The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-29
JIM'S CLOSE CALL.
Third Count in Ward
4 Gives Mellen a
Majority Of -.
THE LARGEST CAUCUS EVER HELD
Another Recount Will Be
Asked for---Quiet Times
in Other Wards.

in Other Wards.
Representative James H. Mellen came
within al ace last night of going down
in history with Napoleon. When the
final result was announced at the ward
4 caucus. the astute and redoubtable
James was within 20 minutes Of Water
loo.
Mark N. Skerrett, his opponent for
the representative nomination, made
the most remarkable run for caucus
nomination ever made in this city, cir :
cumstances and conditions considered.
There was Mr.. Mellen, an old war
horse of the ward, with a glad-hand &C
quaintance with every man, young and
old, in the ward entitled to a vote. Mr..
Skerrett young man under 80 years
of age, without political training, and
making mis- first appearance as a candi-
date for elective office, gave him 50
close a rub that from now until cleo
ton day, Mr. Mellen will occasionally
shiXer al the recollection of his narrow
escape from what politicians call rele-
cation to the rear.
The total vote was 1859. OF this num-
Der Mr. Mellen received $50, Mr.. Skier
rett 574, with nine blanks.
In the other wards there were no
contests III the caucuses. In ward S, as
The Spy announced weeks ago, Peter
F. Sullivan let the caucus go by de-
fault so that he might do battle with
Representative w. 1. Mclaughlin az the
polls.
The interest in ward centered around
the fact that James F. Ryan, at present
a councilman in this city, is endeavor-
ing tc defeat Sergt. John G. HagbeTg,
and thereby win back ward to the
ranks of the democracy. Time was
when ward was the banner democratic
ware, and Mr.. Ryan says it can again
be made so. The nominations in the
other wards We're simply a matter Of
form. The candidates were put up with
out the remotest idea in the world
that there was a chance of their be-
coming victorious.
The story of the night in the different
wards follows:-
WARD ONE.
The ward / caucus lasted about an
hour. During this time Ii votes were
cast, all for Charles H. Writer, who
stands as the democratic nominee for
representative from the 18th district.
WARD TWO.
Ward 2 caucus was to have been held
in Burrwood hall on Belmont street, but
owing to the non appearance of voter
authorized to call the meeting to order
the caucus went by default At 7.30
O. clock the candidate for nomination, M.
J. P. McCafferty a policeman and two
voters were present.
The quartet sat around the stove for
a while thinking. There wasn't any fire
in the stove, but that didn't seem to
make any difference. About o'clock
the ranks were swelled by two report
ers and another voter.
In a short time everybody left the
place. the policeman Shouldering the
unopened boxes containing the ballots
and voting lists, and the janitor put out
the lights.
WARD THREE.
Ward caucus was called to order by
Warden John D. Driscoll, and in the
absence of the regular clerk John J.
McCarry was appointed by the warden.
The regular inspectors were not pres
ent and the following were appointed,
Michael Early, James M. Meagher and
Thomas F. O'Donovan. The polls were
opened on time and closed at sos. The
total number of votes cast was 1888, and
all were for William 1. Mclaughlin,
with the exception of one for James H.
Mellen and a couple which were thrown
out
WARD FOUR.
Ward four has seen some pretty big
but never a one that sur
passed that of last night. 1t was a
battle royal and from start to finish
1t was evident that the winning can
didate would have no easy task on his
hands.
James H. Mellen, who has been
member of the legislature off and on
since 1877, knew that he had the fight
of his life to win out against Mark N.
Skerrett, the young lawyer, who this
year made his debut in politics, and he
left no stone unturned to achieve vic
tory. He wanted the nomination this
year especially more than a small boy
wants pair of skates when the ice
is good and hard and he worked to
win the nomination at all hazards.
1t was certain that the caucus was
to be phenomenally large one, and
for this reason Ste. Famille Hall was
designatTd. To accommodate the vot-
ers the polls were opened at 4 o'clock
in the afternoon and kept open until
shortly after III in the evening. Almost
up to the time that the last ballot was
cast there was a constant stream of
people in line waiting an opportunity
to go into executive session with the<n-
selves and their consciences in one of
the Australian ballot booths.
1t was a record breaker and Mr.
Melen realized the fact that he was
up against bigger game than he ever
met in his life before. He didn't be-
little the strength of Mr.. Skerrett for
a minute, and his lieutenants were con-
stantly on the jump going after voters
supposed to be favorable to his cam
didacy.
The caucus began business with
Councilman Peter S. Gallagher as war
den, Martin F. Mcnamara as clerk and
Richard Kerwick, Walter Henry
Thomas Stevenson, George Carpenter
and John H. Courtenay as inspectors.
The caucus was free from brawls of
the partisans for either side. and to the
last the contest was conducted openly
and above board 1t was gent1emanly
and fair in every way
There were three counts. The first
resulted in $50 for Melen to 564 for
Skerrett; the second stood Gil to $40 re-
spectively, while the third and final
vote. was;-
Whole number of votes cast,...... 1859
Necessary for a choice. .............. bSb
James II. Mellen had........... $50
Mark N. Skerrett had, 574
thanks .......................
Majority for Mellen........,.. IL
Mr. Mellen was greeted with chears NV