Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-14
CLEVELAND IN BUFFALO.
How He Came to be Elected Nayor-Pei
sOpal characteristics.
From the Buffalo Commercial, Marc. q.


From the Buffalo Commercial, Marc, q.
AT Washington, to-day, the Hon. Grover
Cleveland, OF Buffalo, was duly inaugura:ed
President OF the United States He IS the 25th
President, and the second citizen of Buffalo
who has attained that great office, the first one
being the late Willard Fillmore who became
President on the death of President Taylor in
1880.
Only three years ago the new President was
Mayor Of BufAlo. and on March 4. 1882. he
would have said i'm apostolic" and ridiculous
the event OF to-day. The circumstances OF his
pubic career and his wonderful political for
tune are well known; but Il few little reminis-
ences. incidentally bearing On his advance
mcnt, may not be out Of place.
II, 1t is well-known fact that i'm the fall Of ISL
the local democracy we've all at sea in regard to
candidate Tor mayor. MrCleveland was busy
In his law practice, and v.as regarded as out of
politics SO far as being q candidate Tor any Of
tial campaign he took very little part. and only
made one or two speeches. One afternoon, lust
before the city convention. Lawyer Cleveland
who had been busy In court all day. entered the
restaurant OF his friend Michael DOH. AT one
OF the tables sat group OF democratic polite
ians discussing the mayoralty question. As Mr.
Cleveland entered one OF them exclaimed
There's the man we want and he was invited
to join the circle. On sitting down il was sug-
Candidate for mayor. Mr. Cleveland laughed
the idea to scorn What do 1 want TO be mayor
for p he said. I've got all can attend to. and
besides If wanted an office it would NOT lie that
OF mayor o: Buffalo," The conference broke up
satisfied that Mr.. Cleveland could
not be INDUCED to run. Then came the
ton, at Tivoli hall, engineered by the late Jas,
u. Muldoon, who was chairman of the city com
nittee. Admission could only be had 10y ticket
and the Commercial that afternoon headed its
report OF the convention "Muldoon's" Picnic
name which always stuck TO il. Mr.. Cleveland
was unanimously nominated for Mayor. and a
committee of three was appointed 10 if he
would accept. If not they were instructed TO
offer the nomination to Alderman George W
Partridge. In order TO facilitate Mr.. Cleveland's
acceptance John 9. Sheehan, who had been re-
nominated by acciamation for controller, was
Withdrawn and Timothy ]. Mahoney substi-
tuted. II was about o'clock in the afternoon
when Mr.. Cleveland appeared in the conven-
ton and made q short speech in which he said
that he accepted the nomination with reluct-
ance, but would do SO because lac was q demo-
crat, and as such could not fail TO respond TO the
call Of his party.
The famous veto of the STRENGTHENING con-
tract swindle," as 1t was called, Monday June
26, 1882, did more than anything else 10 make
Mr. Cleveland S reputation as mayor, but a. q
matter OF fact, It's effect was entirely discounted
by the aldermen, who-as was said at the time
nearly tumbled over one another in their
haste TO rescind their action in the matter be-
fore the mayors veto came IN. This they sue
ceeded in doing, but the veto was afterward
read and ordered received and filed. It's effect,
Of course, had been entirely forestalled. On the
morning OF the day it was sent in reporter Of
the Commercial called on Mayor Cleveland 10
ask for an advanced copy of the expected veto,
to print in the third edition. ..Weil," said the
mayor, I've got veto prepared and think it
pretty stiff one, but don't want to give II to
YOU because am afraid they won't receive il.
1t makes man sick" he continued. ito think
OF their action, and have used some plain lam
guage." The reporter suggested thai the coun-
Gil was bound TO receive an official conmunica-
tion from the mayor. and after some persuasion
his honors scrupIes about allowing an advance
copy to be taken We're overcome, on the pledge.
however that if the document was not read it
should not be printed.
a Mr nd trac al
very clevert the newspaper men, in giving out
his public documents, al of which he wrote
Hon. Harmon 3. Cutting. We notice q dispatch
from Washington says that he intends to de-
Is characteristic, and it is an old habit with him
70 write out and memorfZe what he has to say.
He did so at the meeting of the bar called to take
action on the death of his friend, Oscar Folsom
when he made a touching and beautiful speech.
It was thought to be inpromptu, but the re-
porters knew otherwise, as they already had
the manuscript word for word as he delivered
When, as mayor, he was called upon to de-
stone Of the new Young Mems Christian Associ-
alton building, on Mohawk street, a reporter
1.-THE Commercial approached him 10 obtain
delivered. "Oh, here it is: you can take il now"
said the mayor. II wrote it out, but know it
by h, heart ut 49,, 1t was the same way with his
speech at the dedication Of the Fitch Institute
How Congressman Niece Helped Grant
Through.
From the New York Graphic.
General Grant probably owes the final and
legal accomplishment of the act by which he is
placed on the retired list to the manly good will
and desire for fair play exhibited by one who
during the civil war was denounced as q cop
perhead. Representative Neece, Of Illinois, is
the man referred to. He is chairman of the
committee on enrolled bills. To this commit
tee is entrusted the work of making and veri-
flying the copies OF acts which are signed, and
thereby become law. He voted against the re-
tirement bill all through. But be also saw