The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-01
a GREAT CHAMPAGNE CONSUMER,
A Folice Justice Who Spends a For
tune for Wine Every Year.

tune for Wine Every Year
New York, Sept, 29.-Among the big
champagne drinkers in New York one OF
the most prominent is Andrew J. White, the
police justice and politician, whose recent de-
fecton from the County democracy has been
one OF The surprises IN the present y litical
campaign in the metropolis. White, whom
thenewspapers have only recently cared TO
mention by the familiar soubriquet OF
Andy" Ia one of the characters OF this
big town. Dickens or Thackeray woult
have delighted in his acquaintance, and
would undoubtedly have made him inn
mortal
Ignorant, aud without the slightest
amount of culture he is yet the boon COM
panlon of some Of our foremost cltlzen
and is reputed to have larger personal
following than any other politician in New
York.
In acquiring his personal friends the
champagne habit has assisted him TO con-
siderable extent, although that is by no
means his only hold upon them. Ii is
Whites boast that he never drank a drop OF
whisky, and that he has indulged in malt
liquors, brandy and ordinary wines only oc-
caSionally. 1t Is well known that his salary
as police justice, $1,000 year, does not
begin to )ver his champagne bills for half
that period.
The larger part of his income is derived
from the coItr ct with the city for the dis
posal of its dead horses and other offal. The
day on which White opens less than a
dozen quart bottles should be marked with
all the shades of red in his calendar. He
has no particular brand apparently, but tho
yellow-labeled Clicquot seems to be his
favorite.
His love for the gaseous fluid has led him
into doing some curious things; for in
stance: He was sitting in one of the up
town resorts at the time that Abram s.
Hewitt was elected mayor, and while the
police were writhing i'll one Of their virtu-
Gus spasms and were rigidly enforcing the
excise law. Supt. Murray was striving
heroically to catch all offenders who kept
their side doors open on Sundays, and de-
tectives in citizens clothes were proving
about town with suspicious eyes.
White would not forego his morning bath
in champagne nevertheless. Within few
doors of the police court is a saloon which
wields a power in the ward, and to this
White resorted every Sunday morning be-
fore ascending the bench and there drank a
quart of his favorite tipple. At that time
arrests for violating the excise .law were
frequent aud he invariably found string
of prisoners awaiting hun when he assumed
his judicial duties. These he held strictly
to account, those who could not furnish
bail being sent to urison. When the court
closed he would once more wend his way
to The saloon. this time in the company Of
some OF the lawyers that frequent the
court
Usually the party numbered four or five,
| and they found seats around a table in a
| private room. White did all the treating
| and, if the capacity of his companions had
been equal to his own, the quantity con-
sumed would have been enormous. AS it
was, a case Of quarts usually proved sufii-
cient. HiIhis was before dinner. After a
| drive up the road behind a team OF swift
and handsome horses he would betake him
self to the Manhattan club, of which he is
member, and would invite two or three
friends TO assist him in disposing of dinner
and more champagne. The quantity would
depend on the size of the party and the
tastes of the members As long as any one
else could stand it the wine flowed unceas-
ingly.
have seen White drink champagne with
d small party of friends at the cafe of the
N rton house until my head grow dizzy
counting the bottles. At an informal
gathering in Harlem. where he is at home
and whence he derives his political follow
ing, he recently began one of his champagne
sprees. and he did not stop until he bad
eighty quart bottles on his bill. His fame
as a champagne drinker has become so
eat that several Of the leading champagne
houses have offered him the same privilege
they have extended to such social lights as
Tom Howard and Ward McAllister and the
ex- King of Dudes, Evander b. Wall--that
is, to drink as much as he pleases free of
cost, provided he drinks their special brands
only. That is an opportunity extended
only to the man whose expressed preference
would influence a large number OF others.
But White prefers TO remain unhampered
and to pay for what he wants rather than
to drink for nothing at the dictation of
others.
HIS entire income exceeds $50, 900 year
and he spends 1t all. He might be "a mill
ionaire If he had practiced the ordinary
economy of rich mon, but it is doubtful
whether much would remain after his
funeral expenses were settled If he were to
die tomorrow.
While the politicians are doubtful ab"
the result Of his leaving his old polii al
affiliations, his standing as a consume. o.
cbampa sno cannot be affected.
JOHN Hoe.