The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-26
J. R. THAYER'S WIT.
Exercises It at the
Legislative Ban
quet.
MELLEN, THE BUTT OF SATIRE.
Walker Says All Law-mak-
ing Bodies Are
Corrupt.

Boston, May 25.-Members and form
er members of the Massachusetts leg
islature from Worcester county gath
cred at the Adams House, in this city,
last night, to celebrate the sixth an
nual banquet and anniversary of the
legislators from Worcester county to
the general court, and incidentally to
renew old acquaintance.
Ex-Congressman Walker and Con
gresham John R. Thayer of Worces-
ter We're the only guests of the assem-
bly, for the evening, although several
| Representative were present. Sem
ator Washburn. in introducing Con-
gresham john r. Thayer as the first
speaker of the evening, made a few
Introductory remarks on the promin-
ence which Worcester county has
achieved by her sons, among them Eli
| w hltney Of Westboro, inventor of the
cotton gin; Elias Howe of Spencer, in
Ventor Of the sewing machine; Blanch-
ara OF Millbury, inventor of the &c
centric lathe; and Bigelow of Clinton.
VINO had done much to bring his native
town to the attention of the world He
stated that although Worcester county
ranked high among the sections of the
United states in agricultural pursuits,
| II was also the home of men of me-
chanical genius
Congressman Thayers talk was filled
with witty remarks and he held the at
eentlon OF the assembly from start to
hhlsh' lie said in part: 'Mr Toast
master and fellow-eitizens of the state
OF Massachusetts l attended this han
quet with the express understanding
that religion and politics would be
lapooed, corporations and manufacture
ers allowed to rest in New Jersey
where they have filled the Golfers Of
that state with respectable sum; Gu
pa ana Porto Rico allowed to fight out
lnelr own freedom and other matters
OF national Importance allowed to rest
| IL gives me great pleasure to be
able to attend this gathering with the
understanding that at one time in 1889
When, oy the grace of God and the
| people who did not vote for Jim Mel
len, that l was allowed to become a
member of the lower branch of TIE
| BODY which makes the laws for this
| great and glorious old Bay state.
AS we look back to the year Of 1870
when the first general court convened
! ana sessions were only held for three
| Gays, and again back to 1871. when
members were allowed to talk only
| three times during the entire sessiun
and If they violated this rule they
| would be fined, we wonder where the
| salaries of Jim Mellen and ex-Senatt r
| Roe would be If they were members of
| that august body.
In the year of 1890 both great par
ties, republican and democratic, were
| equally represented in the legislature.
| and II my memory serves me right
! there was not a more harmonious gath
ering of representatives of dissenting
| political parties than there was in
| that year. OF course we had consid-
| cradle trouble looking over the ground
picking speakers, would-be speakers
| but it all ended in the members acting
in unison. Ward 4 and Worcester can
not be tabooed, and if Worcester couu-
| ty should happen to be lost in the
| election, ward four will ever be heard
from"
Mr.. walkers speech proved to be in
| teresting, and he scored Representa-
| tive Grosvenor of Ohio as the man who
had the faculty of hurting viler
| and most contemplate epithets ct the
democratic members of the House
| while he was in congress than any
| other man he had ever known.
He said in part: Massachusetts
| stands without a peer in the capital Of
the United States, and the county IF
| Worcester furnishes the best that are
now sent to the national capital 70
make the laws In making this re-
| mark. Mr.. Walker turned to Congress-
man Thayer and the congressman
beamed forth a large smile Of graft
tude, which called for applause.
Every Legislature on the face of the
earth today is corrupted, and the
smaller the body the more corrupt It
is. It is easier to buy UP a small BODY
than it is to buy up a large body. #
in the city of Boston there were 2n0
in the upper branch of the city gov
eminent and 200 in the lower brancl &
would not be so easy to railroad bills
through as it is at the present time.
Now when Mr. Thayer got up here
to talk to you he said things abort
politics being tabooed, but ] know he
never could make a speech in his lie
without a political bearing and prob
ably never will.
Representative John J. Myers Of
Cambridge was the next speaker. fol-
lowed by Senator Charles r. Saunders
of Boston and Eben S. Stevens of Dub
ley. Ex-senator Alfred Roe of Wor-
cester was the last speaker and Nj.
Roe's address was listened to with in
terest, as it included matter which
tended to be of a historical nature
concerning both bodies of the state
government.