The Indianapolis journal., 1896-08-31
FOR GOVERNOR or NEW YORK.
Worked and Struggled Hard
Troy On. W Special in New York Mail and


Worked and Struggled Hard
Troy On. Y.) Special in New York Mail and
Express.
Frank s. Black comes from Maine. He
was one or eleven children born 10 Jacob
BACK ana his wife. Charlotte r. Black
FRANK had few advantages In his youth
his fathers farm in the town Of Livings-
Ton. YORK county. was not a particular
~ Ieruie piece Of ground. and all the atten-
tion which could possibly be bestowed upon
IL was necessary In order 10 make IL Yield
crops sufiicient for the needs of the family.
Frank worked early and late Those who
kno" what IL Is to toll on Maine farm
are the only ones who can appreciate the
laborious character of the life the boy led.
He went TO school when the opportunity
presented itself. and when he could not at
tend school ne studied at home. often until
far into the night He wanted TO be "A law
yer. and he never lost sight of that am
bition.
AT seventeen Black taught school. and n
year later, with the scanty means he had
accumulated. he entered Dartmouth Coll
lege. He literally worked his way through
the four years course. and was an honor
man at graduation. During his junior year
he attended the college sessions only eleven
weeks. The remainder of the time he was
obliged either TO teach school or do farm
work. But he persevered- An unswerving
pursuit of a definite object has been the
rule of life OF this remarkable man, and
the success which has crowned his efforts
should serve as an incentive TO all strug-
Cling young men, Among Blacks class
mates at Dartmouth were CnarIss X NIL
Ter. editor of the New YORK Times, and
George Fred Williams.
Upon his graduation Mr. Black came to
New York State and settled down M IN a,oa Scnns, :,
Wells. Dudley * Keck. The young man
was absolutely friendiess and almost PEN
Rmse While VI Srre readns ina ne sh s took
management OF the Johns1own Journal,
then the property of W. Al, Ireland, VINO
for a long time was connected with vari-
"A
day Black wrote an article which COM
mitted the paper 10 a candidate whom Mr..
the summary discharge OF the editor.
Black left Johnstown worried but not dis
mayed. Men of his mold are not easily
He fetched up in Troy. where he found
a place as reporter on the Whiz. The pa
pei. was in financial straits; Black was
obliged 10 get up pretty much all the jour-
nal printed in the way OF orieinal matter.
He a fluent writer. and when In the
sn, could o ksp srn tS s pce of oam
train from Saratoga 70 Troy last evening
Mr.. Black. in speaking of their joint la
bors as reporters said TO the writer: II
never care to talk much about my expert
ence on the Whig: You never suspected II:
i know. but the highest salary i received
on that paper was 81 a week.
At the age of twenty-five the young re-
porter entered the law office OF Robertson
Ss Foster, and in 1873 MAS admitted 10 the
bar. Gilbert Robertson, jr-. the senior MEM
ber OF the firm. was for many years the
Republican boss of Rensselaer, county. The
junior member. Samuel Foster was the
district attorney. and the firms office was
the gathering place OF all the county poll
ticans. There II was that Black, as a stu-
dent. learned the rudiments of the science
OF politics. III was school which gave
him every opportunity. and when Robert
son was retired from the leadership ,, be-
ply and his crowd Black had seen enough
to convince him that "A successful party
leader must be true at all times to himself
In lSs2 Mr. Slack formed a partnership
with the late Albert Smith and George Il.
Wellington. They were all young men.
and il did not take them long 10 build UP
one of the best practices In the State. At
the beginning of his career Mr. Black de-
termined never to touch a criminal case
He devoted himself with tremendous en-
ergy to civil practice Whenever peculiar
out and purchased every volume published
which had any bearing upon it, The result
of this is seen I'm his possession OF one OF
In the spring of 1894. at the Troy munich
pal election, Bat, Shea's revolver oarked
and Frank $. Black emerged from his ONCE
and took up the guidance Of the law ana
order loving people who felt that TO avenge
the death of gallant Robert Ross was 10
purify the franchise in the State OF New
York. Shea was the personihcation OF the
Infamous political system which Euward
Murphy had perfected. The murder or Ross
was the logical result OF the long train
of crimes against the franchise by which
Murphy and those associated with him had
fastened themselves not only upon. troy
and Rensselaer, county. but upon the entire
State as well. 1t was patent to Mr. Black
that unless a public sentiment strong
enough to bring about a fitting punishment
of Shea s crime could be aroused nothing
effective could be done toward giving the
people fair elections and an honest count
and declaration of results
"a
of Troy arose in their righteous wrath. and
with Black at their head brought about
Shea's conviction and execution. When his
life went out in expiation Of the life which
he had taken. Murphyism died. too. The
credit for the redemption of Troy. the
credit for having wheeled Rensselaer, county
into the Republican column. the credit ior
having carried dismay Into the ranks OK
the thugs who in all parts of the State had.
without thought of the law. debauched the
franchise at the bidding OF Democratic
bosses, belongs TO Frank S. Black. In the
fall of that memorable year he accepted
the Republican nomination for member OF
Congress. He was elected by majority
OF 3.if0. He was renomnated Few weeks
ago, but he will decline the nomination and
devote himself from. this time forward 10
the gubernatorial compaign.
Personally there is no more lovable man
in the State than Frank s. Black. Those
who know him best appreciate him most.
He is of the type of men who Improve upon
acquaintance. Reserved almost 10 the point
of bashfulness, the first impression OF him
is not entirely satisfactory. But when you
come 10 sit down with him and talk with
him. when he throws him long right leg
over the arm of his chair and points a slim
finger at you as II TO drive home an argti-
ment you begin to see the stuff the man ~
made Of He Is a charming conversational
ist. Some one has likened him 10 Abraham
Lincoln. He certainly resembles the first
Republican President i'm his ability 10 adorn
a tale or clinch an argument by an apt
anecdote. His fund OF stories Is inexhaust-
ible.