The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-22

FIELD NOW CLEAR
For the denomination of
Mayor Dodge.
The Searls boom is dead. A clear
case of suicide, the Dodge men call it;
Mr.. Searls says it's murder What
ever the cause, the boom is dead be-
yond all hope Of recovery. A week or
so ago bad symptoms began to de-
velop; all attempts to check the ad-
vance OF the malady proved of no
avail. Paralysis set in, and its power
completely gone, the Searls boom yes
terday kicked the bucket very much
as any Uther boom would have done
under similar circumstances. Mr.
Searls himself presided a. the funeral
services, and with his own hands threw
the first cold clods of political mud
over the form of his once beloved
mayoralty boomlet. Last night the
mourners held a fun dress rehearsal
in the State Mutual building. and vot-
ed to FAY on the table a motion to erect
a tablet inscribed Sacred to the mem
ory" etc.
When Frank L. Dean opened his
mail in the afternoon, it was with
some surprise that he read the folloW-
ing letter.
Worcester, Nov. q, 1898.
Mr. Frank l. Dean. Chairman:
My Dear Sir-Upon my return
from an absence of several days, 1
find awaiting me an invitation to
meet my friends this evening for
consideration Of the mayoralty
question.
1t has been made very plain to
me, and my friends must clearly
perceive, that the majority of Wor-
cester's republican voters are inn
hued with the sentiment of "bieu-
term deserves another"
1t therefore seems to me unwise
to further agitate the question, as
substantial reasons" have arisen
to make other than one candidacy
impolitic at this time, and I respect
fully request that the question be
dropped
Thanking all who have taken an
interest in my position,
Very truly yours,
William p Sealls
Such action had not been looked fol
on the part of Mr.. SeaTs, and wher
the news was conveyed to several 9th.
err members of the citizens committee
behind the movement, they We're
equally disturbed meeting had beer
previously called for last evening, anC
it was promptly decided to place the
matter before the committee and de
eide upon the continuance or discon-
tinuance of the committee as a polit-
ical body.
The session was held in the law of.
flee of Henry Harris, in the State Mu.
tual building, and was attended by al
the gentlemen interested in the cit
liens movement The meeting wa.
organized, as on previous occasions
with Frank L. Dean chairman and w
G. B. Sisson as secretary. The letter
of Mr.. Scarf was read, and it was Vot-
ed to abandon the movement after
considerable discussion Accordingly
the committee was disbanded. Consid-
cradle surprise was manifested in 20
Htieal circles tonight when it became
known that the committee had dis
banded. 1t was thought that another
candidate could have been picked out
to take the place of Mr.. Scarf and the
feeling in the ranks of the anti Dodge
men was that undue haste had beer
manifested in the matter The Dodge
men looked upon the developments as
a. great victory for their candidate.anC
were naturally very jublant
Mr. Searls was seen at his home last
evening by a Spy man. When asked
for an explanation of the reasons gov
erning his action, he said: q have beer
away for few days, and when I re-
turned today, l found an invitation foI
me TO attend a meeting Of republicans
to be held tonight, to chose a mayoralty
candidate. l Immediately wrote Mr.
Dean, declining to allow the use of my
name. Before I left the city on Wed
nesday, I was satisfied that there was
no extensive desire for any one to SUI
persede Mayor Dodge and l realized
that large number of the members
of the republican party felt that he
was entitled to at least another term.
1t was inimated to certain men that
I could not hope to capture any great
part of the vote of the republican
party; that I might work it harm and
that ] had better get out of the way.
Accordingly, 1 got out Of the way.
Il know that the general feeling is
that mayor should have two years
of service, the first being preparatory
for the second. Personally. L can't say
that I believe in this. If the two-vear
arrangement is a good one with a
good mayor, why isn't 1t a bad one
with a bad mayor? 1t seems to me
that it is a two-edged sword which will
cut both ways. 1 do NOT think that
the first year of a mayors service
should be given up to training. 1t does
not seem to me that the duties Of the
office are so arduous that any man Of
average business ability cannot master
them in a short time.
THE view / took of the situation was
that no harm could result from fight
in the caucuses, 1 never had any idea
that ! could get the nomination, but
was willing to be used TO bring out the
opposition to Mayor Dodge. If there is
TO be any fight, it had better be in the
caucuses than at the polls. / consider
that the best course for the party to
pursue. The mayoralty nomination is
nothing of my own seeking, but l con-
scented to the use of my name when
every one else refused. ] was very
careful to state when 1 allowed them
to use my name, that I was willing
to be a candidate unless substantial
reasons should arise to make it impol-
itic These reasons have now arisen.
The feeling of my friends is that they
don't want to see Searls put up and
knocked over. While / appreciate
their feelings in the matter they don't
count with me, for [ believe that OPP
position in the caucus would benefit the
party.
Il am satisfied that Mr.. Dodge is
very autocratic mayor. Citizens can't
aDnrNach him on the condition of high