Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-03-04

was Co him a sort OF religious primary,
and while be was no doubt eager 20 save
she souls Of every boy present, the pos
sibility of that boys shortly becoming
a voter did not lessen his interest.
early in his political career, McKane
became the friend of an older and ADLER
boss than himself; this was a man OF
the same race, and who, though a
/ Catholic, had much the same habits
notorious Hugh Mclaughlin OF Brook
lvn. Up to bis meeting with this man,
McKane seems 70 have been moderate
in his aspirations, and certain il is that
his connection with the politics OF the
town was an expense rather than a
gain. In 1SSS he Quarrelled with Nc
Laughhn, and as a consequences was
fred out OF the Board Of Supervisors
for Kings CQpnty. How well he aven-
ged himself all know who understand
how New York State went for Harri-
son.
"After this McKane ceased to be a
local politician. dis voice became po-
tent in Washington ana men, who at
heart despised him, like General Tracy
then Secretary ,of the Navy, aud who
was chief counsel against him, were
glad % see him in private, and to re-
sDect his wishes as 70 the distribution
of the Federal patronage 10 New York.
"Maddened 81 what they regarded as
the pee ddy and treason Of john y. Nc
Kane fro the Presidential election, the
Democratic Legislature az Albany, in
the winter Of 1900, determined TO clip
his wings by curtailing his power. A
bin was passed amending the election
law as applied 90 country towns, by
providing that there should be no cleo.
ton district with more than 400 votes.
The purpose Of this law was 10 weaken
the power Of McKane who. up to this
time had voted all his followers at the
town hall.
,sApv man but John y. McKane
would have been puzzled to defeat the
purposes OF this bill, but he had the two
great requisites for succesS-audacity
and cunning. BE discovered, or his
lawyers did for him, that the bill was
not mandatory, but contained the word
NAV instead OF shall and so 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
80 hard, came into operation, and IL re-
ouired q separate polling place for
every 500 voters. Every good citizen
hailed this ballot law as move in the
right direction, but the superintendent
o. the Sheepshead Bay Sunday school
laughed in oeriSion and az once pro-
ceeded 20 defeat it.
There are six election districts In
the town OF Gravesend, and Mckane at
once divided the town into six sections
OF a cone, each one OF which had its
aOex or narroWest point in the very cen
ter OF the town hail. About the place
where these points converged, he caused
six polling booths TO be erected, all
upder one roof, and as we know, direct
ed By one hand.
''In 1892 peace was again made be-
tween Boss Mclaughlin aud Boss Nc
Kane, aud 10 the election Of 1898, the
latter determined TO show his zeal for
the alliance by casting nearly as many
votes for the Democratic ticket as there
we're residents in the town; but the in
diQpation caused by such infa-
nous registration induced him TO
cast only about one-hah, though
that was more by several hun
dred than the town vas entitled 20.
His refusal to let the lists be copied on
an order Of the court, and the cruel
treatment and arbitrary arrest Of many
resnectabls citizens. BY his creatures,
capDed the climax Of public wrath, and
bis prescott unenviaole position IS the
conseQ uence.
On he comic opera Of the Mikado