The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-16
INTEREST LIVELY.
North Brookfeld Sc
lectman Contest
Spirited.
SPLAINE VERSUS DONNELLY.
French Dissenters viii
Celebrate a Midnight
Mass Christmas.
SPLAINE VERSUS DONNELLY.

North Brookfield, Nov. 15.-The an
nouncement of David j. Splaines candi-
dacy for the office of selectman, as
made in this mornings Spy, furnished
the theme of conversation for North
Brookfield citizens today, and specula-
ton is now rife as to the winner in the
impending contest for the office between
him and Edward Donnelly. The very
first opinion expressed by the public
after Mr.. Splaine's candidacy had be-
come known, was that almost any man
from the south end of the town who
chooses to run now is practically sure of
victory, however the votes of the rest
of the town may be divided between the
two men now in the field. The plain
fact of the matter is that every year
the chief question relating to the cleo
ton OF selectmen is whether or not
there will be an Irishman on the board
In other words, the question is, will
there be one Catholic on the board?
This is the fact of the case, and it is
not meant that there is any prejudice
used to keep a Catholic off the board
of selectmen. 1t simply is left with the
Catholic people themselves to unite up
on one man as a candidate and elect
him. The rest of the voters want it
so, and when the Catholic voters, most
of whom live in the northern part of the
town, decide to run man, there is no
opposition from the south end. Edward
Donnelly today told The Spy reporter
that it was with the feeling that the
north end should have a representative
on the board that he consented to be-
come a candidate He says that he
told his friends at the time that if they
could find any man whom they would
consider a stronger candidate than him
self, or any other who wanted the office,
he was content to drop out,
When Mr.. Donnelly became aware
that his opponent was to be Mr. Splaine,
another man from the north end, his
first intention was to quit the field, that
Mr.. Splaine might have a solid follow
ing. This plan his friends would not
hear Of telling him he was first in the
field, and that under the circumstances
if he dropped out they would have a
man to take his place inside of twenty
four hours. Consequently he informed
The Spy reporter that he would remain
in the contest, and carry the matter to
the polls.
1t is now too late for a caucus to be
held, as the election is to take place
Nov 25 so that both candidates will
have to take out nomination papers.
Evidently it is going to be hard to pick
the winner, opinions expressed today
being according to symathy with one
man or the other.
The socessionists from st. Joseph's
church are making preparations and
plans for a midnight mass at the edifice
which they are having built on Forest
street for Christmas morning This
mass is customary in Catholic countries
and begins Immediately when the mid
night hour is passed. 1t is likely 20 be
the first mass celebrated in the new
structure The dissenters have aug
mented their treasury considerably OF
late by collections, and expect to in
crease IL still more with an entertain
ment in the town hall Saturday night
At the meeting of the Appleton club
tonight Miss Emma Rogers gave a
reading on Josephine at the Tuiler-
les and Malmaison" Horce ]. Law
renee reed a paper on French justice
and the honor of the army" and Mrs.
Frank P. Green told about Napoleon
II.