The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-09
CUMBERLAND
REPUBLICANS
FEELING SORE

sorer or more disappointed lot OF poll
Republicans after the votes were counted
Wednesday night. just why there should
have been any disappointment 1t is diff
cult TO see
To most OF the people who were not
blind TO the situation the Republican de-
feat at the polls had been foreshadowed
for many months. The action OF the Re-
publican council for the past year had
turned hundreds away In disgust. APP
parently there had been no attempt TO Sc
cure an observance OF the Sunday laws.
and these were violated more openly than
for many years. Then there had been
mismanagement all along the line, and
the mass of the voters had become thor
oughly disgusted and were prepared TO
place the affairs OF the town in hands OF
men who would probably care for them.
The Republican machine seemed to
think that all that was necessary was 10
snap their fingers and the rank and file
of the party would come In like good lit
tie boys and elect the men who were set
up. After the votes were counted they
learned they were mistaken.
Col. Clark, the town clerk, and Cyrus
Taft, the town treasurer, were saved. but
with so greatly reduced majorites tnat I,
almost constituted a defeat. 1t was cer-
tainly a rebuke 10 the party. All that
saved these officials was their personal
popularity and they owe nothing 10 the
party management for their success.
The new town council has work TO do,
and IL IL will rise TO the situation II has
an opportunity which comes to few town
officials The financisl affairs OF the town
need attention. A few years ago when the
debt limit had been reached II was neces-
sary 10 go 10 the general assembly for re-
lief. This was granted but IL appears that
something more is needed now There is a
floating debt OF over 100000 on which
there is being paid interest OF about AZ
per cent This ought to be bonded and
with a valuation of nearly nine millions
and n prospective increase within the
next FIVE years OF at least a million more
there ought to be a material saving In
the interest account. This. however. can
not be done without permission from the
general assembly and II is up TO the town
council to secure this permission
There are other measures which need
the attention OF the new board and per-
haps the most prominent at the present
time is the securing Of an observance OF
the liquor laws. Chief OF Police Classy
will. II he Is retained. do whatever the
town council tells him TO do. so that on
the board will rest the responsibility The
people demand a better condition OF
things than has existed during the past
year.
A GOOD CHOICE.
The new town council has organized by
the choice OF John J. Kelley, as president
and II will be admitted that the choice
Is n good one President Kelley will have
IL avd \,
he believes are the interests OF the peo-
pie OF Cumberland. and he will be quite
an improvement over the man who was
at the head of the council during the past
twelve months.
The action OF the council also in stop
ping all work on the highways until at
ter the taxpayers have had chance To
look over the financial standing of the
town at the taxpayers meeting on We'd
nesday next will be approved.
II appears that through mismannge-
ment or something else the old council
now has unpaid bills on this account
amounting to over $4,000 and IL looks also
as through contracts which the old board
has made for crushed stone TO be used In
the construction OF the new state high
way. there will be another deficit.
1t was a good thing for the town to get
the contract from The state board OF high
pended on this road will be distributed
among laborers of the town. but tins con-
tract should not have been taken at n
price which would entail loss to the
town There are those who believe the
cost OF the crushed stone alone will be
more than the entire sum which the town
will receive for the work, and In addition
10 that there must be paid the labor
which will be no small amount.
Tn1o thRqa figures
which are now becoming public. II was
high time that there was a change In the
management OF the town affairs, ana the
people OF the town are to be congratula-
ted on their judgment I'm selecting a
council which will attend TO its affairs as
they should be attended to.
A NEW SOLICITOR.
The choice Of James T.. Brennan for the
| position OF town solicitor made by the
new town council was good one. To be
sure Mr. Brennan Is not a citizen OF
Cumberland but he is well acquainted
with the affairs OF the town. having acted
in that capacity under former admlnistra-
tions and his judgment has always been
safe.
He succeeds man who appears 70
have felt that his first duty was to the
Republican machine to which he owed his
position. So valuable were his political
services TO the Republican party that ne
has been remembered In other ways. hav-
ing been given n fat berth a year ago In
the list OF committee clerkships IN the
| legislature.
Solicitor Brennan is n vast improve
ment over Solicitor Scott
CHILDREN's SUNDAY.
Tomorrow will be observed as Chill
dren's Sunday at the Primitive Methodist
church. There will he special sermon In
the morning by the pastor. Rev. NJ. III
Sharples and there will also be special
musical program rendered by the choir,
At 6:9O p. m. there will be Children s
Day service entitled with Banner and
| Song"
HELD ANNUAL MEETING.
The annual meeting of the Christian
Endeavor society OF the Primitive Meth
odist church was held last evening al
which time the following officers werc
elected: President. Rev. Mark III
Sharples: first vice president. William
! Howarth; second vice president, j. III
I a