The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-10-25


"In this campaign | consider no plac,
more vital to the success Of the cause We
represent than Pawtucket In every
sense of the word II is one OF the great
fighting grounds OF the state.
The greatest issue I'm Pawtucket this
year is the assembly ticket William III.
Barclay. the head OF the local ring, has
given his bond. signed. sealed and certi-
fled. 10 the state machine, guaranteeing
! that Pawtucket will send a Republican
deleent ton To tho next assembly, which
will vote for George Peabody Wetmore
/ for United States senator. The Democ-
racy and the Lincolnites appeal 10 the
people OF Pawtucket TO send back the
present delegation which will vote for
Robert ri. l. Goddard and for the other
important constitutional and legislative
reforms for which we stand.
'As between these two candidates for
the senatorship. | believe our people are
thoroughly well posted. We invite the
people of the state TO turn the search
light OF publicity upon the record OF Col.
Goddard and point to single flaw We
are proud OF him as our champion.
ION the other hand who is his OPP
ponent and for what does he stand? Mr..
Wetmore, personally and socially. is
genial and courteous gentleman. Politi-
cally. however. he represents the worst
in Rhode Island politics He owes every
political office he ever held TO Charles
n. Brayton and his wretched system lie
has bought office after office unscrupu-
lously and without stint He has paid
Brayton for the governorship with the
same instinct that he would buy horse
or house.
For the past 10 or IL years there has
existed In Pawtucket what is known as
the Barclay ring. At tho head OF this
machine Is William H. Barclay. a man
of personal suavity and good family con-
nections. Politically. he is perhaps as
unscrupulous and depraved a man as ex-
lists in New England. ! will not deny
his shrewdness or his ability
His two chief subordinates are Isaac
Gill and Bernard Keegan. the latter be-
ing known throughout the state as the
notorious Barney keenan, Barclays
family connections and society affiliations
Will not permit OF his personally doing
all the nasty work When, therefore.
he has something to do which may smlrch
his record. something which is too dirty
for him 10 handle. he directs GIL or Kee-
nan to do II.
Like their master, Keenan, and Gill
are both able men i'm small ways. AS
ward heelers or what In commonly known
as cheap politicians neither has peer
In Rhode Island. Gill Is cold, bloodless
and unmerciful. lie has no respect in his
methods for God or man.
RING GEORGES EMPLOYEES.
These. then, are the three who expect
to deliver this city to the State ring, and
here Is how they propose 10 30 II. In
tho first place, there are several hundred
employees on the city works. sewers. high
ways, water works. etc. The majority
OF these men are naturally of Democratic
inclinations and IL left untrammeled
would vote the Democratic ticket Bar
clay and Gill. however. working through
the heads Of the various departments.
have I'm the past. and are now sending
out orders. requiring that every employe
OF the city must vote the straight Re-
publican ticket under penalty of losing
his job. complete list Is kept OF all
the men employed. also in what district
and ward they vote. On election day one
OF Barclays heelers is stationed in tho
ward room. The employees themselves
arc not the only ones coerced. Tho mem
bers OF their families, their sons. brothers.
fathers and anybody else over whom II Is
possible for them 10 exercise an influence.
must also vote as Barclay orders.
Now as to the liquor dealers. There
are l26 OF them in Pawtucket Every
liquor dealer must do as he Is told by
Keenan,. or he loses his license. Not only
this. but IL any liquor dealer Is ever heard
expressing an opinion contrary TO the
machine on any public matter. he is at
once hurried TO Keenan's barber shop,
where an explanation is demanded. The
liquor dealer In Pawtucket Is not allowed
as much political freedom ms an ante
belium slave.
"one of the chief clubs In Barclays
hands is his Board of Tax Assessors.
They assess taxes not merely TO place a
value on property but to make voters
who will obey the will Of the machine.
Barclays Idea Of Tax Board Is not
one taht will assess taxes or raise revenue
but one that viii, make or unmake
votes. The conception OF Tax Board
making an honorable and equitable as
scssment OF ratable property has never
occurred TO this precious trio. This
Board Is easily the strongest influence
In clubbing our populace into servility.
when all other forces fail Keenan,
and Barclay and GIN resort TO crooked
work on election day. They bribe election
officials to steal and destroy ballots. |
know. and | can prove, and l say IL
.advisedly, that William H. Barclay and
BERNARD N-cftnft5 sirurt- tirrr Jr--J, brtbcti
two election officials of this city to do
this work for them. Now ! will ask
Barclay and keenan, this CUSTOM DO
YOU want the proof publicly? ! say they
gave these men 1850 and sl00. respective
ly, To steal ballots. to doube-cross Demo
cratic ballots in order TO make them void
and l say that IL Barclay and Keenan,
want proof | am ready with them
This Is the kind OF work that Is ex-
pected TO carry Pawtucket this year I'm
accordance with Barclays bond TO the
Republican League.
EDWARD NJ. SULLIVAN.
Edward NJ. Sullivan candidate for at
torney- general, said in part:
II am a candidate for the Office OF at
torney-general and Pawtucket presents a
case which demands the attention of the
attorney to the extent az least OF
making a searching investigation OF "a
condition Of affairs which may bc found
To come under the condemnation OF the
law. | refer to the case Of the tax as
SCISSORS OF the city OF Pawtucket. and
their manner OF assessing and refusing TO
assess personal property i'm this city.
''The tax assessors are required by law
TO assess all property liable to taxation
AZ its full and fair cash value. The con-
dillon OF which I speak is the disfran-
rhiscmen. OF hundreds OF citizens be-
,ause they are Democrats and the O1-
of hundreds OF other citi-
sens because they are Republicans. in the
election OF members OF the board OF all
lermen and common council.
"All but 3Si out OF 32i1 Republican vot-
RS OF Pawtucket are assessed for prop
'rty. while 27Sl OF the 4l42 Democratic |
'oters are nothing more than registry |
'otors. The majority OF these property |
'Otors are pereOnul prOperty voters and 4