The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-17
SAUNDERS IN
THE FRONT ROW
ccontieued from Page one.)

will withdraw In fact, the anti-Myers
element recognizes that the danger of
the whole situation from their stand
point is that Bennett will stay in the
contest so long as to upset any chance
OF compromise.
The qualifications of Willard Howl
and for speaker are generally recog-
nized. One misfortune, impairment of
vision, which secures him great SYM
pathy, has prevented his being an ac-
tive candidate for the position. and it
has been supposed that this would
prevent his entertaining the idea of be-
coming even compromise candidate
This may still be the case, but never
theless the statement that he win be
comes from a Myers source, and is
given for what it is worth.
Mr.. Reeds friends sent out state
ment today, that the result of the con-
ference has proved that the contest is
a close one. and that no candidate is
far in the lead. They claim that Mr..
Reeds name is not presented for the
sake of defeating any candidate, and
that his skill as parliamentarian fits
him for the position of speaker; and
that he is the choice of a good percent
age of the 100 members opposed to Mr.
Myers on various grounds. Mr.. Reed
is making fair fight, but it is tolerably
evident that he is strongly opposed by
various interests. Mr.. Saunders and
Mr.. Bennett, each feel the same oppo-
sition. There is nothing to show that
Mr.. Myers does.
The Haverhill gas fight seems likely
to become a factor in legislation this
year. There have been lengthy hear
ings before the gas and electric light
commission during the week, and
Mayor Chase of Haverhill has had the
aid of G. w. Anderson in his effort to
get cheaper gas, and incidentally to
show up the gas operations in his town.
Mr.. Anderson asked the commissioners
TO bring the matter before the general
court. This is equivalent to saying
that If the commissioners do not
Mayor Chase will. The commission
ers will probably finish their annual
report to the Legislature before taking
any action on Mayor Chase's petition.
The turnover on Boston politics has
been a great topic Of conversation this
week, until the fin2 ucial troubles came.
There is good deal of comment on
the defeat of the effort to put down
tracks on fremont street. 1t was be-
1leVed that such inducements had been
brought to bear on the democratic lead
ers that the word would go out to the
faithful TO vote yes, and carry things.
Evidently some plan miscarried, and in
South Boston, for instance, the fact
was particularly manifest 1t was
also noticeable that in South Boston
the Hart vote was bigger than many
expected. Many attribute Harris sue
cess to the track issue. If so. it was
funny, for Hart was in favor of tracks
on fremont street, unless he has
changed his mind Other reasons
given for Harris success are the MUIR
ply detection which carried two wards
in Charlestown for Hart; the fact that
the Back Bay democrats had no use
for an Irish American; that the Clan
na-Gael would not forgive Collins for
taking off his hat to the queen; that
the republican vote, particularly in
Dorchester and other strong republican
districts, came out; and to the fact that
in many of the city departments-par
ticularly in the street and water de-
partments-many influential old fell
lows Of democratic procltvities had
kindly remembrance Of the days when
Hart was mayor before and so dropped
a secret vote for him.
At oil events, there were many men
very devoutly thankful when they