The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-30
FRANCHISE LEAGUE SOUNDS
CANDIDATES. VIEWS

The Public Franchise League has is
sued the following circular:
To the Public
We invite the attention of the voters
of Massachusetts to a familiar study
of election conditions in the 81 SEN
atorial districts outside Of Boston; par
ticularly with reference to the princi-
pie upon which public franchises
should be granted to public service
corporations, as best illustrated in the
controversy over the recent Washing
ton Street subway bill. The Public
Franchise League is not new factor
in the situation. 1t was organized in
the spring of 1900, and is composed Of
leading business men and public work.
ers, who claim the right to address the
voters of this state as to the moral and
other qualifications of the men they
will send to represent them on Beacon
Hill. The league is acting regardless
of party in this matter, believing that
when the voters come to understand
how completely the Massachusetts,
Legislature has been dominated by
! mercenary interests in the recent past,
they will cast aside party ties until so
shameful a condition has been rene
! died. We believe that there is not a
doubtful election district in the state
| in which the emissaries of one or more
street railway arrangements have not
! Deen dcllNe l0lS Idlls dilu lllG ducolloI
| distinctly before the voters in the COM
| ing state election is whether or not
| their representatives in the Legis-
lature shall represent their constituents
or the street railway companies. AS far
as the Public Francise League is con-
cerned,, this agitation will not end with
4 the state election.
We have asked these three questions
| of all the candidates mentioned in the
| following:
| Are you in favor of obliging pub
| lie service corporations to pay for the
use of public franchises?
| Are you in favor of a referendum
| to the people on questions involving
the use of public franchises by public
service corporations when petitioned
for by the people?
3.--Are you in favor of the Washing
ton Street subway being built and own
ed by the city or by corporation?
OF the Worcester County candidates
the circular says:
First Worcester-This district will re-
turn Senator David Manning CRep) of
Worcester, who spoke and voted against
the bill, which he regarded as dangerous
to the interests of the people. He re-
fers us to his record believing, he says,
that acts are a better test than ante
election professions"
Second Worcestershire issue in this
district is almost directly Elevated VS..
people David / Walsh CDem) of Clin-
ton had charge of the Elevated bill in
the House this year and is now busy
explaining to his Democratic constit-
uents why he opposed the referendum.
John p. Munroe (Rep) of Worcester is
the candidate on the anti-Elevated is
sue, he having favored the referendum
on the tracks bill in 1899. The Repub-
licans of the district who are support
ing Munroe would regard the election
of Mr. Walsh as a direct affront to
Governor Crane. Both parties are
claiming that their candidate will be
elected.
Third Worcester-Senator Edward F.
Blodgett (Rep) of Leominster will be
returned without difficulty. He voted
to refer the subway bill to the next
General Court, and against its pas
sage.
Fourth Worcester-Joseph P. Love
CDem) Of Worcester has a clear record
in opposition to the subway bill, and he
voted for the referendum in 1899. He
writes us that his position is I'M
changed His Republican opponent,
George K. Tufts of New Braintree, who
probably will be elected, answers posi-
lively yes" to the first two questions,
and that amy subway, whether in
Washington Street or elsewhere, should
be built and owned by the city,
Fifth Worcester-Senator Cornelius
r. Day (Rep.) of Blackstone voted
against all amendments and for the
subway bill, and as in almost every
case, where this occurred, has ignored
our questions. He probably will be
reelected.
All replies to our questions, which
have been so far received, are noted
above.
By order Public Franchise League,
EDWARD r. WARREN,
Chairman of executive committee.
Eocton oct 1QO1