The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-19

The board OF aldermen failed TO take
any action In regard 10 police appoint
ments last night. Instead OF that the
men who make up the Republican ma
chine suffered a most aggravated atthch
OF "oold feet" Plans that had been care
fullv nurtured until there seemed no pos
eibiiity OF having them tipped over were
given up at the last minute, peeause .se :
when II came to the sucklns polht ~ ~.
machinists were afraid. IL takes a Io'
60 scare the Republican machine IN Paw
tucket. In years past II nouted puolic
opinion In the most barefaced manneI,
and its plans were carried out In the race
OF the strongest protests, but a change
has come over things. -.
These men have come TO realize that
what they do will be known 10 me ep.Sr,, pup,
lie. and when they know they are nyins
IN the face OF the people become doup'-
Last night was the night that had been
set for the board OF aldermen TO snake
un the police department. This date was
fixed a week ago. when the nIorIlia rII.i,,s siUn
OF the proposed trip of Mayor Hlgsins . \,
had been made public. A. that ,lhs Hai ~
was fully decided 10 make some radlcal
changes but when this information was
given 20 the people through the columns
OF The Democrat II brought
storm OF protest about the heads or the
party leaders. This of itself would never
have caused them 10 waver In their pur
pose, but the matter obtained 100 much
publicity.
MACHINE LEADERS WONN'GC'
For the past day or two the party lead
ers have been worried. on one sIae Son "bs he
made, and on the other were the W. Wlsei
heads who begun 10 see great hshe
and these latter are realizing that tne M
could could hope % "A a party Of the leaders got
together Tuesday night, and talked ore re
whole matter over. There were , nol
discussions yesterday ana laso ,her ~
the two branches OF the CITY couIloi,, a.
there was a long party conference lI,
which some OF the men who nave peen s.
taking an active part In aHairs ioi seN-
eral years we're present -,
There were one or two members OF the
board OF aldermen there, ana AZ leas,
one member OF the common G0untti Gov, ,ha pau dnl
cision not 10 do anything with the p3n,ss
department was made by men WHO noiu .oni
no Office in either body. THESE latter nI Lvei
they very much regretted the SITUATION,
they felt that they were powerless 70
control il. so consequently the word was
at once passed around tnss 'nere wac
n was not much OF a surprise IN those
who have been watching the uenu OF
events In this city during the past TWO TWO
or three days That such had originally
been the purpose OF the machine may be
denied, but there are very few VINO VIII
believe the denial. II is hardly TO be ex
pected that they VIII samlt ,, iha nov mans ans
hut even the members or the city couh-
ell who were not I'm the councils OF tne ne
party believe that something occurreu W
cause a change In the plans, the assur-
ance OF this being given 10 the represens :
Ia OF The News-Democrat by one OF
the Republican members after the meet
ing last evening.
LET CAT OUT OF THE BAG.
1t was charged by one Of the city hall
Thayer was the man who let the cat out
OF the bag a week ago, when he told
Alderman McCaughey that the purpose
OF this meeting was 10 name rev police
men.
Unusual interest in the proceedings was
shown by the public. In spite OF the heat
there was a big crowd gathered In the
'aldemanic chamber at o'clock and the
corridors were also we'll filled out on
the street little knots OF people were gath
cred till the adjournment waiting for the
news and this interest played no small
part in the final decision not TO take any
action at this time.
There was another reason and while
it was referred TO I'm a Joking way sew
eral times I'm the city hall corridor pre-
vious 10 the meeting there is no doubt
that there was more seriousness In the
thought than was expressed. For some
reason II had got noised about that the
going away OF Mayor Higgins was only
in the nature OF trap to see what the
machine would really do II IL were only
given rope enough. IL was I'm the air
that his honor had not really left the
city or IL he had he had returned and
would probably be found either at his
home or In his law office and II il said
on the very best OF authrity that during
the early evening scout was sent out
20 see IL this was really true
Those who believed tn,s story must
have placed the mayor on their own low
plane. Mayor Higgins Is hardly the man
70 lower the dignity OF his office by any
such small petty nonsence as that. but
there were undoubtedly thoee In the city
hall last evening who thought he might