The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-23
FUN AHEAD
Clinton Politics Are
Warming Up.
THE BUSINESS MEN,
Newspaper Men Defended
by Local Resident.

Cnnton, Feb. 22.-The political at
mosphere is thickening, and the row
promises to begin. The work OF max
ing voters will be finished Saturday. A
large number of prospective voters
who were not on hand in time to be
naturalized in the district court, will
go TO Fitchburg and be naturalized
there. BY Friday, at 10 o'clock, all
nominations viii be made and the
work of marshaling the clans will be
= begun in earnest.
There IS an absence of signs by which
to judge which way promise of victory
leans Democrats won last year in a
landslide but there was twice as much
harmony to the square inch in the par
ty as there is today. On the other
hand, it is believed that there has been
a large gain in the democratic popula-
ton.
The socialist labor party will caucus
IN BiGeloW han tomorrow night. The
section Will nominate a full ticket, with
the exception of one or two compare
lively important places. How large an
influence it will exert in local politics
(.
1t is an unsolved riddle In the fall the
party cast more than 200 votes. Doubt
is expressed that it will pole so large a
number In a town election. Secretary
Mcdonald claims q hundred members
Tor The section, and is positive that
that number will vote the ticket. He
claims to be able to poll total vote Of
rs. 1t is as certain as anything can
be that two IN three of these votes will
be from normal democratic strength.
The republicans will nominate Fri
day night. Democratic nominations
will be made the same evening. The
republicans nominate in full caucus in
Bigelow hall, and democrats by dele
gates in Music hall.
1t appears to be we'll settled that it
will be J. L. Harrity against William
Rodger for selectman. The fight will
be to elect to this office, for it gives
control of the board of selectmen and
power Of life and death over liquor Ii
censes.
The only interest in the election is
the liquor interest. There is no civil
service in licenses to sell liquor When
democrats win, they kick out repub-
lican licensees-did do so last year. Re
publicans will administer the same
medicine this year if they win. The
licensed dealers are a compact and
powerful force who will strain every
nerve and spend much money rather
than be thrust from business that is
profitable in spite of a $500 license
One or two will fight with desperation,
because, having gone into the business
with small capital and fitted up bars
at considerable expense, they do not
stand on the profit side, and can i'll af-
ford to be pushed out now.
Some licenses that were not granted
last year are issues this year. Es-
pecially is this true in the case of
James Eustace.
Eustace is determined to be in the
game this year. He has money,
pluck and determination and will
spend all freely.
1t has been street talk that he would
support the republican ticket. 1t is
today confidently asserted that he will
work hard for JosEph E. Harrity.
Harrity has the reputation of being
the best vote getter in the democratic
party.
S. Ives Wallace, chairman of the re-
publican town committee, has out
lined the republican policy. It is sim
ply to nominate good men, without re-
gard to cliques, and let them win on
their merit 1t is practicable for the
republicans to do this, because the
party IS always free from excessive
rivalries for office and is not compi-
Gated to large extent with the license
question, 1t is certain that the caucus
Friday will nominate a business mems
ticket from start to finish.
Washington's birthday was generally
observed here. The stores closed at
noon and the mills were shut down. A
large crowd went to the theatre i'm the
afternoon, and about 1900 people in the
evening.
A poverty dance in Turner Hall this
evening brought many young people
together The costumes We're contrived
with great skill.
In series of so games Truant officer
Mccartney has earned the title of chess
champion of Clinton. He has defeated
Walcott and Kedian. Mr.. Mccartney
viii go 10 Leominster SATURDAY. evening
10 play the checker experts there. He
will be accompanied by several local
players.
The masquerade Of the Clinton Turn
Nerein, in the Nerein Hall, last night
was a splendid success. The town off i
cials came as spectators, and many
persons participated in the merry
making. Throngs of young people
came in costume. and there We're guests
from Fitchburg, Worcester, Manchester
IN. h, Webster and Lawrence.
Among the officials present were
Town Treasurer Joseph +. Harrlty Sc
lectmen Philip Philbin. Herman Richter
ana Charles Shedd Chief Engineer
Lawrence Fury and Town Accountant
Charles II Geutsch.
The grand promenade started at 8. 30
o'clock, led by Floor Director Herman
Leucht and Miss Emma Hillner one Of