The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-23
PaWickes Executive Declares He Must Not Be Considered
Connection With the Democratic Nomination for Governor.
Demands Of His Professional Business Make His Retire.
msnt for Some Years From Active Politics imperative.
viii Work Heartily for the Success Of Democracy and
Reform Two More Names Mentioned in Convention With
MayoraIty Nomination

Political talk is in the air. Questions
are being asked and answered regarding
possible candidates for office next fall,
and people OF all classes are discussing
public questions as they have never be-
fore discussed at this season OF the year.
The great mass OF the people are to-
day interested in questions which usually
are forgotten TIL the early fall. and this
is all because they realize that an Inn
portant political campaign Is approaching
and that now Is the time when the voters
must get ready for the battle that is to
come
II is the Democratic party that is show
ing the greatest interest and the occa-
sonsl meetings which have been held un-
der the auspices OF the Democratic Regis
tration and Naturalization club have been
well attended. In addition 10 that the
voters OF that party are getting their
names on the registry list In FAR greater
numbers than those OF their opponents
This Is not guess work. IL is a fact
the Republicans have discovered. IL
makes the leaders uneasy TO see that
however much they may appeal. the
results secured are not great. IL is an
unusual sensation. too. In past years
q few words judiciously uttered were
about all that was needed. and when
this was supplemented by one or two
too long. the voters of that party would
hasten TO put themselves I'm readiness 10
vote In November. But such Is not the
case this year and the machine leaders
have been obliged In view OF the cir
cumstances to go 20 still greater lengths.
FORCING AN ISSUE.
One OF the moves made the last week IL
characteristic OF the spirit OF unfairness
that prevails among the men who engi-
neer the party affairs I'm this city. Early
in the week a circular was sent out bear
Ing the signature of the Republican city
committee. II attempted to make capt
tai out OF the possible vote for the school
committee the corning fall
For the past two years the Republicans
have made the schools an Issue. They
have claimed that the school committee
was In the hands OF the Democrats and
that IL was being made political body
that was not working for the good OF
the department.
So strong were their arguments that the
people responded and for two years have
elected Republican candidates so that the
committee as now formed consists OF six
Republicans and three Democrats. APP
parently the Republicans are not salts
ned with this. for the appeal which they
make this week u for the voters TO get
ready TO elect three more Republicans.
OF course, no statement that II is the
terms OF the three Democrats that expire
this year Is made In the circular. but the
party which stops at nothing TO win Is
trying TO make an issue OF Supt Frank
.. Draper even though he has held his
position but a few months. The declara-
ton Is made that II the voters want Mr.
Draper retained as superintendent OF
schools they should elect three Republi-
cans TO the school committee this year
but they do not say that II the people
elect three Democrats the committee will
then consist OF six Republicans, who. hav-
Ing a majority of the committee. will be
able to give Supt. Draper another term,
even II the Democratic members should
consider that he was not the man for the
piace-something that no one has any
right TO infer.
The Republicans have declared times
without number that they were not bring
Ing politics into the question OF the cleo
ton OF school superintendent. When
Supt. O'Brfen was dropped the first OF
the year II was said that IL was for the
good OF the schools and because a better
man was secured for his place.
The great masses OF the people were dis
posed TO accept this statement for its full
value. but they will be inclined TO put
a strong stamp OF disapproval on any at
tempt TO show that the Democratic MEM
bers are not actuated by just as high
minded motives as are the Republicans
ard that they would not vote TO retain
a good superintendent even II he had been
originally selected against their wishes.
There is no doubt that Frank o.
Draper is valuable man to head the
public schools OF this city. He is proving
his value to the city every day and the
people who have children in the schools
AAA x.rts ~.
which the committee made. but the people
are not satisfied with the attempt to
bring Mr.. Draper into political schemes OF
the city hall machinists, and II is q pretty
certain statement that Mr.. Draper him
self Is no party TO this scheme IL is alb
eolutely unfair TO him TO attempt 10 bring
MS name into this matter in this way
and those who have done II deserve the
most severe censure.
No matter what the people have dono
IN the past two years and no matter what
failures may be charged up q, the Demo-
cratic members who had control OF the
school committee UP TO January last. this
is no year 10 elect Republican members
OF the school committee. II would be
complete unwisdom TO have the committee
composed OF any one political party. es-
pecially In view OF the political squabblcs
mat have taken place there during the
f"~e AAte years BON parties ought TO
represented and there is scarcely a like.
lihood that the people will look at the
matter In any other way
IS NOT A CANDIDATE.
Mayor James H. Higgins is not a can
didate for political honors this wear He
mas publicly stated that under no con-
ccivable circumstances can he be consid-
cred candidate for the mayoraltv this
year. and this statement has been ac-
cepted as fact. This week he has de-
ciared In conversation with the repre-
sentative OF the News Democrat that he
means TO drop political matters entirely
and devote himself exclusively to his pro-
fession.
For several weeks there has been n
growing feeling In this city and In other
parts OF the state that Mayor Higgins
would be wonderfully strong man for
the Democrats 20 nominate for governor.
Republicans az well as Democrats recog-
nize his ability and HIS strength among