New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-19

The most powerful, but the least known in public.
OF political leader. Ia the city l. Hugh Mclaughlin
designated popularity a the " Boss ana iy ms Hu-
mate associates as the Old MAN." An old man he Is
becoming for he born In what Is now furnnn-
ST. under the Heights Oh April . lsss. and In
fortnight will he Ixtyive years old Ills father was
an Irish immigrant who kept grocery lie died
i'm 1850 leaving family Of seven children, OF whohi
Hugh was the youngest. lie must have inherited
his taste for politics from his mother. for she was
deeply Interested in public affairs. Hugh was early
apprentced to n ropc.mnEer In Williamsburg. but be
fore attaining his majority he became marheiman
In Alinilc ave-. and kept a shstand where he soon
began that active Interest In political affairs w'h
has lasted him through ni"
The men who were influential In public affairs began
10 irclieit the stand Of Chief Mclaughlin a. nc
wa, called early In the n,ic In so he was active IN
organizing the Union Cub. and WAS its first prc,ilni
II net in the "rnicn cabin" In Pier pont-,. the hrt
clubhouse In the city. Ia that year he was d''o
cate TO the State Convention at syracuse wherc hhS'
(ounty sought the nomination Tor hoNerh"i
for Judge Wand, .Alt OF Flabrh, and failing In tha''
cb,ancd the second plac, the Ticket for hin Inc
hog inning OF the powerful influence Of Mclaughlin In
local polite, when he secured the nomination
and election Of samuel Powell Tor Mayor In ls1h. ana
asan In isj5. In lscO Mclaughlin was delegate
to the National Deaocratlc Convention In CharcN'"h
and al that time he master lajor'r III the Navy
Yard und::r IN. Buchanan Administration, having
given I'D private DNriu'~, lbI piDh- V"''' -
At the Navy Yard That he called Boss ana The
rame has clung 10 him ever since. In th; Local
c.s,ion OF i-CO be VII, Il candidate for ShciH. bui
was defeated by Anthony +. Campbell 'hdisnaYc''
however, lie secured the nomination for Resitcr oi
Deed, in 1861 and was elected. IN l7"' ne wa
again elected but was defeated for thru term by
Charles s,hr IL il 1851 Aean. IN 1870, he secured
n. noni !aicn AID cl-'t d to he "a ne OH c. IL
was his lis: experience In holding pnblc Once
The foundations OF y fortune hal been laid by tie
,a foes of the Office he held nine yeats aEi sc'rr
prontabc investments had been made bv IAN '"ro"'h
his political knowledge. when had steadily Strength
cncd Ms hold public affairs. lie proh'"i l'rg"Y
by tie change In Plan Of Prospect Park whice took
the lana AZ far Fitrcnths., rs b" hal
mgda purchases In dat rclchborhooi. His met DDS
had aroused cons, icrahl" opposition among nicpend
cnt Democrats In the DAYS whfn Mayor schroeder
hcli Office and aftcrwa!d when he rad dictated the
nomination OF James Howell three tines In succession
The nucleus 81 an organization In opposition To III"
Democratic General E0mmi'ic" which Mclaughlin
dominated. and where he MADE one or two sp"cc rs
which were not favoraby received In 1880. had been
secured n Hancock ard Ensi, clubs and from hc'e
Thomas Klnsclla organized In 1Sol the Thomas joy
fcrson Association. Til, body nominated GENERAL
Henry W. Slocum for Mayor In opposition to Mayor
Howell. and seth Low the Republican ana CHI
zens canaiiac. Forcsccing tie inevitable defeat II
sloclr remained in the field. Mclaughlin made pub
lie q statement declaring his permanent withdrawal
from politics. which accepted IN good faith and
General Slocum Withdrew from the field ami made
speech supporting Mayor Howell. After Mayor
Low was elected Mclaughlin made no opposition to
n reorganization Of ire Democratic Committee on the
basis Of enrolled primaries but he WIS soon as ac-
tive as ever In political management and for ten
year, has steadily strengthened his hold on munic!
pal affairs. few years ago he removed his home
from Jayst.. In the Fourth Ward. to Remsen-st. on
the Heights In the First Ward but made little chang"
I'm his modest manner OF living. For years he has
frequenicd Kcrrislns auction rooms In willoughby-
st. AMI It was supposed that he had an Office there.
but in his evidence last week he denied that he had
desk there and practically said that his Office In his
hat. Ills hat IL indeed conspicuous part OF his
attire. The memory Of man runneth not back 10
& @ time that he seen 10 wear other than SIX
hat and h. wears II constantly that II Is believed
that ne puts II on when h. gels up In the morning
and only takes II of when he goes 10 bed
As a listener Mr.. Mclaughlin Is unexccllcd. but IL
Is difficult, 10 secure more than sentence or TWO
from him I'm the way OF uttcrancc. once III q wh'i'
he speaks at length, rs he recently did In couhse'
ling tho Democratic members Of tac Legislature. lie
has never been openly accused Of proflting pecnhi
arily by his political power until the trial came up
In which he was q witness last week. But that some
Ct his henchmcn levy tribute upon contractors and
oiccbodcrs Is 20 commonly asserted that to dispute
IL would be- ale The advice II Mr. Mclaughlin is
sought almost daily BY the Mayor. Senator'S Assembly
men and other prominent 0icelolcers Of the city AMI
county and the governmental policy pursued may
be considered 10 be dictated By him. 50 closely
Identified with public affairs Is he that hc regarded
IL as u personal insult when Governor Flower vetoed
the bill 10 legaize the Columbian bills incnrrcd by
the city authorities without warrant Of law.
The consideration OF the subjecUOf reorganization
by the subcommittee OF the Reorganization Commit
Tee Of tho Republican General Committee was con
tinued on Friday evening, and another meeting Will
be held this week before the report Is submitted To
tho full committee. That a plan Will he agreed
upon for presentation al the meeting OF The Genern
Committee next month Is shown by the fact tha'
notice was given at the March meeting last Week oil
uroposed amendments the BY laws covering the plans
proposed for district organization by benjamin y.
Blair and Delmore Ewcl. The report must embody
I. plan for organizing each Of the 6fo election ats
tricts in the city. IL seems probable that tine
urcseft ward organizations will De disbanded. The
rcenrolment OF the Republicans Of the county under
the direction of the Young Republican Club Is going
forward In spite Of rumors that II would be abanaonea