The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-10
Leaders in the Party Feel Sure
of the Election of Fletcher As
Mayor Of Worcester but the
Voters Must Do Their Share
LAST NIGHT OF CAMPAIGN
DEVELOPS ENTHUSIASM
Large Crowds Of FrenCh-Speak-
ing, Swedish and EngliSh-Born
Citizens Impress Speakers with
the Fact That the fractional
Differences Are Healed

Will it he Edward. F. Fletcher or
Philip ]. O'Connel?
The Republicans claim a sweeping
victory at the polls. They base their
claim on the fact that Worcester is a
Republican city by at least 250O major
ity. They say that the party. is united
and that every Republican who is
loyal will vote his ticket today. There
is something beyond the municipal
election. It. affects the future of the
party it will have it's influence on the
coming congressional election.
IF you don't elect a Republican
mayor this year, a man like Edward
F. Fletcher, how can you expect the
city to ever become Republican again.
1t is a question beyond even the merits
of the respective candidates; it affects
the very existence of the party you
have pledged yourselves to-" Such
were the words last night of one of
the speakers at English Social Club.
And such seems to be the sentiment
of the party leaders. To any one eX-
perienced in political matters indiVid-
ual opinion counts for little Reports
emanating from headquarters of either
party are bound to be one-sided. But
the grounds on which shreWd judges
of the election today base their claims
are these. The city is naturally Repub-
lican. 1t is impossible to say how
strong a majority exists except by
judging by past years. Put it at 1000.
The Republicans realizing that there
were certain divisions in the party
sought a candidate VINO would unite
the factions. To all appearances this
union has been accomplished. There
is little reliance to be placed on getting
any determinate number of the oppo
site party to vote for the other man.
This last has been shown in munich
pal elections in other cities. Strong
claims have been put forth by the
Democrats. They must admit that the
Democrats cannot elect Mayor O'Con-
nell for another term. They must get
enough Republican votes Can they do
it? The Republicans say no, most
emphatically and base their denial on
the house to house, factory to factory
canvass. They feel that such rallies as
were held last night in Ste Famille
Hall with 800 French voters in attend
ance and the rally at English Social
Club with nearly 200 present, mean
something. Such was the talk last night
at headquarters and on the street. The
party leaders do not see how they can
lose with the present aspect of the
case. The Republicans claim from
1000 to 1000 majority More conserva-
tive calculators put the majority at 700
or S00
The Republican City Committee, how
ever, realizes that this is no walk-over
campaign. 1t rests with the Republi
can voters of the city. Will they come
out to manic their party's candidate?
If they do Mr.. Fletcher is surely
elected mayor of Worcester. If enough
Republicans bolt the ticket, Mayor
O'ConneIl will have another term.
Everything is now in readiness for
the balloting. Neither side has left
undone anything which could influence
voters for its own candidate. Republi-
can Headquarters was crowded last
night until a late hour. Reports were
received from the final rallies and
statements were made by ward COM
mittees as to the probable majorities
in the various wards and precincts.
The rumor started by Democrats that
the French voters would bolt the Re
publican ticket seems but an idle ru
NOR. The meeting of French voters
last night is the largest held for years
of that nationality at a municipal cam
paign. The sentiment was enthusiast
tic for Mr. Fletcher. The leading men
of the party were present, and gave
every assurance that the French vot-
erS WOUIQ cast a HedNy DttllOt AOl NHc
Republican ticket.
The Swedish rally at Good Templars'
Hall brought out 70 voters, all Of
whom promised their support to Mr..
Fletcher. At English Social Club, the
sturdy English voters cheered Mr..
Fletcher with an enthusiasm they have
not shown for years.
During the day and evening, men
who have seldom visited headquarters
came I'D to say that they felt the fu-
ture of the party depended upon
sweeping victory this year.
Frank Roe Batchelder, who has
viewed the situation from all sides was
positive last night that Mr.. Fletcher
would win. He said, q feel positive
that the Republicans all over the city
realize that the city and district can
not expect much from the outside, IL
thew cannot hold a naturally Repuoll-
can CITY and district true to its prlncl-
Piles of the past do not make any
statement of how large majority VIII
be polled. This do say, that Repuoh-
cans must realize that this Is no tune
to allow the second-term sentiment 10
override the interests of our party
CONTINUED on Page TwoJ -.