The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-11
GOOD GOVERNMENT.
Richard H. Mooney Addresses Large
Audience at Quinsieamond.

Audience at Quinsieamond.
An audience which filed the chapel Of
Quinsigamond Baptist church last
evening listened to a talk by Richard
H. Mooney, on the subject of good gov
eminent. Rev. j. H. Bourne presided at
the meeting.
Mr.. Mooney said that the question of
good government as well as the ques-
ton of good living should demand our
constant effort. We should take more
interest in the things around us. We
should pay more attention to the record,
the ability and the character of men
seeking our votes. We should feel our
duties and obligations as citizens. We
should have a sense of personal respon-
sibility, for honesty, integrity, efficien-
cy, fairness and straightforwardness in
the administration of municipal gov
eminent
The Indifference of good citizens to
the management of city affairs is
fraught with danger. The municipality,
which is a large corporation, does not
want smart, clever. tricky men in any
office Of trust or emolument.
The citizens at large want and de-
mand that all business of the city shall
be done in an open manner and accord
ing to prescribed rules. They demand
that the humblest citizen shall be treat
ed with fairness in the presentation of
his business to his servants. The people
do not admire smart tricks played by
their servants upon themselves.
Mr.. Mooney spoke at length on taxes,
sidewalks, roads, sewer, water, proper
lighting of streets, fire protection, police
protection, parks and a system of
branch libraries.
He spoke of temperance as a funda-
mental virtue of a solid Christian char
acter. Somebody is blameable for the
approaching water famine. Think of
shops shutting up for want of water
power.
Here we have been for years grow
ing at an unprecedented rate in pop
ulation, and making comparatively no
provision for sufficient supply of pure
water. Boston comes right up to our
doors at Clinton and West Boylston
and takes the supply we should have.
Well never miss the water till the res
ervoir runs dry. Men should be in Of
fee Who now have foresight to prevent
these things.
In speaking of the fire department
work, and the work of the police de-
partment Mr.. Mooney said these men
should under proper restrictions be
pensioned Public service is different
from private service in many ways. All
of this tends to a larger philanthropy,
greater cooperation among men, a
greater sympathy and a better govern
ment.
Now in regard to our grade cross
ings, what are we doing? Does it con-
Germ us2 Those who are attending to
our government for us have a scheme
Of subterranean telescopes for you and
me to travel through day or night In
the Union station there will be system
of underground avenues, staircases and
labyrinths for the people to NOPE
through. What is to become of your
railroads here?
Nothing; because you sit still and
are Indifferent. There was a plan pro-
posed including the avoiding of grade
crossings in Quinsigamond, but it is
shelved. New light has been thrown on
the screen. Look at the valuable priv
ileges given to the electric roads. The
best ana most central land in the city
is given up that other people may be-
come rich These corporations do not
care for us. Corporations have no
souls. Suppose we do little thinking.
The great problem today is that OF
municipal government The men in
any government will seldom or ever
raise it or better it. Reforms must
come from the people. Municipal gov
eminent must be separated from ma
tional politics. The best men must be
compelled to stand for public office.
The people will elect them.