The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-23
ALMOST AS LUCKY AS CLEVELAND
Sheehan Might Have Been in Cleve-
lands Shoes.

marEable as that of President Cleveland
The rapid rise of the President from al
unfinished term as mayor of Buffalo to the
eovernorShip of New York state, and from
an unfinished term in that Office to the
Presidency, has been and undoubtedly
always will be a source of wonder and re
mark.
The man of whom speak is just such n
character as this, and even more remark
abe in that he unwittingly cast aside OK
actlv that opportunity which set the Presi-
dent well upon the road to advancement.
His name is John {. Sheehan. at present
the secretary of the aQueduCt commissions
ers at a salary of $4,000 n year He is a
tall. we'll formed man, with a plain but
attractive face which Is marked by a cd
raturcd expression, by no means concealed
bv an unusually heavy brown mustache.
He walks by the aid Of a heavy cane, for
the lower portion of one of his legs is arti-
fetal. Thereby hangs the brief but strik-
ing story Of his career.
Mr. Sheeban was denied all the ordinary
advantages of eluca ion in his youth, and
when he came to be % years of age it is
said that he could neither read nor write.
He was gifted with good natural intelh-
EenCe and was industrious and faithful in
his work At that time he was an elevator
boy il big building i'll Buffalo One day
L.
1t resulted IN the breaking of Mr. Shee-
hams leg. 1t had TO be amputated. For
long time he was confiued i'm the hospital
and he took advantage Of the idleness i'm
pose upon him to learn to read and write.
Ii was while he wa still prevented from
active employment by the accident that he
was thrust into politics.
The democrats of Sheehan's ward were
puzzled to select a candidate for assessor
less situation, for the ward and Buffalo also
were overwhelmingly republican. Presently
one of them said: Let us nominate poor
John Sheehan.n The other two approved
the idea more with a view to compliment
ing and encouraging the unfortunate
young man than with any hope of
electIng him, even if they could nomi-
nate him. When the ward convention was
held these theree voted for Mr. Shcehan.
The name was received at first with sur
prise, but on the second ballot one OF two
other votes were added TO his little tally,
and before the convention was half aware
of it, it had nominated him for the position.
Having once committed itself to his candi-
dacv, the party in the ward went to work
with a will, and on account of the young
mans personal popularity and the high re
spect in which he was held, he was elected.
1t was undoubtedly great surprise TO all
concerned, to the successful candidate as
well as to the unsuccessful and to the polit-
ical workers who managed the different
Canvasses.
Mr. Sheehan was elected for three years.
The duties of the office were not onerous to
a man who had been in the habit of work
ing ten, twelve and fourteen hours day.
and with characteristic enterprise Mr. Shee-
han set about preparing himself for occupy
ing high station in life when his term Of
office should be concluded. He had learned
to read and write and had read books and
papers voraclously since he acquired his new
accomplishment. During the three years
of his assessorship, he applied himself as
siduOusly to the study of law, and as soon
as his term expired he was admitted to the
bar. be at once began practice and easily
secured a paying c1ientage. Meantime he
kept active in politics and in a city that
casts several thousand republican majority
as a rule, he was elected comptroller by a
majority of 1000, running as he did upon
the democratic ticket
In 1881, when the democrats of the city
were casting about for candidate for
mayor, great many of them decided that
Mr.. Sheehan would be the most available
candidate In that year there were various
outside reasons why the republicans seemed
TO have an advantage over the democrats:
therefore when the nomination for mayor
was offered to Mr.. Sheehan he declined it.
Next to Mr.. Sheehan in personal popularity
and in respect of the community was Grover
Cleveland, and Mr.. Cleveland received the
nomination. Mr.. Sheehan turned in with
his democratic allies and worked heartily
for the sheritf's election, and as everybody
knows, they succeeded. Within wear
more Cleveland had been nominated for
governor.
1t may seem surprising that having started
so magnificently in Buffalo politics. Mr..
Sheehan should have left the CITY to take
clerical position i'll the New York commits
sion, but that was due also to an accident in
politics. When the state democracy had
nominated Mr. Cleveland for governor. the
party in Buffalo put up Mr.. Sheehan for
county clerk. His election was regarded as
foregone conclusion, and that part of the
community which INDUCES i'll betting upon
elections put up their money on his chances
at the ratio of three to one in his favor.
Every democrat in that part of the state
was aroused to unusual activity by reason
of the fact that for once there was candi-
date for the governorship from that dis
trict; but that fact led the democrats to
concentrate their power upon the election
OF Cleveland, and it therefore happened
that Mr.. Sheehan's candidacy received little
attention. For one thing, it was not be-
lleved that he needed any especial attention.
and for another, sad to say, a direct effort
was made against him by his allies with a
view by the trading of votes to secure more
ballots for Cleveland and also TO take "a
little of the conceit out" of Mr. Sheehan.
Those who know Mr.. Sheehan and have
noted his unusually modest demeanor can
not but be surprised at that attitude of his
a lies until they recall that success always
makes enemies for man. 1t is vain to
analyze the causes of a political effect MIR.
Sheehan was defeated
He had contributed heavily from his own
funds to the campaign, and having entered
into politics to the extent of giving ND a
large portion of his legal practice, lie found
1t advisable to accept the secretaryship of
the acqueduct commission Nvhen it was
offered him. / cannot speak authorita-
tiN ely Of this, but | think it is safe iudg-
mont to say that he looks upon his present
position as merely means of Uidins
over temporary difficulties, and that
another element i'll the Inducements
to make him accept it was the
possibility of entering into political life in
New York city where the rewards of sue
cess are greater than in any other part of
country. 1t does not follow that If he had
been elected Mayor in 1881, that lie would
have been elected governor the next year by
2O0,0 600 majority, and the year after that
the nominee of the democratic party for
president, but under the circumstances his
political career is suggestive
F. r. BURTON
QUINN CAUSES A SILT.
The Notorious District Assembly No.