The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-25

ing him in his fight for the Legislature
in ward 4, for reasons that can be
guessed, if they are not obvious.
Mellen's personal appearance seems
to have changed with his change of
front. He now looks as slick as Mark
Hanna, and an octopus would recognize
him as a long-lost brother as soon as 1t
saw him.
It isn't at all strange that octopuses
have cottoned to Mellen. He has shown
wonderful financial ability. Anyone
who could go to the legislature for or
10 sessions at a salary of $3.50 year,
and so invest his Bryan dollars that
the sum Mellen's friends say he is
worth, shows financial ability of an ex-
traordinary kind. No wonder the cor
porations consider him as one of them.
They do well when they can make
their investments pay 5 or 6 per cent.
But they are obliged to take off their
hats to a man who can make his pay at
the rate of about thousand per cent.
There are several great questions to
come before the next legislature with
which Mellen wishes to grapple. One
is the lease Of the Boston & Albany
road, and another is the grade crossing
matter. In former years Mellen might
have been against the corporations, but
linasmuch as he is now an octopus him.
with the corporations. His change of
front was conspicuous in the last legis-
lature, when he appeared as champion
of the West End road in it's effort to
secure legislation which would enable
lit to replace it's tracks on fremont
street and endanger the lives OF people
| in that crowded thoroughfare. Up to
that time Mellen had been an opponent
of the West End, whether it was right
or wrong.
] Mellens friends claim that his desire
to assist corporations in the next legis-
lature is not all that actuates him in
his present fight to return to the house.
They say that since he has Joined the
octopus lodge he feels that he has be-
come too large for small politics, and
| that he will drop them and go into ma
tional politics next year, where there is
broad field for Napoleons of finance.
! II he is shut out of the next session OF
the legislature it will make his chances
| of starting In national politics some
what doubtful 1t will also prevent him
from taking 33d degree in the octopus
lodge. Hence the effort of his life in
ward 4.
| Chairman John H. Meagher OF tho
citv committee will open democratic
Headquarters In room Z, 3S Front street.
TODAY. Walter Henry has been appoir (
! ed headquarters clerk, and will DE or
duty daily to assist in the work of nat.
uraiization, getting names on the vot.
| ing list, and to furnish information tx
all callers.
Yesterday. as usual, was taken al
vantage Of by the democratic candi.
dates for the legislature, and they were
out electioneering. 1t was a house K
house canvass and the candidate:
talked with the voters in their homes.
THE feature of the day was the couI
d'etat that the supporters of Mark N
Skcrrett played on James H. Mellen II
WARD 4. Mr.. Mehen owns building @
vernon square that is popularity knowr
In the neighborhood as Hotel de Bull
frog. On that side facing the square !:
huge billboard, maintained by thu
| Wilton Bill Posting company, under s
contract with Mr.. Mellen.
Without consulting Mr. Skerrett, som,
Of his supporters, with grim sense o.
humor, conceived the idea Of placardi,G
the board with posters calling upon tht
voters Of ward to relegate James II