The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-12
APTITUDE FOR OFFICE HOLDING.
Mes Adapted by Nature to Attain and Keep
Permanently In Public Place.

Mes Adapted by Nature to Attain and Keep
Permanently :. Public Place.
Sheriff Charles NJ. Clancy. who died on Sun
day. was moor man among politicians Of the
city Notwithstanding the lucrative ONCE to
which he was elected In November. which
woulu have enriched him independently had
he lived to serve out his term until 1897. The
vicissitudes OF political life In New York were
shown in Sheriff Clancy's case. for he was con-
tinuously In office from the age OF % to 50.
His first official position was that OF Superln-
tendent OF Incum brances in the Department
OF Public Works. established by the Legisla-
ture OF 1860. He that held that ri ace until
Commissioner Tweed was deposed by Com
missioner Van Mort and then he became. By
election in 1872. Assistant Alderman for the
term OF two years. He held that position until
tho Board went out Of existence By the
charter am endments of1S74. In 1874 he was
elected to q vacancy on the bench OF the Sec
ond Judicial District Court in Centre street.
and In 1875 was chosen for the full term OF six
years. In 1881 he was 70 -elected and In 1887
was chosen for another six years terminating
In 1893. In November 1893 he was elected
sheriff for three years and would have served.
had he lived. until 1897.
Judge Clancy. as he was generally called:
Iled and The reason Of 9TH t was that. Except the
first. they were al elective popitlons. The OK.
penees oil candidate 90 not Degln with MS
nomination. they do not end on election
night. They are continuous at the beginning.
throughout. and at the end Of his term OF
Office. and for that reason chiefly judge Clan
cys friends in the Fourteenth ward where he
had many. were deeply grieyed when they
Of active service in tn lucrative ONCE Of sherif
which has laid the foundation Of the fortunes
proved the undolns Of perhaps as many more.
The office.hoder habit. Il II may be so de-
scribed. is strongly marked In some munich;
under various administrations, Il made no
particular difference which. Three names
this connection. cons picuous among them the
venerable Thomas Dunlap, who was a Coun:
sapsIn lSlsa Mf na o
Jurors and held the position Of Warden
Siasey Poies ID TX SgsS ' Ia. BEEN
within a comparatively recent time . Civil
5sdgs Sis sn RocE
PSiiee Judge s DVSsrhls has BEEN s sn'i fssT:e
Com m Missioner. and q Police Judge. almost
SOp,iG9oTsIy since his first appearance in
Some men. OF whom the foregoing are ex-
amples appear to have a speeial knaek or nt-
os Sog apso
nism they become involved In no scandals.
they incur the enmity OF no formidable rivals.
and they discharge their duties in such man
ner that a Mayor. having the power OF appoint
ment. feels secure in appointing q Judge or
assurances that he viii not lay the appontmsn t
open afterwards to criticism or censure. The
oldest OF New York officeholders is undoubt-
Clerk in the Sherif's office. He was member
OF Congress In 1880. appointed Naval Officer
In this port by President Buchanan in March,
1857. was made Emigration Com misioners by
Governor Hoffman in 1870. and was elected Al
derman in 1870. after an absence OF twenty
Ave years from the Board. Prior to the hold
ing OF his present position by appointment OF
Sheriff Sickles. who represented the same dis
tfiCt In Congress- some years later, Mr. Hart
held a position In the Custom House during
the first Cleveland Administration.