The Irish standard., 1896-02-01
! TALES Al OF FRANK LAVLER
Stories Which Tell Of the Great
Big Heart Of the Chicago
Congressman.
Frank Succeeded Because He
Loved His Fellow Men and
sss Served Them.
Quaint and Pathetic Items That
Will Interest the Public
Generally.

Frank Lawyer. living, was the central
figure in many good story in Chicago
ahd at the national capital, in both OF
which places he was thoroughly popular
and well liked. Since his death a mum
Der of other stories concerning him have
been revived and are told by the friends
who admired him and have benefited
many times by his generosity and Kind
efforts. Many of the stories are truly
characteristic Of the man. They illustrate
the Kindness of his heart, his ready wit
and humor, his sagacity and the pathetic
side of a gentle and kind nature says
the Chicago Times-Herald.
Frank Lawler had several great sor-
rows and setbacks in life, but the two
greatest of these were the deaths Of bis
first wife and his first boy, Johnnie. AT
that time Lawler lived on West Taylor
street. near Blue Island avenue, and was
one of the aldermen from the old eighth
ward in the city council. He also kept
a saloon ON South Clark street, which was
formerly operate dby Mike Mcdonald and
later by 'Parson" Davies.
Frank was not richly endowed with
this worlds goods ait that time, but he
managed to pay for his humble little
home on Taylor street in installments,
and just after he had paid the last in
stallment his wife was taken i'll and
few days later was dead. Frank dearly
loved the little woman and the blow al
most broke his heart. TIE crisis came
in Franks life, however, wnen few
months later his Idol, Johnnie, then about
10 years old, died after a brief illness.
Frank took to drink and for days was
under the influence OF liquor. 1t was
only by the most strenuous efforts of his
friends, Pat Hammill, the butcher, Mat
thew Wallace, the superintendent of the
Western News company, and John Wal
ler, the sheep dealer, THAT Frank was
brought to the path of temperance.
These three good Samaritans never left
Lawler alone for moment for an entire
week, and with the cooperation Of the
good priests from the Jesuit College on
TWELFTH street Frank was Strengthened
Uutsand given a good start toward the
goal cf amb:tion-a chair in the congress
ional chamber at Washington.
ls1t was Franks big heart, self-sacrltlces,
stapch adherence to his friends, and last
blit greatest of all, his lifelong advocacy
Of the rights Of the laboring classes,
which won nearly all his battles in this
world.
One me1nento of a memorable fight
which Frank dearly priced and which al
ways occupied conspicuous place in his
home, was q great framed parchment,
richly engfossed. and containing series
of resolutions passed by the Topographic
cal Union, of Detroit, thanking him for
thefserv:ces he had rendered to all union
compositors by fight which he
made in the Chicago Council over the en-
ployment of nonunion labor. Frank al
WAYS pointed it out to visitors with 3
proud light in his eye.
.sOne night at the Willard Hotel in
Washington Frank sat in group Of
newspaper men, with whom he was al
waysa prime favorite.
3''What do you consider to have been
the most potent factor to your political
success" asked O'Br:en Moore, cores
pondent of the ST. Louis Republic.
= Frank clasped Ills hands, leaned his ell
bows on his knees and said most impres-
sipely:
5g''GeEtlemen, whether ! deserve them
or not, have many friends true and
tried and TO each of them do owe some
gratitude for the honors which have been
heaped upon me; but you have asked an
,unequivocal question and shall give an
uneuuiyocal answer. The greatest fac
tor Of my success attribute to the splen-
did moral and religious influence. and
good, sound advice of the Jesuit priests
TN ctr V,nyr nj m "
home in Chicago w. J. Onahan, who is
now city collector, (this was some years
ago.. was the one who taught me the les
h son which has yielded me the full meas
ure of political success. Scarcely a Sun
day afternoon passed that Onahan did
not spend in the society of those magni-
fcently educated gentlemen.
sOnahan and several friends urged me
to form one of the group, but, as was
sadly deficient in education, [ was averse
to Joining such circle. They oyercame
my scruples, however, and in all my fu
ture life, In all matters dealing with the
affairs of city, state or nation, I Ialways
consulted the Jesuit, priests and invari
ably followed their advice; was rarely
In the wrong
During Franks first year in congress
heSsnffered sorely from carfcatures which
many papers made of him. One story.
published in the Philadelphia Press,
greatly wounded Frank. One portion of
tread: IS
'ssMe m Mary Ann n TIL childer is go
in up t see tn Washin ton monny-
ment termorrer an, begorra, I'm goin
t mex Mary Ann write her name at tn
top 20 tn DOOM
This was an outrage. Everyone who
knaR Frank Lawler. knows. that he pos
sessed not the slightest semblance Of the
..brogue," !" except when he may have been
relating some, good story about one Of his
beloved Irish constituency, And he. did
love and greatly respect his wife and
children. No blemish stains the memory
OF Frank Lawler i'm his social relations.
lnshss young days he was. a remarkably
handsome man and possessed fascinating
manners. But he resisted. all the bland 4
ishmsnts Of the fair sex outside Of his
home. He married a aughte of the
people, Miss Mary. "a. MEG Quaid and she
sprevad q splendid helpneet during the
trying days CON sress.l
Yiait5rs tos ash
ingtg