The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-23

lie censor. You may search the ed1-
torial columns of the press of Worces-
| ter from the time when Mr. O'Connell
took office In February last until to-
day and you cannot find one word OF
criticism upon any one of his PUBIC
acts. On the contrary in many cases
his administration has received much
! favorable comment, not only from the
press of worcester, but also from many
| of the most substantial newspapers IN
Massachusetts.
! Fifth-there is no more vital cues
ton today before the people OF Wor-
caster than the question Of grade
crossings, and I submit, that MI
lOConnen is peculiarly and "amply
qualified from his study and investlsa-
| ton of this most important matter 10
render great service in its solution.
And now gentlemen of ne conVen-
ton for these reasons, which nave
hastily drafted, I submit-that not oniy
party expediency but also the punIc
good demand the nomination by this
convention and the election by tI IN PEI PEI
ME TO the high office of mayor of Wor-
cester of the Hon. Philip j. O'Connell
Applause and cheers).
| John r. Ratigan seconded the NOM
ination. saying, zone year ago, with
fear and trepidation, we nominated a
man l1nprecedentedly young for mayor
of Worcester. You all remember the
campaign which followed, resulting in
no election and the proceedings in
court. In February we marched to bat
tle such as was never before seen in
the political history of Worcester and
we elected Philip J. O'Connell.
"Every man, irrespective of race,
creed and politics, was on the tiptoe
of expectancy regarding his policy.
Won have all seen what 1t was. To give
Worcester the best possible admins
tration. Able. keen, alert and sagaclous
he has administered the affairs of the
city so that all useless expenditures OF
the city's money were prevented. we
have a condition that is almost an
anomaly in Worcester.
while the departments have not
been impaired in the slightest, the ex-
penses of the city are 100000 less than
in the previous year The city debt has
been reduced materially in spite of the
legacies of debt left by his predeees-
sors.
I'VE have been taught another les
son by his administration. We have
public service corporations that have
been given great privileges by the city
but they have not always shown
disposition to give anything in return
for their valuable franchises. When
thew did not do their full duty by the
city. Mayor O'Connell did not hesitate
to force them and in the future he Will
insist. as he has in the past that they
do right by the city.
His ear is ever ready and open to
listen to the complaints of every one
and he has the ability to sift the bad
from the good and give decision that
is best for the city.
with an escutcheon unsullied, with
a courage undaunted and an honorable
resolve to give the city the best that
is in him, he asks for another nomina-
ton and 1 hope and trust this conven-
ton will give to our friend and our
mayor. the Honorable Philip j. O'Con-
nell, a unanimous nomination"
When the applause which greeted
This speech subsidized John H. Meagher
moved that the nomination of Philip
T O'Connen as candidate for mayor
be made by reclamation.
Mr.. Ratigan moved as an amend
ment that the secretary cast the ballot
of the convention for Mr.. OConnell.
This was carried with a big aye and
after Mr.. O'Connell was declared nom
mated. George w. Barker moved that
a committee of three be appointed to
escort Mr.. O'Connell to the hall.
The chair appointed David F. O'Con-
nell Martin j. Drohan and George w.
Barker.
Then came the fight.
While the committee was out, Danlel
F. Rourke moved as the sense OF the
convention that six candidates be nom
mated for the Board of Aldermen +.
]. Murphy opposed this motion urg-
ing that only four candidates be nomi-
mated
Thomas C. Carrigan said it is out
of the question to think that the
Worcester democracy can elect SIX
aldermen He has no axe to grind but
as a business proposition, if six candi-
dates are nominated only two can be
elected. Is it better to nominate four
and elect three or to nominate six and
elect only two? He favored limiting
the number to four because if six are
nominated the bullet ballot will be
used at the polls. The place to fight
this out is in this convention and not
at the polls.
Councilman Joseph P. Morrissey said
the convention should look to the in
terest of the Democratic party. In or
der to elect a Democratic mayor it is
necessary to get out the Democratic
vote and to do this it is necessary to
nominate six candidates for aldermen.
At this point, Mayor OConnen en-
tered the hall and was greeted with
cheers and applause as he was &C.
corted to the platform.
On motion of James F. Melaven, the
convention suspended the regular or