The New York herald., 1876-01-29
How Mayors of New York
Have Been Oh, ,,osen.
The Aldermen ..eoted When the
Voting Was in April.
CHANGING TO %dE DAY OF THE STATE ELECTION
Rapid Deterioration in Charac-
ter and Ability.

royal authority for no definite periods The people
elected the Aldermen hrst general ticket and sub
Eequently by wards Thirtyfve Mayors were thus ap-
pointed beginning with Thomas willett an English
merchant and ending with Whitehead Hicks lawyer.
Among many eminent names We find Van Cortland,
Bayard De Peyste Cruger Heathcote and other leading
In l77o, February IA, St. Valentines Day. the Revo-
utionary Congress Convention OF New York ap-
pointed DAVID Matthews lawyer, be Mayor in place
Of Hicks, who adhered TO tho royal cause
The regular state government formed after our indie
pendence had been secured appointed Mayors the
domination OF the Governor with the consent Of the
Council of Appointment THIS body was composed of
one State Senator from each district The first
Mayor Of New York appointed was James
Duane, a rich lawyer, who married into the
Livingston family, and had lne country scat near
Gramercy Park He served six years and was followed
by Richard Varck also a lawyer who served twelve
years. Then we had Edward Livingston, lawyer of
ihe renowned family Of that name, for year when
be moved 10 Louisiana and followed by De witt
Clinton lawyer for four years. Marinus Willott the
well known Revolutionary Colonel and Sheriff, followed
1907, but the state party slate changed, and Clinton
was again appointed, serving for two years. Next
ame Jacob BadcliG lawyer, for year, and then the
rrepressibe Clinton for 'third term" serving four
years In 1915 another change Albany brought Rad
sliG back I'm this year John Ferguson offered the
place and, at the tme the position of Naval
0Iioor. AS he could not hold both places he chose
he most valuable the Naval ONCE; the Mayor had
salary them In 1SlS Cadwallader C. Golden ap-
pointed served three years. and gave place to stephen
Allen, sallmaker, the first Mayor from 1866 who was
DOT a lawyer
BY the new State constitution the Council of Ap-
continent abolished, and the selection of Mayor
sf New York given TO the Common Council in joint
ballot AT this period the close OF Monroe's admins.
ration, political affairs were very lively. The party
complexion of tho city changing For twenty years
there had been sort of family strife among the Burr
aes, Lewlstes, Livingstone Cntonians ana others
Now national affairs took precedence and the great
question was-Who should succeed Monroep The can
iidates wero Crawford Clay, Jackson, John Quincy
Adams and Calhoun. The Bucktails, who were strong
tho city, were for Crawford, and they were opposed
,ya combination called the peoples party At the
Iharter election in 1923 the peoples ticket carried five
Aldermen and six Assistants giving them majority
,i joint ballot They elected William Paulding
! lawyer son-in-law OF Philip Rhinclander Mayor
Among the men chosen TO the Common
Council Cadwalader c. Golden, Camp
bell White, Philip Hone, Shivers Parker,
Jameson Cox and Stephen Conover In
s24the Jackson side in the city but Pauding was
party divisions the Common Council the
nerchantprnce and king Of auctioneers Philip Hone,
Eas put in his place. His triumph of short dura-
don however for within the year he was ousted and
pauldng brought back.
In 1927 the name 'democrats'' began TO be used to
ienote the jackson section of the old republican party
and national republicans" was adopted by the Adams
The democrats got large majority in both
Boards but satisfied with Mayor Pauldlng. About
his time arose the famous anti ti-Masonic excitement
caused by the disappearance of William Morgan, but it
had very little effect in this city.
In 1928 the Jacksonans swept this city by about
IL, 400 for old Hickory to 1900 for Adams The Com
non Council was almost entirely democratic Among
he members John Y Cobra, jeremiah Dodge
Bernard j. Meserole James l. Roosevelt Thomas Jere-
mIah, Gideon Lee, Peter Cooper and Philip W. Engs.
In 1929 there little change but Walter Bovine
weil-known hardware merchant, chosen Mayor
There great excitement this event; the vote
almost even between Bovine and his opponent,
and Bovine was charged with voting for himself
charter, which passed the Legislature and into
effect ON the IN Of April 1880 provided for sepa-
meetings of the Two Boards ana eft the Mayor
and Recorder who had always been ctfeio members
OF the Common Council
OUR SPRING EIEorIoNs
The nrSt spring election under the charter in
1881, on the second Tuesday IN April Parties were
much mixed, but in the main good men choAn,
such as J. " Cebra John ]. Labagh, William Mande-
Vile Hubert Van Wagenen. Anthony Lamb Henry
Meigs Charles Henry Hall. Mangc Quackenboss James
X Whiting and thomas jeremiah Tho next year
1882 when the Presidential rcd hot in No
vember, the spring election quiet though the
was large Besides most OF those just named the
Common Council embraced Myndert Van Schaick, John
X Rhinelander, Henry Robertson Charles g. Ferris,
Thompson Price, jeremiah Towlc and other notable
In 1888 the result was much the politi-
cally and Isaac L. varian, judah Hammond, Morgan
l. SMITH Gilbert Hopkins Abraham Van Nest ex-
Mayor stephen Allen and Eningham II. Warner came
YIRsr ELECTION OF MAYOR BY THE PEOPLE
One hundred and eightyone years after the rule Of
Burgomaster Dutch for Mayor Aren't Van haten
presided over the destines OF New Amsterdam tho
people allowed to make their choice for
Mavor by direct vote Parties were now in April
1854 fuy settled into wings and democrats The for
mer nominated Cuban c. Verpianck and the demo
Gratis took Cornelius W. Lawrence. The contest was
close Lawrence winning. The vote was:-
Lawrence. ....... 1915 Verplanck. ....... 1892
Majority for Lawrence ................:..... 2o3
Al the Same time The wings got nine Aldermen and
eight ASSISTANTS the democrats having six in the upper
and In the lower Board
In 1885 regular opposition made to Lawrence,
who was up iOr reelection, though Phil Engs. JoO
Haskell, Hu. Van Nagenen Alderman Cobra and Andy
Ireland stump candidates As specimen names In
the Common Counch at this time we ind Egbert Ben-
son, Morgan l. smith, Aaron Clark Little Bitersp
Whiting, Myndert Van Schack, Daniel p. lngraham,
Edward Curtis, Richard Ray Ward and slas NJ sull-
well
II was at a democratic ratification meeting In the fa
OF this year 1881 that occurred the memorable
IN rammany Hali--the turning OF Of the gas and The
lighting up by loco TOGO matches and candes--which
gave ''loco iocosn to that radical branch OF
The democracy led By Aeck Ming Nose Jaques, John
Windt Job Haskel, Phil Snedecor and others
In 1886 began TO appear the "native American
party 70 repress the increasing power Of naturazed
citizens and aliens in political affairs There were
four candidates for Mayor-Lawrcnce, regular dem
ocrat; Seth Gecr, whg, Alexander MiDg Jr-, loco
ioco "cQual rights" theycalled theoseyesi and
the afterward renowned Professor samuel + Morse,
native American. Lawrence had an easy walk over
Lawrence. 1884 Gccr cr-.....-....... 6,l56
Ming .............. 2712 Morse. ............ ,4s6
Among the new members Of the boards the whigs
brought In Frederick A Ialmadee, Ira 3 Wheeler,
William Hall Caleb 5. W0odhull George Y. Talman
and Joseph r Taylor. The democrats added David
Banks Nelson Waterbury, Jacob Westsrvelt andH Henry
Erben.
In 1897 the vhlrs elected the Mayor, Aaron Clark
whose house shamefuy damaged BY the loaicrs
and rowdcs who visited him on New Years day.. John
J. Morgan the democratic and Moses Jaqucs the
loco foco. The native Americans did not nominate,
but voted for Clark
Clark. k............. 1904 Jaques .......... 4239
Morgan. ........... l3. 1853
The wings carried twelve OF the seventeen wards,