The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-18
A BUSY SABBATH,
Democratic Leg,isla-
tive Candidates Do
Much Work.
SKERRETT'S FRIENDS MEET.
Dowd Withdraws From tie
ontest in Ward
Five.
SKERRETT'S FRIENDS MEET.

The campaign committee that is look
ing after the interests of Mark N. Skier
rett, who is running for the legislature
in ward 4 against Representative Jas.
H. Mellen, had an important meeting,
yesterday, at the Commonwealth Ho-
tel. There were about 50 earnest work
ers present, and great enthusiasm was
shown for the candidacy of Mr.. Skier
rett. Mr.. Skerrett dropped in during
the progress of the meeting, and was
greeted like a conquering hero
The gentlemen present represented
every section of the ward, and the re-
ports they submitted of the outlook
were very gratifying to Mr.. Skerrett
His campaign has thus far been con-
Quoted quietly and without the assist
ance of torchlight PROFESSIONS brass
bands or curbstone button-holing.
After the meeting, he told The Spy
reporter that he intended to make it
a square out-from- the-shoulder fight,
with face to the foe and bridges cut
| behind him
| The campaign committee is divided
into four smaller committees, each
charged with looking after Mr.. Skier
rett's fences in the four precincts of the
ward. Mr.. Skerrett's nomination pa
pers were shown to those present and
| 1t was remarked that the array of
names afflxed proves the quality of the
men that are behind him
| Precinct 4 in the island district. it
was said, was overwhelmingly for Skier
rett
Reports having been circulated to the
effect that Representative Mellen had
the Hebrew vote almost solid was de-
MED at the meeting yesterday. It was
maintained that canvass Of the He
brew voters proved that there was a
remarkably friendly feeling toward Mr..
| Skerrett. and that he was sure to draw
a goodly number of his votes from
them. The same was true, according
to other reports, in regard to the Swe-
dish and French voters.
The ward voting lists were spread
out and every voter who is supposed
to be doubtful in his support, was care
fully checked off. These men will be
seen individually this week. Mr.. Skier
| rett's leave of absence begins Wednes-
day and he will, f1guratively speaking,
| take on his coat, and enter the arena
in person. 1t win be a house to house
canvass up to the day of election
| 1t having been found that Father Ma
| thew hall cannot be engaged for the
caucus, John H. Meagher, chairman of
the democratic city committee, will pc
tition the board of aldermen tonight to
have the place of caucus changed to
| Ste. Famille hall at Vernon square
| Representative Mellen and his lieu
tenants were busy yesterday, too, and
the work of campaign was vigorously
| prosecuted. Mr.. Mellen is taking no
| chances, and intends to keep working
up to the last minute.
The political situation in ward is
| changed. Saturday night friends of
| Thomas e. Dowd, the Trumbull square
| tea merchant, believed that he could be
induced to run as the democratic can
| didate in opposition to Sergt. John c.
| Hagberg, the republican representa-
tive of the ward, but after carefully
weighing every point of the case yes
terday, Mr.. Dowd formally announced
| that he could not enter the contest.
This step was taken only after con-
| ference with his closest friends and
| Councilman James F. Ryan.
This leaves Mr.. Ryan no alternative
but to take up the gauntlet and give
the gallant and popular sergeant bat-i
tie. Rather than allow the nominal
| ton to go by default, Mr.. Ryan will
accept the nomination and do all that
| he can to win back the ward to the
democracy. In this he will have the
support of the democratic city COM
| mittee, Mr.. Dowd, Alderman James F.
Carberry, Councilman James F. Tim
| on, Michael A. -ORourke and every
leading democrat in the ward. Mr.. Ry-
an said yesterday that he would prefer
to have Mr.. Dowd go into the fight, but
on the latter's refusal, he consented to
enter it himself.
In speaking of the situation with The
| Spy reporter last night. Mr.. Dowd said
that were it not for business considera-
tionS he would have entered the con-
| test. His business, however will not
permit of his doing any political work
| this year, at least, and he expressed
| pleasure at Mr.. Ryan's acceptance of
the situation and his consenting to
run. He will do all that lies within his
| power, he said, to make his canvass a
success.
Sunday was a busy day with Peter
F. Sullivan and w. I. Mclaughlin who
! are both out to win in the legislative
fight in ward 8. With their lieutenants
they were iaround the ward. and inter-
viewed a battalion of voters To The
Spy reporter each expressed confidence
in the final result
There was a funny incident down at
Vernon square yesterday afternoon. A
small crowd had collected and it was
Mellen intend to flood the ward with
literature. One old fellow who heard Z
picked up his ears and said: IF that's
the case I'll have Mr.. Mellen send me
a copy of Goldsmiths poems, and Mr.
Skerrett copy of Shakespeare