Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-05-16
MIR. RANDALL's SUCCESSOR.
The Life and Career of Ex-Mayor Richard
Vaux.

ent school system of Pennsylvania, and
for fourteen years president of the Board
of School Controllers of Philadelphia. He
was also the originator of the system OF
separate confinement for criminals, and
for short time served as a judge of the
himself and an ardent advocate of popular
education, he supervised the education of
his son Richard, who was not sent to col.
lee. Richard Vaux was the first law
student Of the late William M. Meredith,
and was admitted to the bar just after he
was 20. Before entering upon the active
practice of his profession the young law
student made trip to Europe as the
bearer of dispatches TO Andrew Steven
son, then Minister of the United States at
the Court of st. James. His dispatches
contained an order to the then Secretary
of Legation to repair to Berlin and Mr..
Vaux was appointed in his steal, serving
full year, when he was relieved by Ben
iamin Rush He then completed his in
tended trip abroad, travelling through
Belgium, France, Italy and other portions
of Europe.
Returning to England he became the
private secretary of Minister Stevenson,
which capacity he served until his return
to America in 1880.
The death of King William occurred
during his residence in London, and Mr..
NauX participated in the coronation fes-
tivities and ceremonies incident to the ac-
cession of Victoria to the British throne
Returning home in the fall or 1889 he
found he had been nominated to the Leg
islatnre by the Democrats of the Ninth
ward, but the Wing majority of 5000 or
5000 was TOO great to be overcome, even
by candidate so popular as Mr.. Vaux.
In the following year he was a delegate
to the Democratic National Convention
which nominated Martin Van Buren fer
the Presidency. From this time forward
his interest in politics was keen and active.
In 1S41 he was appointed Recorder of
Philadelphia, an office he held for seven
years, no decision OF his ever being rever-
sed by the higher coults. A volume of
his decisions while Recorder was pub
lished, which is now regarded as a stan
dard legal authority,
Mr.. Vaux was nominated for Mayor by
the Democrats in 1S42, being defeated at
the polls by few hundred votes. He
was twice renominated and defeated be-
fore the consolidation of the city and was
the first Democratic candidate after con-
solidation aud was again defeated, his
successful opponent being Judge Conrad.
By this time bis blood was up and on the
day succeeding the election he announced
from the State House steps that he would
be in the field at the next election. He
was as good as his word, and what was
better, successful. His administration OF
the Mayoralty, the only elective office he
ever held, whas characterized by the in
PRODUCTION of many reforms and the
recommendation of system of municipal
government which has been practically
adopted in the existing law known as the
Bullitt Bill.
Mr.. Vaux has been for more than forty
years president of the Board of Inspectors
of the Eastern Pcnitentiary. He is a
member of the Board of City Trusts. is
GnI
phical Society, the Historical Society Of
Pennsylvania, and holds high rank in the
Masonic order. He is the author OF an
essay on the life of Joseph Hester one
of the five Pennsylvania German Gov
ernors of the Commonwealth under the
Constitution of 1890. His most volu-
minuous writings are on the sub biect OF
penology, on which he is regarded as an
authority in Europe as well as at home,
Fifty volumes of Penitentiary reports
have issued from his pen besides num-
ber of treatises on crime. its causes and
punishment.
A Democrat of the straitest sect, Mr..
Vaux has not hesitated to criticise un-
flinchingly the management of his own
party whenever it departed from the
strictest line of integrity. His whole life
has been protest against the corruptions
of modern politics. His bold independ,
ence of character makes him one of the
most striking and picturesque men in
public life. He is one of the few men
in his generation who can wait for time
to vlndicate his principles, and he pursueE
his straightforward course, caring little
who dissents from him.
In personal appearance MIR. Vaux is &
splendid specimen of physical manhood
bearing the weight of his seventy-foul
years with the jaunty, springy step oi
forty. His long hair, once tawny, now
plentifully mixed with gray, hangs in
tangled mass over his broad shoulders
He wears full beard and moustache
He still takes vigorous physical exercises
indulges in cold baths and never wears al
overcoat, carries an umbrella or rides il
a horse car.
He has been three times a candidate TO-
Efaotor of 7 ar0a apd onca in 1870 ran OF