The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-22
THE "MOBOCRACY,"
Worcester Democrats
Denounce the Will
liams Ring.
NO INTEREST IN CONVENTION.
Skerrett Campaign Against
Mellen Gains
Strength.

Democrats in Worcester are loud in
denunciation of the gang that now con-
trolls the party in Massachusetts.
THE democracy" as one man aptly
put it in conversation with The Spy re-
porter, yesterday, lis now the mob
ocracy. From Russell and Corcoran,
the standard bearers in the halcyon
days of the party, to Paine and Mack, is
a far cry and a long jump. but it is
the logical outcome of the George Fred
Williams policy of rule or ruin"
So little interest did many of the
delegates to the state convention mani
fest in it, that they stayed at home,
pursuing their ordinary round of bust
Eess.
Congressman John R. Thayer, dele
gate-at-large, acted yesterday as
Though he was not aware of the fact
that a convention was in progress in
HostCn. The congressman is not what
is known as an "out-and-outer, that is,
a Chicago platform, 16 to l. William
Jennings Bryan man. From the first,
the congressman said that he did not
app. owe of the arbitrary manner of Sc
Letting national delegates.
The people in the various districts, he
thinks, should have been allowed to say
who should represent them at the ma
tional convention. Instead of this, the
Williams crowd has taken it upon
themselves to name the men that are
m % :,
mocraey in national council for the
naming of a candidate for the presid-
ency.
The congressman is not alone in tScis
opinion. 1t is held by every democrat of
any standing in the city. Even John
O'Gara of Spencer, who is a silver man
of the most radical kind, and who, with
George Fred Williams and Jerry
O'Sullivan, stood by Bryan and the
whole platform at the Chicago conven-
tion in 1885, disapproves of this manner
of electing delegates. Mr.. O'Gara said
before the convention that much as he
would like to attend another national
gathering of his party, he did not care
to go if the people of his district did not
wish him to represent them.
David F. O'Connell, one of the dele
gates that did not take in the conven-
ton, told The Spy reporter that had he
known that there was TO be other than
a cut-and-dried program at the con-
vention he would have attended, but
he did not look forward to anything
like the scenes that took place yester-
day. Mr., O'Connell is faithful party
man, but he, too, believes that the ma
tional delegates should have been elect
ed in. the old way. 1t would have been
more in line with the true spirit of the
democracy.
James F. McGovern, who is a mem
Der of the state central committee. did
not go to the convention, and makes
no bones of his opposition to the high
handed methods of the Williams crowd.
Whether the democratic voters will
approve of the manner in which they
have been deprived of one of their
most cherished privileges, remains to
be seen. From what The Spy reporter
learned last night, it looks as if there
would be crushing answer at the polls.
The voters realize that all who do not
obey the mandate Of George Fred VIII
liams, I'm my temple thou shalt wor-
ship, at my shrine thou shalt bow
down." are doomed to be led by the
ear out of the party.
Paine and Mack are regarded as
the weakest ticket that the Massachu-
sets democracy ever put up. Paine is
not a man of transcendental abilities,
and there is a suspicion that he was
only nominated because of his barrel.
Whether he will be in a touchable mood,
remains to be seen. If he isn't, it will
be a Paine-ful campaign in more ways
than one
James F. Ryan was busy man yes
terday in ward 5. He told The Spy
reporter that he was going to win I'M
less all signs fail With a number of
workers, he is getting unregistered
voters into line, and will see to it
that their names are on the voting list.
Sergt John G. Hagberg, the republic
can candidate. is watching Mr.. Ryan
sharply, and new pickets are being
nailed up in vulnerable places along his
fence.
Members of the Knights of Robert
Emmett said yesterday that the organ
ization did not indorse James II. Mel
len and William I. Mclaughlin for the
Legislature as given out The meet
ing which was supposed to do the in
dorsing was attended by a small mi
nority of the members, and though
speeches were made for the two candi-
dates who are members of the order,
no formal action was taken committing
the knights to their support.
Reports received by the Skerrett T3-l-
paign committee last night were IF a
nature to greatly encourage the young
candidate who is opposing James III.
MelIen for the caucns nomination fer
to the legislature. Mr.
Skerrett is in the fight in person, and
has seen a vast number OF voters since
the opening of the campaign. Promin-
emit Hebrews gave it out last night that
it was likely that Mr.. Skerrett would
be Endorsed at the meeting of the MAJ
cabees, Sunday night.
Mr.. Melen is out campaigning. too. |
but owing to the state convention he |
was not in personal command yesterday
Dc his forces. Ills liteutenants, how |
ever, acting under his instructions |
we're busy electioneering.
The name of Nicholas j. Mooney has
been mentioned for the county CONF
and took well last night. |
Mr.. Mooney is an aggressive, lifelong |
democrat and has rendered his party |
woman service in years gone by. He |
suggested yesterday that minority ran-
should prevail on the coun- |
~ board as well as in the board OF al |
lermen.
Most Of the Worcester delegates that
attended the democratic state conven |
ion returned home this morning at |
$50 o'clock, tired in body and disgust |
ID in spirit with the turn of events at |
he convention. James II. Mellen and |
Iohn O'Gara, who were chosen to go to |
he democratic national convention as