The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-05-26
PAWTUCKET MEN
FOR |MAyORSH|P
Mayor Higgins viii Probably Not he Candidate for ReeIec.
fon This Year. The Republicans Completely at Sea for
Strong Man TO Nominate Womans Club Entertainment
Last Might Registration Meeting Tomorrow Other Locals.

OOne III fdWtlCkfb tlllS ldli III Nii' mo-
ter OF nominations ,or the important state
and municipal offices would probably be
useless and Improbable.
But at the same time there is not the
slightest doubt that the party leaders
have already begun TO consider the ques-
tion OF candidates. and II seems TO be
a settled fact that Mayor James IL. His-
gins will absolutely decline TO be can
didate for reelection this year. lie ala
not want the nomination last fall, be-
cause having served for three years he
believed that he had given full value to
his party for all favors he had previously
received and also because OF his ill-health.
But his party associates were unable To
agree upon anyone else for the nomina-
tion and II was known that he was sure
TO be elected. while there would OF course
be a doubt with any new candidate.
This time. however. Mayor Higgins VIII
insist on a withdrawal and IL is up TO
the Democrats 10 secure another ana
equally good a candidate for the place.
Thus far only two names nave Deeh
heeTd In connection with the nomination.
Offhe younger element In the party there
is Thomas r. Corcoran late clerk OF the
school committee. who was turned down
when the Republicans got control OF that
body. not because he had failed TO per
form the duties of the office. but because
the place was wanted for a Republican
in the person Of Philip c. Sheldon. Mr..
confidence of his party associates. He Is
lawyer with good practice ana ne mas
served a term In the lower house OF the
general assembly where he made a repu-
tation as a forceful speaker and a ready
debater. He Is active I'm number or To-
cal organizations and he takes an active
interest In all things which have 10 90
with the welfare OF the Democratic party
No one doubts that he would be a strong
candidate IL nominated and he could I'm all
probability be elected.
WIA .fl,A hat haQ hoo maj n ~
ed in connection with the mayoralty nom
ination is that OF Col. Patrick f.. Hayes:
who has also been quite active I'm political
affairs for a good many years. lie is Of
the older element IN the party und-hold-
ing the position of assistant superintend-
ent at the Union Wadding company. OF
which Col. George NJ. Thornton Is the
head. he would undoubtedly command the
respect and support OF the large business
interests OF the city.
IL may be that neither OF these men will
be chosen 10 succeed Mayor Higgins as
the Democratic standard bearer. but
there are surely hundreds OF voters in the
city who would welcome an opportunity
20 vote for either OF them. Perhaps A. G..
Messler will make a try for the nomina-
ton. He was talked OF a year ago. when
It was thought that Mayor Higgins would
crat. still he has never been a factor In
the political life OF the community ana
except fov his business interests. which
are In Providence he II now somewhat
unknown TO the electorate at barge. a
charge that cannst be laid at the dooi
OF either Mr.. Corcoran or Col. Hayes.
As for the Republican nomination for
mayor. the party leaders declare Il has
not been considered. Probably Lyons
Delaney would like TO be nominated again.
Mr.. Delaney IL rather timid when II comes
20 running for political office. Two years
ago he finally gave In 10 the urgings OF his
political friends who desired him TO run
for the state senate. This was the year
when Senator Aldrich Is said 10 have
poured his money into the city and as a
result hef was elected as much 10 his
surprise as to that OF his friends His
success caused him and these friends 10
think he was a great vote getter and that
he could beat out Mayor Higgins for the
mayoralty. But that was where they
made a mistake. His showing at the polls
on election day was very poor one and
while he may want to try II again against
a new Democratic candidate IL Is scarcely
.probable that he will be selected 10 make
the running.
There Is also another Republican In the
city who was a great disappointment TO
his friends. j Milton Payne had been
for years hailed az the most popular man
in the city and he had frequently been
urged to run for public office. but he was
also timid and afraid Of being beaten.
Perhaps he knew his own weaknesses bet
ter than did his friends. At any rate Il
=3s-yery evident his Judgment was not
seriously at fault. for last fall when he
ran for state senator on the Repub-
lican ticket he came within n very few
votes OF being defeated and this. too
when practically every other candidate on
the ticket went through with good plu-
raiity. Under other circumstances. the Re-
publicans might select Mr.. Payne as their
candidate for mayor. but II they did he
would be defeated in good shape by almost
any candidate whom the Democrats could
name
The Republicans have however. one
man in their ranks who would without
a doubt make a good showing This is
Giles -. Easterbrooks. who for two years
now has represented the city I'm the gen
eral assembly. The trouble with Mr.
Easterbrooks is that he has ideas OF HIS
own as TO what he will do as the servant
OF the people and that Is something
which the Republican machine I'm Paw
tucket will not stand for They want
man who will accept absolute dictation:
who will appoint the men selected by the
machine. who Will sign bills that are
passed by a Republican city council with
out inquiring into them and that Is some
thing which Col Easterbrooks would not
do.
The local machine has not yet forgiven
him for the position he took regarding the
police commission bill a year ago. and
from the time this bill 10 take the power
OF control Of the police department away
from Mayor Higgins and place IL In the
hands OF Barney keenan, was first made
public TIL that same bill was buried be-
yond resurrection in the files OF the house
committee on the judiciary he was open
In his opposition. He organized the nght
10 kill II. and with the assistance OF Gov
ernor Utter and Speaker Burlingame.
whom he enlisted In this cause he was
entirely successful. On other occasions
he has shown a strong Independence OF
thought and action, and as this is a char
acteristie- tTalt-of the gentleman II gives
. pretty good idea OF what he would do
if elected mayor
But that the people do not forget and
that they approve OF such independence
is shown by the vote he received last fall
when he was again a candidate for the
general assembly. lie ran far ahead Of
his tlcxet and without doubt received
many votes from the Democrats who ad-
mired his character.