The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-27
j. f. Ryan is Putting
in Hard Work in
Ward Five.
FEELS CONFIDENT OF WINNING.
He Denies That He Said
His Opponent Cannot
Speak English.

Down in ward the people are taking
little stock or interest in the war be-
tween the British and the Beers in
South Africa They have little war
of their own on hand and as day after
day drops out of the calendar and
goes wherever dead days go, the near
ness of election day makes the fight
all the livelier.
John G. Hagberg, present republican
representative to the Legislature, says
positively that he is going to be re-
| turned for another year. All stories OF
detection in his own party, he says, is
the veriest bosh.
| On the other hand, comes James f.
Ryan, the democratic candidate, with
| a statement that he is bound to win.
| He is going to work, however up to
the last minute and leave no stone I'M
turned to achieve victory This is the
| warmest fight for the legislature that
is being waged in any ward, and the
| closeness of the party votes there, ADDS
| flame to the candle of interest.
Mr. Ryan's friends are out In
force with their coats off and are work
| ing with a vim and enthusiasm that
has seldom characterized a ward cam
paign in Worcester. They have figured
! the whole matter out and see victory
for their gallant
YOUNG STANDARD BEARER
already miraged on the political sky.
They maintain and say that the rec
ords at the office of the registrar OF
voters will prove their claim, that Ryan
l placed a great many more names on
the ting list this year than Mr. Has-
berg This will tell for their side in
4 close contest.
There have been reports in circulation
from time to time that the SWedes were
not a solid phalanx for their country
man. Mr.. Hagberg, and. that a consider
able number Of them would cast their
ballots for Mr. Ryan. This the Hag-
berg men. and Mr.. Hagberg himself,
deny. One of his ablest lieutenants,
] Gus Berg, VINO is wide awake ana
indefatigable political worker, has in
vestigated these yarns and pronounces
them fiction.
Another story was going the rounds
yesterday that the English voters did
not intend to stand by Mr.. Hagberg,
owing to racial jealousy. 1t was said
that since ward became a republican
bailiwick
THERE HAS BEEN RIVALRY
between the Swedes and the English,
\ each party bent upon getting the upper
hand. Investigation does not bean out
4 these stories. There are quite num-
Der of Fnglishmen in ward 5, as well
as throughout the city, that are atlilat-
ed with the socialist labor party. and
these will vote for the socialist candi-
date, John T. Youngjohns. That the
socialists will ALLEVIATE any considerable
number of votes from Mr.. Hagberg is
not regarded as a serious factor in the
fight.
AS one English republican said to The
Spy man yesterday: MIR. YounsJohns
physically is not much larger than a
pint of cider, and his vote corresponds
to his size. The English republicans are
firm as the rock of Gibraltar for Eag-
| berg
Certain statements in regard to Mr..
! Ryan's record while a member OF The
city council having got into print. Mr..
| Ryan took occasion yesterday to deny
them. He is not attacking Mr. Hag-
| berg, he said, and intends to fight to Ghe
last on his merits, without resort TO
| questionable political tricks.
Mr. Ryan denies most emphdticaEy
| that he ever cast any aSpersions on MI.
Hagbergs ability to speak the English
| language, and challenges any one to
produce any of his friends that ever
made such a statement. For all MIR.
Ryan knows, he says, Mr.. HagDerg
may be able to
TALK LIKE A CHESTERFIELD,
and write with the charm, grace and
force Of a Macaulay. He may be able
to set Che English language to rluslc,
or conceiving brilliant idea, possess
the rare faculty Of photographing it in
words. Mr.. Ryan says that ne always
entertained the best of feeling and re-
gard for Mr.. Hagberg personally, and
such statements as are attributed tc
him, he classes as political buncombe.
Mr. Ryan says that the Hagberg mer
are attacking his record in the city
council. In reply to his critics, he cites
his work in abating the Blackstone
river nuisance, and his orders for the
filing in of the South Worcester swamp
He points to his votes for steel bridge
to span the lake and for depressed
tracks, as a solution of the grade Cross
ing problem. Lastly, he says that dur
ing the war, records at the city nal
will prove that he introduced an order
that the city grant leaves of absence
without loss of pay, to all employees
that enlisted, guaranteeing them theil
jobs on their return from the front.
There is not yet much activity i'll re-
gard to the municipal election among
the democrats. Names are being sug
gested for aldermen and councilmen
but this can be done by any intelligent
man having a. directory at his elbow
Familiar old-time names mentioned FOL
the upper board are Richard J9yce
John F. Gray and John B. Ratigan
For the council, pretty much every mar
that wears white collar and sports g
crease in his trousers has been named