The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-08
Factions Are Still Apart on
City Offices.


for the offices which are not yet filled
as they were before going into the
meeting last week.
In the contest for street commission
er there is no telling who will be chosen
The Prior and Stone factions each
claim they have a majority. The for
mer figure mainly on the republican
vote. while the Stone men reckon the
| democrats in their estimates.
| Instead of approaching an agreement
| on the assessor contest, the republicans
have drifted apart and are further
| away than they were before the first
ballot was taken in the common council
| last Monday evening. Then there was
| at least prospect of a compromise. Now
that appears hardly possible There are
rumors of bitter feeling which was en-
gendered after the caucus Monday eve
ming during a recess of the common
council, which will prevent the support
erS of either Burton or Lewis from
going over to the other
| Rut it is the contest for street COM
missioner which attracts the great at
tentlon. A new rumor was introduced
| into the contest yesterday. 1t was
that the contest will be between Prior
and Stone. and there is no possibility
of anybody else being considered. Since
| the joint convention, the name of ex-
Alderman Charles NJ, Hildreth has been
freely mentioned. 1t was said in city
| hall circles yesterday, that Mr.. Hill
| friend Of Street Commissioner Prior,
in which he stated over his signature
that he would not accept the Office If
elected to it without opposition.
Spy man asked Mr.. Hildreth if ha
had sent such a letter. He denied 1t
| instantly. He said he desired to say
nothing in regard TO the contest except
| to repeat what he has said many times
privately and publicly, that he has done
nothing toward securing the Office, and
is not a candidate.
Does that mean Mr.. Hildreth?'
| asked The Spy man, that you would
refuse the office if you were elected to
| it?"
That is something on which do not
wish to make any statement" was the
reply of Mr.. Hildreth.
Then, If you should be elected, you
would not refuse to accept the posi-
tion?' persisted The Spy man
Il have not given that contingency
any thought" replied Mr.. Hildreth,
"and am not prepared to say whether
or not l would accept. You can say
from me that | am not a. candidate for
the office"
prominently connected with the office
as compromise candidate, that men,
bers of the city council are in doubt
regarding his position. Every member
Is satisfied that he has not turned his
hand over to try for the position and
that he does not consider himself a
candidate for the place in the light
of working to secure votes. Yet, he
appears to have great strength in the
city council for street commissioner,
regardless Of his statement. He is
suggested as a compromise candidate,
and his name may be used, whether he
consents to it or not There are some
members Of the city council who think
his position in keeping his hands off
during the struggle, makes him a
stronger man than if he had his coat
off. They say he may be voted for,
and think he will hardly refuse the
| position If he is elected, especially as
he cannot be accused Of double deal
| ing.
Another rumor which gained ground
yesterday was that Burt S. Prior, as
sistant street commissioner will resign
| that office, regardless of the outcome
of the contest tomorrow evening. That
rumor is probably as groundless as
many others which have been circu-
lated during the campaign.
| Only d few days ago Street Com
missioner Prior said he did not see
| that his brother was called on to re-
sign from an office to which he was
| elected by the city council, and he I'M
! doubtedly voiced the sentiments of his
assistant. AS far as the democrats
are concerned there is no trade which
| they can make in the contest for the
Office now.
! Among members of the city council
and others directly interested m mu-
nicipal affairs there is considerable
| guessing on the outcome, but it is moth
ing more than guesswork. The result
| is even more uncertain than it was
| Monday evening. Street Commissioner
| Prior had such assurance from repub-
| lican members of the city council be-
fore the last meeting that he was as
| sure of election as anybody could be-
His friends hardly took Stones candl-
dacy as serious. The latter and his
friends had just the same confidence
and thanks to the united stand of
the democrats, their confidence was not
betrayed. There is hardly the same con-
i fidence in either camp at present, al
| though each processes to be absolutely
certain. Yet the amount of work
which is being done, shows that neither
is too certain. That a dark horse can
didate may be a factor in the race is
bugaboo to both sides.
The Prior forces have left no stone
unturned to unity the republicans, and
say they have promises that the repub-
lican members will vote practically as
unit They have been figuring on a
few democratic votes if the democrats
do not unite because they think they
have another vision.
Incidentally, it might be mentioned
that when the democrats had anything
in sight, it has been a Naturalization.
The Prior men claim they are not re-
sponsib!e for any disappointment of
the democrats because they entered
| into no trade with the minority. For
that reason, they feel if the democrats
are allowed to make individual choice
the present street commissioner will
get some of their votes
On the other hand, the Stone men
vow they can hold the republican votes
they received at the last meeting. They
bank on getting the full democratic
vote even if the Stone men neglecre /
to deliver the goods in the trade last
Monday Democratic members of the
| city council have assured the Stone
supporters that it would pe impossible
TO unite the minority for Prior and
the minority, chuckling over it's. ac-
complishments of last Monday, is re-
solved to enter the joint convention a
unit.
For several days people not on the
the ground floor wondered whether the
republican members intended to call a
caucus to settle the assessorship con-
test before entering the council cham
Der No effort was made by any mem
Der of the majority faction to have a
caucus called, and it is whispered that
a feeling of bitterness created at the
caucus Monday evening will prevent
anything like compromise on the can
didates already in the field. The eau
Gus was held during a recess of the