The Portland daily press., 1896-08-29
FRANK s. BLACK.
Maine Boy Who Will Be Governor
of New York.
BORN IN LIMINGTON AND GRADU-
ATED FROM DARTMOUTH.

All He Has and All He IL He Owes to His
Indomitable will-His Prosecution of
Bat Shea Brought Him Into Promi-
hence First.
g, New York Sum-
Frank S. Black Is of that numerous
class famliiarly known as "men of the
people," and quite as frequently referred
to as self-made men. All he has and all
he Is he owes to his sirelsss energy and
indomitable will. He was born in Linn
ington, York county, Me-, on March
5. 1858. A native of Speaker Reeds
Congress district be has always been an
admirer Of that great Republican states
man, and whether BY constant study of
Mr.. Reeds platform methods and orato-
rical style, or because that section of
Maine produces that sort of orators. Mr..
Blacks public utteranoes partake very
much of the epigrammatic quality which
char aoterizes the speeches of Reed.
Mr.. Black was farmers boy. His
father was one Of those struggling New
England farmers who strove against fate
and the rock and sand of Maine for crops
and the means of livelihood for himself
and family. He saw to it that his son
was educated at Lebanon Academy, in
his native state. and even provided him
with college training at old Dart
mouth, from which the young man was
graduated in 1875. The elder Black died
about this time, leaving hiagson nothing
but legacy of debt, which the young
man took 1t on himself as his first duty
- satisfy. The opportunity affording,
young Black came to this State and be-
came the editor of the YOUNGSTOWN Jour
nal. He held this place for short time
and went to Troy, which he consi dered
afforded him a wider field for his talent.
1t was the young mans desire to enter
the legal profession, but he always had
mind his resolve to settle. the debt of
his fathers estate, and the necessity for
securing an immediate income forced
itself on him. He continued his newspa-
per work as a reporter in Troy, and in
the mean time studied law with the idea
of eventually practising in his chosen
profession. He was admitted to the bar
at the General Term of the Judicial
Department In 1879. and since that time
has constantly practised law in the city of
Troy.
The same zeal which characterized all
his effort was manifested in his law prac-
tice. Like all young lawyers, he had a
hard struggle, but his ability was soon
manifested he built up a lucrative prac-
tice; saw the realization of his determi-
nation to satisfy the legacy of debt which
WAS left him, and is now one of the most
successful practitioners at the bar in
his section Of the state.
Although he has always been an ardent
Republican, he had been too mnoh taken
up with his profession to take any &C tive
part in party politics, and it was not till
1894 that he had anything to do with
party affairs further than vote at prima-
ries and elections Mr.. Blacks entry into
the field of politics was as reformer.
1t was the unfortunate row at a Troy
Republican primary, which was followed
at the municipal election that impelled
him to take hand In the politics of
Rensselaer, county. He was Chairman
of the Committee of One Hundred which
was organized to prosecute the slayer OF
Ross and to endeavor to reform the ad-
ninistration of the city of Troy. He
assisted the District Attorney in prose
suting the men Indicted for ROSES muir
der. From that time Mr.. Black became
force and power In the Republican pol
itios of Troy and Rensselaer, county. The
same energy and push that won for him
secured him recognition as a political
leader, whose ability was soon recognized
by exMarhal Louis f. Pnyn, the leader
in the Nineteenth Congress district. and
ex-senator Platt, who is always alert to
discover and reward merit in political
friend. In few months MT. Black had
secured control of the Republican ma
phinery of the county and secured the
nomination for Congress. Although the
district IL ordinarily Democratic one,
In the year of Republican tidal wave
ls94-Mr. Black was elected by vote
Of 90, 954yto II, 514 cast for his Democratic
opponent, Charles D. Haines.
Congress Black was recognized as
coming man in Republican politics by
the wise-aores of the party some months
ago, and, after the speech which he made
1t the Carnegie Music Hall Mckinley
ratification meeting on June 90, more
than one man of them said: "There is
the man to nominate for Governor"
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