The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-26
REPRESENTATIVE WALSH'S
MISTAKE

Representative Walsh and the Bos-
ton Democrat, who accompanies him in
his speaking tour of the Second Wor-
cester Senatorial district, make a mis-
take in attempting to assail or belittle
the record of Mr.. Munroe in the legis-
lature. In calling attention to his
record they do him a kindness and help
his candidacy. It fell to the lot of
Mr.. Munroe in the legislature of 1900
10 be entrusted with the most import
ant bill involving Worcester interests
that had appeared in the legislature for
many years, and he did his work with
rare skill, indefatigable energy and
complete success. Several of the most
important concessions of the bill which
the city officials were fearful they
could not obtain, such as the establish
ment of a satisfactory grade at Green
Street and the agreement to include the
cost of the extension of Hermon Street
in the general scheme, were secured by
Mr.. Munroe after a series of long
drawn out personal interviews with the
railroad people. The value of Mr..
Munroe's services to the city, during
his term in the legislature as represen-
tative from Ward 2, can hardly be
overestimated.
The assaults on Mr.. Munroe's record
on other bills made by Mr. Walsh and
his next friend are hardly worthy Of
notice. The bills which he is charged
;,
part introduced by Democrats or So
cialists. The bill for saddling the en-
tire cost of the abolition of grade
crossings upon the railroads, for
whose defeat Mr.. Walsh seems to hold
Mr.. Munroe personally responsible, was
introduced and advocated by Repre-
sentative Carey. the HaverhiIl Social
ist. 1t would have put a stop indefin-
itely to the abolition Of grade crossings
in the state and would have nullified
all the work that the city had done in
getting its grade crossing bill before
the legislature. Mr.. Walsh was the
only member of the house from Wor-
cester County thoughtless enough to
give 1t a vote. The street car vesti-
bule bill came up during Mr.. Munroe' s
first year in the house and was referred
to the next General Court pending an
investigation by the state board of rail-
road commissioners. The next year IT
came up again and was passed and
Mr.. Munroe voted for it.
It is not for US 10 advise a Demo-
cratic candidate for Office, but 1t does
seem that Mr.. Walsh could be much
more profitably employed than in at
tempting to discredit Mr. Munroe's SER
vices in the legislature. He might for
instance put in a little more time ex-
planning to his Democratic hearers why
at a critical time he proved recreant to
the principles of his own party. and TO
the trust imposed in him by his con-
stituents. by opposing a reference to
the people Of the question of building
a subway for street cars in Washing
ton Street, Boston. and why he and his
associates of the Metropolitan affairs
committee gave their support to a bill
50 favorable to the interests of the
Boston Elevated Railway Company and
so regardless of the interests of the
people that Gov. Crane. had TO veto It.
He might also explain to his West
Boylston constituents how it happened
that he failed, even with the advant-
age afforded him by his position on the
Metropolitan affairs committee. to Sc
cure the passage OF the simple bill for
the relief Of the ST. Jean Baptiste So
ciety He might also explain to the Re-
publicans Of the district. whose votes
he is soliciting. if his vote in favor of
the bill to allow liquor saloons to keep
open until midnight was in the interest
Of the people.
Mr. Walsh has a whole lot of other
things to explain before he can reas-
onably hope to represent a Worcester
County district IN the Massachusetts,
senate. We may call attention to
more Of them later.