Year: 1869




The Providence Mayoraity Eiection-IIow the


Rival Houses Went Into the Fight-Green-


backs and Whiskey supplied in Abundance


The Brown.Ives Faction victorisus- -Eiec-


tion Of the Regular Candidate.


PROVIDENCE, May 12, 1859.


The municipal election which took pace in this
city to-day and which has all along promised to be
OF rare interest, deprived OF half It's sgnif
cance by the sudden withdrawal yesterday s'ter-
noon OF one OF the candidates for the Nayoralty.
The election. however. was far from being
devoid of public interest, and although the
contest was local character it was very properly
regarded sequel to the late movements, sayings
and doings OF william Sprague, one OF the respect
able oud wealthy United States Senators from Little
Rhody. In the ordinary course OF political events
tine result OF this clever little squabble would have
been accepted indication OF the popular senti-
ment OF citizens of Rhode island concerning the
public acts OF their defiant Senator. In fact there
are many who now claim that the turn
the election has taken Is conclusive proof that the
majority OF the voters OF the city are disposed
to rebuke rather than to approve his official
acts In the Senate, aud there are many more who
assert that he was betrayed by the candidate whom
he supports That the election OF his rival is one OF
the inevitable results of this treason II is only
cessary to give brief account or the political stua
tion a few days previous to the election to show.
The interesting and important features OF an eec-
ton which would have Deen Otherwise OF utter in
significance outside OF tnc municipality OF i'royi
dence.


AS the story goes. Thomas A. Doyle has been
Mayor Of Providence for the past five years. lie
mas also been very good Mayor; and many of tine
republicans here were anxious that he should serve
them sixth term. Unfortunately for him, how





Brown and Ives, the Burnside the Anthony, the
Goddard brothers and other sympathzing rings
were bound tiiat he should give way to represcn-
tatiye, friend OF theirs, and when the
regular republican convention was called they
succeeded IN giving the regular nominatn to George
l.. Clarke. Repulsed in this preliminary sKirmish
Sprague and his friends determined TO fight it
out on the same line and both political armies went
into the field with an abundance OF ammunition IN
the shape Of greenbacks and other persuasive I'M
plenients OF political warfare. The forces headed
and commanded by Brown ana Ives and their subor
dInates made the first advance, and it is common
talk all over Providence that they bought up all the
Durchasable ballots before Senator Sprague arrived
person upon the ned.


Whether this be true or not, II IL an undisputed
fact that thousands and thousands OF dollars were
furnished from some source Or the purpose OF edu-
eating the Ignorant up to the proper standard of
Clarksm. Twenty thousand dollars for an educa-
tional fund OF this character was DIS
ing OF the polls this morning, and one man
a chief among the Providence sporting fraternity
got the modest sum of $1,000 for what little iniiu-
he might Mt to exercise against the Sprague
faction The next historical feature Of any account
was the arrival OF Senator Sprague in Rhode Is
ments gave additional lite and interest
to a campaign unparalleled in excite
business was almost at standstill. The barroOms
were free 10 everybody and this day above all others
In the history OF Khoddy promised TO be her
conflict was doomed TO comparative peace.
Mayor Doyle the champion candidate OF Senator
sprague, upon the very eve of election, and in the
came out ia proclamation OF surrender,
in which he SAID that other interests
the fght also that the canvass OF the past two days
had assumed such a character that 1t had awakened
the virtue, temperance and morality OF the COM
nunity. and he would not be made
party , to TINS 8 pubic deoaucament a although though
Besides this 1t Is further stated on the street that IN
an interview between Mr. Sprague and MIR. Doyle
yesterday, IN which the latter was urged to stlck"
that the Mayor gave as reason, that If he should he
would always be looked upon as the tool OF the
senator and one purcnasabe by his wealth.
but this story Is not half so generally
believed another one, 10 the effect that Mr. Doyle
saw that the Clark faction had got the inside track
and that he declined To be candidllate for the
reason that he believed that the campaign IN his
behalf had not been 80 vigorously conducted as to





Notwithstanding Mr.. Doylc's withdrawal from the
contest there were many who insisted upon voting
for hun. and the number promised to be so large
that the Clark party kept up their liberal Offers for
votes until the closing Ol the polls this evening"
This was not done on account OF any apprehensions
that Doyle would be elected; but, iDasmuch as an
election would only be obtained by ma
joJrity over all, there were reasonable grounds
for fearing that the votes for Doyle would be nuner
GUS enough to cfiace the hopes for majority for
Clark, and thus another election would De neccs-
sary, and. with the ten days which would inter-
vcne before another contest, the vanqushed
forces OF Sprague could occupy the time ~
organizing for another campaign and per.
haps secure victory. IL should. perhaps,
be mentioned that there was n democratic
candidate IN the field In the person OF Nicholas Van
Slyck; but II is hardly far to presume that he was
nominated for the purpose OF widening the breach
in the radical party IL such was the aim or the
party leaders they failed most sgnally FOR out OF
the $500 votes cast Mr.. Van Slyck got only s2i,
Mr.. Doyle had 1,34i, and Mr.. CLARK received $685.
being clear majority over all OF l.i20.


The result OF the election and such decisive re-
suit too. was OF course cause for q midnight carni-
val for all OF those hereabout who have treasured
up in memory some OF the public speeches OF the
Senator and they were very noisy and enthusiastic
In giving expression to their feelings Westminster.
Way, BOsset and North Maine streets were filed
with crowds cheering for Clark. and they finally
all united in one grand column. with band or
two OF music at the head and went up To Angel
street TO pay their respects to the Mayor elect The
crowds were. In some instances. composed OF both
Sprague and antiSprague men. and their interviews
were very spirited TO say the least. The enemies or
the senator insisted, OF course that the turn the cleo
ton had taken was an emphatic rebuke OF MS late
dence and his friends naturally disputed It, and
claimed that the whole result as given above was
account OF Mr. D0yle's withdrawal for the reason
stated IN his public card.


The end Of the Sprague AFFAIR Will not come with
this, however for the next move will be, as stated
from reliable source, effort to have the Legs
lature pass resolution inviting the senator 10 re-
sign MS desk,