Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-07-23
Cleveland and Hendricks.
From the Saginaw CouIie-,
GROVER CLEVELAND. Z

OhClhu, ~ > nv DSSoihN ~ SiNtN -
one of the State charitable institu
tons in New York City. firing o.
his occupation, he started for Buffalo
and at the age of Is reached that city
"friendless, unknown and poor" tc
use his own expression. An uncle
gave him a clerkship in his store, and
his spare time he devoted to the study
of law. Once, in the dull summer
months, he left the store to teach a
village school in Erie county. There
he experienced his first lesson in love,
and it ended in such a manner that
Mr.. Cleveland has ever remained 10y
al to the romance of his youth, and
while remaining a bachelor, has been
welded to a memory.
Having completed his studies, he
was admitted to the bar, receiving
soon afterwards the appointment OF
Assistant District Attorney for Erie
county. For three years he filled the
office so creditably and became such
a terror to wrong-doers that in 1865
he was nominated for the chief place
in the office, but went down with the
rest Of the ticket. The next five
years he spent in improving his
practice. The office Of sheriff had
been prostituted by corruption, and
he was rendered the nomination for
sheriff by prominent citizens, was
elected, and Immediately commenced
a thorough house-cleaning' At the
end Of his term he entered the firm of
Wilson & Bissell, where he remained
for several years.
During this time the ring already
referred to sprang into existence, At
its head was a shrcwd Irishman nam
cd Jack White, who was a Republi-
can while the Republicans were in
power, and Democrat when the Re-
publicans were in the minority
What John Kelly is to Tammany,
White was to the Irish voters Of Buff
falo. He carried them in his hip
pocket, and if they ever poked their
heads over the top of his ist-band
he sat down upon them. Every de-
partment of the municipal govern
ment was differed by his creatures.
Millions of dollars were stolen from
the taxpayers, and one of his tools af-
ter another filled the mayors chair.
Valuable franchises were given to the
great railroad corporations for which
not a penny was paid to the city
Even the highest federal offices of the
district were doled out to Whites
nominees. Taxation increased at an
alarming rate. Crime was rampant.
Real estate had deprecated. Deter
mined efforts had been made to wrest
this power from White, but as he
manipulated the caucuses and conven-
tions of both parties, no matter which
won, the ring was always on top. A
veritable commune existed, and White
was its supreme dictator.
There came time when even the
most timid clamored to have the
Augean stable Of corruption and
crime cleaned out. Locking round
for a modern Hercules, it seemed but
fitting that the man who had purified
the shcrili's office was competent to
play n greater role as municipal dis
injector. Grover Cleveland was ten
dered the nomination for mayor. AT
ter due deliberation he decided his OBJ
legation to his clients would not per-
nit him to accept the profered honor.
The citizens looked elsewhere, but
somehow every path led to Cleveland.
A movement was set on foot to force
the Democrats to nominate him.
Learning of this he did what he could
to prevent it. At the moment when
a ballot was being taken in the con-
vention on his name, u Republican
committee was in his law office urg-
ing him to accept. Again he declin-
ed, when messenger burst in. telling
him Of his unanimous nomination. A
committee from the convention imme-
diately waited on him to learn if he
would accept. lie agreed to accept
provided the rest of the ticket was
satisfactory to him, and under the i'm
pulse of the hour a reform ticket
throughout was nominated. Thsying.
sters worked like Trojans to defeat
the nominations. 1t was usclcsS eu-
perhuman efforts were made onvbotl
sides at the election, and thescauss D
pure government triumphed. S.
The old council still held over FOL
some weeks after Cleveland becasn'
, mayor. On a five years street clean
ing bid the contract was awarded u
the second lowest bidder--a membe
of the ring-who was $4,000 highe
than the lowest. Cleveland Setoe,
the award A Reimbursement FOL
lowed, and again the same contracto
received the award Another vet
followed, and this time it was in Ian