The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-13
COMMENTS ON
WORCESTER ELECTION

In Worcester there was so much in
terest in the result that a very heavy
poll was elected 1t will be remem-
bered that a year ago the Republican
candidate, Mr. Lytle, failed of election,
although the city is normally Republi-
can, On a heavy vote it should give
the Republican ticket a plurality of
$500, yet the Democratic candidate,
young Mr.. O'COnnell succeeded in ty-
ing his opponents and compelling a
second election to be held. Owing to
the delays incident to judicial proce
dure the second election was not held
till February of the present year, when
O'Connell won by a plurality of 511.
This fall Mr.. O'COnnen was again the
Democratic candidate and received the
support of hundreds Of Republicans,
but the Republican candidate, Edward
F. Fletcher, shoe manufacturer, was
elected by a plurality of 1893. So rosy
were the prospects of Mayor O'Con-
nelIs election that when Mr.. Fletcher
accepted the nomination it was thought
he was doomed to defeat. AS it is he
can congratulate himself on beating a
popular executive who has confessed
~ given the city a good administration,
while Mayor O'COnnell, though defeat
ed, has the satisfaction of knowing that
he almost won in a strongly Republ-
can city. The Spy Republican pa
per, says:
His vote indicated the non-partisan
feeling among Republicans. In a re-
markably heavy vote the city was al
most evenly divided. Considering that
the normal party majority with a vote
of this size is $500, the O'COnneI adj
ministratiOn can count the vote as an
Endorsement"
The growth of an independent spirit
in municipal politics is commendable
in Worcester, as observation-disclosures
dence Journal.
The Republicans may congratulate
themselves upon having found a Crumb
of comfort in the city of Worcester at
last. Their previous misfOrtunes had
been constant and heavy there Dem
Ocratic congressman for two terms had
been a sufficient burden put upon them.
A Democratic mayor elected, last year,
seemed really like ''crOwdng the
mourners," as the phrase is. But they
threw off this latter load on Tuesday.
They defeated the Democratic mayor
as candidate for reelection This
not by a very large majority, it is
true; but it was enough for their pur-
pose, and they could say that neither
had the Democratic majOrities against
them been large ones. 1t has led them
to hope that the time has come when
w OfCeSleT IS taxing the uTSL step to-
ward its return to its normal condi-
ton in politics.-Boston Herald.
Young Mayor O'Connell of Worcester.
is not the only candidate for re-elec-
ton who went down largely because
his adversaries stopped quarrelling
with each other. We have got another
example of that kind Of a fate right
here under our own vine and fig tree
Boston Herald
If there were any general movement
towards democracy in Massachusetts
it should nave appeared in Worcester.
In that city the present Democratic
mayor had won a handsome record for
himself in his sound and able manage
ment Of municipal affairs. Worcester,
however is nOminally Republican, Just
as Boston is nominally Democratic
The Republicans had a good clean can
didate and won on party vote, just
as they won in most of the others of
the II cities where elections were held
outside of Boston. A review of the re-
suits in those cities show no tidal
wave of Democracy. On the contrary,
considering the weather of Tuesday
the Republicans seem TO have held
their own fairly well. throughout the
onwealth.-BOst0n Advertiser.
7-DAY WASHINGTON TOURS. S25.
TriOpra rfgs Of the series of tOlrs Pos