New-York tribune., 1890-03-29
GEN. SICKLES FOR SHERIFF
GOVERNOR HILL SURPRISES THE PoLlTI.
CLANS.
ALL THEIR PREDICTIONS PROVED TO BE FAILS
"A SKETCH OF THE GENERALS CAREER.

Governor Hill succeeded in giving New-i iois
politicians genuine surprise last night nc uS
this by appointing General Daniel e. ScKies '".''''
of the city and county Of New-iorK IN 'ne '"''
of James A. Flack. resigned ,.a hoor
During the day and evening there Id" "'e
more dcclinations of the place than new c"nui-
dates announced Secretary John T. oneehah'
of the Aoueduct Commission, said that ne had seno
word N the Governor positively withdrawlng MS
name President Charles w. Dayton, OF tne
Harlem Democratic Club. said that nc wouio noc
accent tho place under any circumstances anu was
not a candidate for any ONCE. Emigrauoh
Corm;ssioncr F. L. Ridgway was declared "out
=. .h. races and exJudge Gildersleeve was said
N have refused to allow his name to be consld-
ercd at all Acting-Sherin Sexton emphatlcaily
assorted that he not in the field. and De-
sides. that he did not believe anybody would take
it.
Toward evening q rumor gained credence that
Hans S. Beattie. eX-Surveyor OF the fort' hao Deeh
nusbed for the Office by eX-Sccretary William
= whitney. and that Governor Hill had about
made I'D his mind to appoint Mr.. Bcattie. BY the
time the political thinkers" hegan to gather
about the uptown clubs and hotels this rumor
had been STRENGTHENED into positive statement
that Beattie had been appointed. and the
usual Friday evening invoice Of statesmen al
irving from Albany backed up the report by
looking wise and declaring that it was in all
probability true.
These surmises were blown to the winds about
II p m. by the news of General Sickess
snnointnent. Inquiry at the Generals home,
No. 23 Ffth-ave., brought the information that
he had gone to Albany yesterday, and the con-
clusion was naturally formed that as he was on
the ground. the Governor had his assurance that
he would accept before appointing him.
The selection of General Sicklcs bears out
the general expectation that Sheriff Flack's sue
ccssor would be taken from the Tammany fold.
Although not conspicuous partisan of late years,
the General is an adhercnt of the Wigwam in
GOOD and regular standing. His last public ap-
pearance at the Fourteenth-st. temple was the
occasion which he delivered eulogy upon
CONGRESSMAN S. S. Cox.
Daniel Edgar SiclSles born in this city
October 20. 1928 He entered the University of
the City of New-York. but never graduated.
poverty compelling him to go to work at the print
ers case He was admitted to the bar in 1874.
was elected to the Legislature in 1S47 and was
appointed Counsel to the Corporation in 1853
lie resigned the same year to become secretary
of legation at London. James Buchanan being
the United States Minister at the Court of st,
James. On his return to NewYorlS he was elected
10 the State Senate and was twice sent to Con-
gress, always as Democrat. AT the outbreak
of the war he raised the Excelsior Brigade. and
President Lincoln commissioned him brigadier-
general. General Sickles participated with dis
tnction in all the battles of the Army OF the
Potomac and at Charlottesville and Gettysburg
he commanded the Third Army Corps, having been
promoted 10 the rank of Major-Gencral. In the
last mentioned battle he lost leg. and after the
war he placed upon the retired list of the
army with the rank and retired pay OF major
general.
General Sicklcs was an active supporter Of Gen
eral Grant for President. both in 1868 and 1872
and maintained his utilization with the Republican
party until $50. when he supported General Han
cock and has since acted with the Democrats
For four years he the United States Min
lister to Spain by President Grants appointment
After that he held public appointment unit
Governor Hill appointed him, in 1887, member
OF the State Board OF Civil Service Commissioner
of which he became president lie resigned las
December, having served the two years which NJ
said he had promised the Governor to do. Or
retiring. he said that his experience on the Boart
had made him thorough convert to civil Service
reform. For several years the General has bter
president of the Board Of Commissioners for the
erection of Ncw-IorlS monuments at gettysburg
Ever since the war he has taken an active par
in all measures calculated to benefit his com
Iades-in-arms of the Union Army, and his ap
pointment is sure to pc gIccted VIII
delight by the veterans Of the Grand Army
OF the Republic. 1t was generally approved bS
all classes of citizens and is regarded by politicians
as an extremely clever solution Of the situation
by the Governor. He has appointed q solid citi
zen, of long and honorable record, both civil an'
military. man of independent fortune: who may
be expected to enter firmly upon the business ol
reforming the abuses Of the Sherihs office. fol
"extra compensation" and excessive fees Will have
no attractions to draw him from strict perform
apce of duty. At the same time, the Generals
political tendencies make him satisfactory. to the
dominant faction of the city. There is little nues
tion that he will have abundant opportunity fol
putting into practice the civil service theories to
which he has recently become attached.