The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-10


that his connection with the politics of the
town was an expense rather than a gain. In
1883 he quarrelled with Mclaughlin, and at
consequence was fred out Of tho Board Of
Supervisors for Kings County. How we'll no
avenged himself all know who understand
how New York State went for Harrison.
after this McKane ceased to bo local
politician. His yoice became potent in Wash
iDgton and men, who at hoart despsed him,
like General Tracy then Secretary Of the
Navy, and who was chief counsel against
him, were glad 10 see him in private, and
TO respect his wishes as 10 tho distribution Of
tho Federal patronage in New York.
Maddened al what they regarded as the
perfldy and treason Of John Y McKGne in
tho Presidential election the Democratic
Legislature at Albany, in the winter OF 1890
determined TO clip his wings by curtallins his
power. A bill was passed amending tho
election law as applied to country towns, by
providing that there should be no election
district with more than 400 votes. The pur-
pose Of this law was 10 weaken the power Of
McKane who, ,.up to this time had voted all
his followers at the town hall.
"Any man but John Y. McHano would hayo
been puzzled to defeat tho purposes Of this
bill, but he had the two great requisites 70.
succoss-audaclty and cunning lie discOy-
cred, or his lawyers did for him, that the
bill was not mandatory, but contained the
word may instead Of shall, and 80 he paid
no heed to IT, but continued in his own sweet
way.
" The next year the ballot reform law, for
which McKane's opponents worked so hard,
came into operation, and it required q separ-
ate polling place for every 300 voters Every
good citizen hailed this ballot law as a move
in the right direction. but the superintendent
Of the Sheep5head Bay Sunday school laughed
in derision and at once proceeded to defeat
It.
"There are SIX election districts in the town
Of Grayesend, and McXane at once divided
the town into six sections Of a cole, each one
Of which had its auex or narrowest point in
the very center Of the town hall About the
place where these points conyerGed he caused
six polling booths to be erected, all under ono
roof, and as we know, directed By one hand.
In 1892 peace was again made between
Boss Mclaughlin and Boss NcHGne, and in
the election Of 1895, the latter determined 10
snow his zeal for the alliance by casting
nearly us many votes for the Democratic
ticket rs there were residents in the town {;
but the Indignation caused by such Infamous
registration induced him to east only about
one half, though that was more by several
hundred than the town was entitled TO-. His
OF the court, and the cruel treatment and
arbitrary arrest OF many respectable citizens,
by his creatures, capped the climax Of public
wrath, and mis- present unenyiable position
is the consequence.
IN the comic opera Of the MiSGdo there is
q character, Poo Bah who centers in himself
all the lucrative and bribable positions in the
Empire; but the imaginary character is
modesty itself compared with John y. Nc
Kane and it should be said that where he did
not hold an Office, he controlled it through
one OF his many cringing and despicablc
henchmer.
Until his conviction a few days ago Nc
Kane represented Gravesend in the Board OF
Supervisors, and even after his Indictment
he had the temegity to control thc Board and
make himself president through the vote Of a
man whom he knew to be frauduent,y elected
ard who has since been oustcd by the Cour,
McKane is the head Of the fire department at
! Grlvosond, and he is the Chief of Police with
/ thirty men under HMM the winter, and three
/ or four times that number when Couey Island
| is in full blast de is the town tax assessor
/ collector and treasurer. He has charge Of the
town lands, though these have been growing
less as his own possessions have increased
While running the church, he has iostered
the Coney Island Athletic CLUB, an organi7a.
ton of touehs and sharpers, who have made
much money by exhibiting in the prize ring
other touchs VINO are not SO sharp.
While he does not drink himself and his
private life is believed to be cntireiy moral
he has licensed hundreds of liquor places
gambling fakes, low concert halls, vulSai
dance houses, and sanctioned their being
kept open on Sunday, when the working
man and his family 80 down to the democratic
west end OF Coney Island for breath Of sal
air. He has added TO the facilities for de
moralization by supporting the race courses
which he claims would go some place else
taking the money with them If he did no
keep them near Coney Island.
when John Y McKane surrendered tn,
building business TO his brothers, ten year
ago he was not worth $4,000; to-day h,
is worth over $500, 900, and his large holding
of real estate are yearly increasing in value
From the one item ct rentals he receive
500 900 year This shows the shady side o
the mans character, and it certainly is blacI
enough, though he stoutly maintains that h
got honestly every cent he owns. o; course
the word honest is very elastic with sucl
men, and II must be confessed Johns cthica
standard is far below his religious preton
ions. Even in Jail, | am told he asks {
blessing before meals, and believe It.
There is, however, something TO be said oi
the other side The beer and whiskey sellers
and the fnkirs and the keepers of dance house,
are all made 10 pay license that would be sim
ply prohibitory in q less profitable field thai
Coney Island These licenses are assesse,
in tho most artistic way, depending on IN,
licensees capacity to pay, aud the aggregate
goes. TO swell the town treasury, kept h,
MoKane himself, but he points with pride {,
the great improvements he has made and th,
fact that the taxes have been steadily re
ducod, Some years ago, a chartered com
pany, without consulting with McKane pu
down water phnt in the town, but he re
fused to recognize It, In defiance of law
but certainly in the interests OF the people
he built water works on his own accoun
with town money, and the people own them
Gas and electric light companies have beef
trying to enter this promising territory, bu
the boss has frightened them away, and h,
was planning to build gas works and au elec
trio plant as he had the waterworks whoi
he ran against the law with too much fore,
| ,pt Lad hand