place for political can
didates above all others to see them
sis as ithers'' saw them, and if some
of them could only have been there at
yesterdays meeting and just seen
themselves, the undertakes would
have had full houses today.
The meeting simply took the ticket
and went through it from top to bot
tom. Each mans merits and dement's
were dwelt upon at greater or less Px-
tent and, although that term was hot
made use of, certain Of the candidates
were Endorsed and it was decided to get
out and work for their election, while
others We're black balled and recon-
mended as men to be worked against.
1t was a case of working off old-time
scores against a man, and any one
present who had had any trouble with
any of the candidates for Office was at
liberty to air it. Some of the republi-
can candidates for office were favored
| by the workmen's smile, but, as a
whole, the meeting had a strong demo-
cratic leaning and incense was burned
for MelIen, the political idol.
| On the face of things, it looked as
though our James" could have any
thing he wanted at the hands of the
wor1ingmen, but there were those pres
ent whose love for James could be got
ten into less than a Quart cup. They
We're in the minority and nothing was
heard from them while the Mellen
praise service was in session. When
| his name was first mentioned, how
ever just the faintest trace of a, hiss
was noticeable in the murmur which
| followed. Lots of nice things We're said
about James, and it was agreed that he
was the real pebble.
The Endorsement Of Capt. Churchill
was general, but the opinions on the
rest of the democratic candidates were
not so united, and especially in the
councilmanic field, where, with the in
crease in the number of candidates, the
| preferences were given greater scope.
The meeting was attended by perhaps
| rs members Of the various unions. Pres
| ident J. D. Pierce called the meeting to
order and was chosen permanent
chairman, and w. A. Rossley secre-
tary.
| The first man whose candidacy was
| discussed was Capt. James X. Church
| i'll. the democratic candidate for mayor
No opposition was raised to Capt
| Churchill. Mr.. Rossley said that he
was not personally acquainted with the
gentleman, but that he should vote for
| HIM because, as a trade union man, he
would be sure to look after the inter-
ests of the laboring men if elected. He
| then got after Mayor Dodge for his
action in refusing to enforce the day
| labor system in the construction of the
Millbury street school.
| He was followed by G. A. Lamouthe.
| Like the first speaker, he didn't know
Mr. Churchill, but he wasn't so sure
that Mr.. Dodge had not shown himself
to be a good mayor. He thought that
any blame for the system used in the
construction of the school should be
| laid where it belonged-upon the head
Of the building department, and the
remedy for that he considered removal
of that head. In closing his remarks,
! Mr.. Lamouthe said: If Mayor Dodge is
| reelected, let it be by the skin of his
teeth Give him another term and
see if he will do better
| These remarks brought Patrick Hag
gerty to his feet He said in sub
stance: 1T may be courtesy to give a
mayor two terms, but if this business
| Is started, it must be carried on for
ever. Mayor Dodge has not treated
the workingmen fairly, and we should
show him on Tuesday that he did not
receive the vote of the workingmen.F
| Thomas Harvey followed. He said
| in part: Il can't see how any man can
get up here and speak for Mayor
Dodge. When the order appropriating
| 500 for Labor day came before the city
government, what did he do? He We
toed it, claiming it was Illegal, but he
didn't consider it Illegal to appropriate
$l00 for the Wachusett Club regatta,
did he? He did not think then that he
would run for office, and now it is our
! duty to ignore him. On the other
hand, Capt Churchill is a staunch I'M
| ion man. He has organized a union,
and if elected, would look after the in
terests of the labor unions in Worces-
| ter
! Chairman Pierce then took the floor.
| He said in part: l don't know James
X. Churchill so very WELL but ! know
| that he is friend of the laboring man.
! When we went to Mayor Dodge about
the work on the Canterbury school, al
| though we got no definite assurance
| from him that he would aid us. we left
his office feeling that we had met
man who would be true to his convic-
| tions. He refused to interfere with the
work of the heads of the several de-
| partments and didn't, Personally / be-
! lieve he is a man who wants to be fair.
but he is to a certain extent under the
lash of those who have no sympathy for
organized labor.
| After the deadlock on the Canterbury
school in the city government ] asked
| him to withhold action until commit
| tee from our labor organizations could
wait upon him. This he promised to do,
and the next morning l learned through
the press that bids had been called for
| Mr.. Dodge has no sympathy for the
| laboring men, and it is now time for
us to say, 1--WE will handle you as you
| have handled us"
! John Connolly thought it rather late
bin the game for the members of the
| labor unions to talk of the Endorsement
or reimbursement of any candidate.
Such action he considered useless I'M
| less the unions were in position to go
+, to the polls and back it up on Tuesday.
Chairman Pierce agreed with the
speaker and explained that the object
| of the meeting was not to indorse any
candidate. but to talk over records and