Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-17
AROUND IN GOTHAM
Matters in the Metropolis ae
Seen by a Great Observer.
A CHEcKERED POLITICAL CAREER.
John y. McKane. . Man Who VIII BE
Heard from-Boedie Money Not Distri-
butsd-E6sct Of the Excise Law.

butsd-E6sct Of the Excise Law.
Correspondence Of the Richmond DIspstch.I
NEW yoRx, April "A substantial-look-
ing North-of- Ireland man who IL known
by sight to very few Broadway prone
naders hiss attaching Just now to his port
~ personality that liveliest of all "con-
temporaneous human interests" the force
fulness Of leadership. BY the results he
has accomplished John Y. McKane is an
actor of national importance on the stage
of public affairs. He has. to begin with,
the interesting equipment OF q mysterious
middle name. IL Is something OF dis
tinction itself to be named that way. More
Long Island City, or Mclaughlin to Brook
Ism, or McDermott to Jersey City, Is Nc
Kane to Gravesend. where Cleveland was de-
feated IN 1888. and whore he may be elected
in 1892. Clevelands plurality Of LOAF votes
in the State of New York in 1884 came
from Gravesend, the citadel OF the great
county of Kings. which in 1888 showed
falling of OF about 5000 in its Democratic
vote. That falling on is belieyed to nave
keeper of tho citadel. He was o Democrat
in 1884 a Republican in 1888. Now, In
1892, he is not ouly Democrat, but an
anti-Hill Democrat, possessed of distinct
personal grievance against David Is. Hill,
and likely to leave no stone unturned IN
an effort to roll up big Democratic plural.
ties for Cleveland or Cleveland man II
no gets the chance. Now, who says
John Y. McKane is not Just now
Tic arena? Nobody in Washington knew
much about McKane until be marched at
the head of the procession along Pennsyl-
yania avenue at Harrison's inauguration.
Since that time repeated efforts have been
made to bring about personal meeting
between him and David b. Hill, who calls
him "Johu." Mckane has perslstently re-
fused to treat with Hill. And the senator
has a very persuasive tongue. Nearly forty
years ago this leader in American politics.
one of our potent Mes. came from the
North of Ireland with his father. As lad
he trod the shadows of Sheepshead Bay Tor
clans. But he was ambitious and made all
the acauaintances he could and then made
friends Of them. The Franklin Lodge OF
Odd-Fellows admitted him to member
ship, and when the time came for an cleo,
ton for constable, tho Odd-Feliows ana
his other friends elected John Y. Mckane:
He took TO politics, as all Northumberland
men seem to do. Then no became CON-
missioner Of common lands, then super
visor of his township. then chief OF police.
then member of the Democratic state
Comrnittee. All this time he was Demo-
crat. In 1887, because Hill broke promises
10 him, as he says, he went In heart and soul
anti-Hill. Cleveland was asked to patch
up the quarrel from the White House, but
Cleveland said it was only local quar-.
rel. and McKane went anti Cleveland, and
Cleveland went under the next year. now
the Democracy of Kings. the second county
in the State, has Just taken John 1. NC
Kane into the fold again and chosen him
chairman of the Board of supervisors OF
the whole county. If that causes Dir. har-
rison to lose any sleep, why let him lose II !;
il can't be helped, and facts. are facts.
McKane wears the imperial, and the states
man with the tuft on his chin is at the
front. The Odd-Fellow did it Mckane IS
solid and we'll proportloned. brown-halTed
and moustached, husband and father
and thrifty manager, and he has the blue
ewes of the man who gets there"
GOVERNOR ALBEIT AND THE BooDLEBs.
In yetoing the Reading coal conspiracy
bill Governor Leon Albeit. of New jersey.
has done what public sentiment demanded
ne should do, but evidently not what he
himself wanted to do. He was dragooned
into correcting as corrupt a piece OF
monopolistic legislation as this country
III.
on the ground that he believes 1t to he un-
constitutional. and yet throughout his
somewhat extended veto messaa Q he argues
that the bill is @ good thing, and laments
that he is not able to approve II. Inc
fact is, that he vsoes the bill as a
piece of political expediency.. The
idea of bill to legalize combination to
increase the price of coal to the consumer
was so impudent in its conception aud
outrageous in principle that it created q
storm of indignation throughout the coun:,
try. and particularly in New Jersey, and
the Governor, as much as he would have
liked to see the bill become law, did not
dare afiix his signature to 1T. 1t would
have meant his political death. and 1T Is
not at all assured that his temporizlng
with the boodlers has not already laid MN
upon the shelf for damaged goods. What
ever the Legislature may do Tor MIN In
the way of furthering his ambition to
achieve the United States senatorsnlp, 1T
is generally believed that the people OF the
State will be slow to again honor hiG wth
any important Office. His election TO the
senate would not be vindication. as the
public has very clear understanding as TO
the manner i'll which these things are ac-
complished. breeze that blows over the
| Hudson Is to the effect that he Will repair
| his shattered fences and make detsr-
mined effort to slip into the senatorial va.
cancy which occurs next year. but even II
| he succeeds-and his chances may
| be considered fair-it will. for the
| reason stated, avail him nothing
| AS a yindication. Another man who has
been badly crippled by this attempted
| legislation Is Mr.. Mcleod. president OF
| the Reading road. When he consummated
the deal by which the Reading, Lehigh
| Valley and Jersey Central was console,
4 I, ha,l ad
| finance, but less glory attaches to ms
name now. Men are not always honored
| for accomplishing that which the law re-
cards as shady, and this Reading deal IS
| decidedly of that character. 1t all goes
| 10 show that public sentiment is still capa-
| BILE or being aroused to .heaithy action-a
| fact that corporationists should take care
| full note of. 1t is more or less important
WILL THEY CIT THE DOODLE!
the bill which the New Jersey Legislature
was paid to pass, the highly-important
question arises. Will the members who
were corrupted into voting for 1T get tue
money that was promised themf IL IL
| nrettv we'll known that q sum not less than
Sa00. 900 was placed In Trenton to secure
the passage of this bill and am told that
| a large part of this money was placed on
| deposit to be paid to the friendly members
when the measure became law. Wnen
| this arrangement was made. there was nc
doubt as to the Governor signing it the
moment he got the opportunity. But ne
has not signed it. The protest OF the
public was not foreseen, and the wise
Schemes of the schemers have gone agley
Can the members who voted for the, bill
claim the money which has not yet beer
paid to them. and is held in trust some
where until such time as the bill shall pc
come law? The coal barons, baked II
their beautiful plans. are said to be in nc
mood to pay large sums of money for what
they did not get and are now not likely 70
get. The members are understood TO bt
Claiming that in voting for the bill they die
ali that could be expected Of them, and
ali that they agreed to do, and are r., en-, q,
titled to the promised honorarlum. Iher'
is somewhat psnicky feeling among thes
statesmen in regard to this undivided
noodle. They recall previous case wher'
$40 600 was placed In the custody OF an ont
side party to be paid when certain pii
| 49, E-Sa The hull uaa Dagaed but be