The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-27
BARR WILL ACCEPT,
10 Run for Alderman on
the Golden Age
Issue.


nomination of the socialist branch
known as social democrats and will run
for aldermanic honors.
This is the same party that has de-
Veloped such unusual strength in Ha-
Verhill and is in no way connected with
the dissensions in the socialist-labor
factions. His letter to the branch fol-
lows:
Comrades-In accepting the nomination
rendered me as candidate for the board
OF aldermen, It Is fitting that | should re-
VIEW briefly the statement adopted as a
platform by the local branch of the social
democratic party
Ihat the expression, common sense"
mas Deen nailed at the masthead is graft
! Tying to me, since during NV experience
l have seen the cause of socialism suffer
! much through the lack of that element
Inc Endorsement of the demands of our
| national party for the collective owner
! SNIP OF the means of production and dis
lrlDution is foregone conclusion, since
through that course alone can the people
be made secure in the opportunity to labor
| ana receive in return the full value of
their products
The need of public ownership of public
utilities is brought home to us by the
knowledge that franchises are being given
to corporations which evade the law, use
their power for political corruption and
charge for very Indifferent service dou-
Bile what first-class service would cost. If
operated by the city.
We should not forget when we pay 81
for ton of stove coal that the men who
BUY powder and picks and who mine that
coal receive less than 81 per ton and if
we buy chestnut or pea coal we should
remember that for this the miners receive
not one cent, and that every dollar paid
over and above the actual cost of freight
and carriage is a gift to a non-producing
class-a gift that might be saved to the
people by collective ownership.
Equalization of assessment. SO long
as the present system stands and public
expenses must be met by taxing property
1t is manitestly unfair that the holders of
large properties should be assessed upon
only one-eighth to one-ffth of the value
of such holdings, while the possessor of
an humble home is assessed upon one-half
or the full appraised value of his prop
erty.
The condition of our highways is a basis
for common scandal and the extension of
Commercial street for real estate boom
purposes might well have been deferred
until Shrewsbury street had been made
wide enough for the safety of the traffic
which it has to accommodate, and the
speedway for the pleasure of horsemen
could wait until Gardner street had been
transformed from lake into thorough
fare.
The protection of motormen by the use
of Vestibules is even more a matter of
protection for passengers through in
creased efficiency, and should therefore be
enforced.
Day labor should replace the contract
system upon public works, in order that
any benefits derived go direct to the work.
ers.
Inasmuch as many people are constant
ly unemployed, a reduction of the work
ing day would serve to give more general
employment and also afford more time
for rest and self-improvement. The de-
mand for an eight-hour working day is
both practical and necessary.
The giving of preference in appointment
of citizens would encourage permanence
of residence and discourage the introduce
ton of floating laborers for the purpose of
wages and defeating efforts for
improved conditions by and for the work.
ers.
l realize that 50 per day is an insufficient
sum for the proper support of a family,
and approve of the demand chiefly for its
moral effect 1t is a conservative demand,
and as long as we are able to support
in idleness we can certainly
pay the laborers this modest pittance.
A public employment bureau is neces-
sity, to do away with the frauds and pro-
curesses who prey upon the poverty and
virtue of the unemployed.
Believing that a sound body is essential
to well balanced mind, and that
knowledge OF constructive ETIS Is llSep-
arabic from the proper application of the
courses of study, the introduce
ton of manual training and physical cul-
ture in our public schools appears advisa-
BILE.
The enforcement of sanitary laws, which
would result in closing unhealthy dwell
ings, regulate the disposal of garbage and
abolish the stagnant swamp holes and
cesspools in the districts populated by the
poorer people, would go far to prevent
disease and make our city more desira
BILE place to live in. Such laws should be
rigidly.
The right of initiation is need that is
sorely felt, now that our city fathers have
denied us the privilege of deciding for
ourselves upon matters referred to us by
the state legislature, and until such power
is secured we will continue to be slaves to
our servants.
The application of common sense to the
of our public affairs in all
cases and upon all questions, of whatever
character. and an administration of af-
fairs that shall conserve the interests of
the community faithfully and impartially,
cannot fail to coincide with the foregoing
declarations in spirit at least, and upon
this presentation ! am content to rest our
case before the bar of public opinion and
the voters of Worcester
Addison w Barr.