The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-02-16


"Another stroke and the heritage of
Isabel Lo Clair is nine and not single
soul Ill the world shall ever know it.
The governor of the state of New York
signs the bills, and | become million
aire! A millionaire! What am say
ing? A multimillionare l will bel
And sho will never dream that my mil
lions are hers by right"
So spoke Francis Raymond, lawyer
and politician leader of his party in
the county of Kings, which embraces
Brooklyn.
We find him visitor at Albany, the
capital of the state. He is not there
many hours before he is surrounded in
his suit of rooms in the Delayan by
senators, assemblymen and others whose
influence is potent for good or bad in
state and municipal government. He
seldom visits Albany, except when
more than usually interested in some
Legislation, and his word goes great
way, for he is man of power. Hence
the number and the character of his
guests.
A man about 40 years of age, his
commanding position has been won by
shrewdness that has allowed him to
pose as public spirited citizen, while
seltishness has really dominated all his
actions. He is the controlling power
behind one of the leading daily news
papers iii his city-The Trumpet-and
he secured for it, through special legis-
lation, large income for publication OF
corporation and other legal notices that
guaranteed 1t support from the start.
The rival papers-there were three
of theln-could find no fault with this,
for he very generously included them
IN his scheme at the expense of the tax
payers. This was trick learned from
the Tweed ring i'll New York, which
paid over SO, 900, 000 fol work that $780,
600 covers now in the publication of
the The City Record. In this way pub
lie opinion, as represented in the press,
was at a low ebb and, as result, the
people were not disillusioned of the
idea that the now order of things was
anything but an honest, aye-magnam-
inous-deed of public officers who
wanted to keep their constituents post
ed on their actions.
Our city has grown rapidly" said
Raymond to the legislators around
him. "Our buildings are scattered
over an area of 32 square miles and our
population is close to 500, 900. We
have neglected the creation OF parks,
the lungs of the city some one has
styled them, and the people demand
these improvements. | am up here to
have bill presented appointinga COM
mission of three to outline a system of
parks connected by boulevard, to ap-
praise and condemn property, with
another measure giving the city officials
authority to issue bonds to meet the
expenditures. | have here the reports of
public meetings suggesting and approv-
Ing this, and as our county alone has to
stand the cost there should be no objec-
tions. -
he knew there would be none. A
state convention of unusual importance
would meet shortly after the close OF
the legislative session. His own dele
cation, by virtue of its numerical
strength, would be much sought after
and courted. Francis Raymond was
known TO be very modest at conyen-
tions. He mover sought state nomina-
tion for himself or his county, except
when it was eSpedient to have can
didate for other purposes than nominat-
ing. In other words, he would invari-
ably withdraw his man on assurances
of legislative favor that would increase
his patronage in his own district and
strengthen his hold upon the local gov
ernment and the party machine.
Thus are dictators made, clothing
themselves with powers that only
revolution can set aside.
Next morning the bills were intro
duced in the senate and assembly. They
We're reported from the cities commit
tee at the evening session, again read
and passed, and were we'll on their way
to the executive chamber to receive the