The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-26
The text Of the letter follows:

The text Of the letter follows:
Providence. II. l.. oct. 20, 1905.
Patrick II. Mulholland, Esq, Chairman,
etc.
Dear Sir-The press of professional
duties has prevented an earlier reply To
your notification OF my nomination for the
office OF mayor OF the city OF Provl-
dence by the Democratic city convention.
As is well known | did not In any way
seek this nomination. II came TO me
entirely unsolicited. ! WAS not asked TO
make any pledge I'm relation TO II. and
have not directly or indirectly made any
pledge or promise TO any person as to
what | would or would not do II elected.
] am a thorough believer In local self
government | believe the city or provi-
dence is competent to manage It's own
affairs. There seems 10 he no good bust
ness reason why tho police department Of
our city should be controlled by men APP
pointed or elected by state officers, any
more than the school department.. treas
ury department. fire department, park de-
partment or the department OF public
works.
When \ member Of the general assembly
I'm 1893. ! drew. introduced and advocated
an act providing that the police commits
sloners OF our city should be appointed
by the mayor. and that not more than
two OF them should be appointed from the
same political party. In that way the
mayor would be held responsible for his
appointments, and at the next election
the people would have an opportunity to
express their approval or disapproNal or
his use Of the appointive power. be
leved then as believe now that there
should he no party politics in the manage
ment Of that department.
Al the same session. at the request OF
the Public school association, | presented
an act placing the management Of our
public school I'm the hands OF q commits
sion Of five TO be elected by tho people for
. term OF Ave wears. This measure ! ad-
vocated on the floor OF the house ara II
passed unanimously that branch OF the
general assembly. II was not acted uitn
in the senate. our public schools should
be carefully safeguarded. They should be
managed by men thoroughly qualiied Tor
the position. No party politics or preju-
dice Of any kind should he Above 20 en-
ter I'm any way into their management /
still believe that a commission elected as
provided i'm that act would give us a more
efficient and satisfactory ~managcincn, y
our schools.
II any part Of our local affairs Is to
continue to be managed at the State
ltNlSft II = tTH'hthiAe
r.prcsentatio I'm the house of representa-
If, g. should be I'm proportion 10 our popu-
lation, TO the end that ,e should have
at least our propOrtionate vol - IN the en-
cctment OF laws for the special manage
n,ent OF our local affairs. Thts ~ aside
from the inherent injustice of refusing
oIr city representation orcportionats 90
its population as a component part ~ the
state.
on the basis OF population I'm a house OF
one hundred members our city would Doc
entitled To- about forty. n for our citi-
gems 20 enrose the pending amendment 20
the constitution would be 20 voluntarily
surrender rights that should never be
given up. Furnishing as we do. and must
continue TO do. directly or Indirectly a
large proportion Of the revenue OF the
state we should insist on having our full
voice I'm determining how IL should be ex-
pended. There Is no reason why the busi-
ness ~ the city should not be conducted
on the same basis that q prudent man
would use In managing his own anairs.
and IN elected 10 the Office for which 1
have been nominated 1 will use my hest