The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-19
GLEASON Is NOMINATED.
BATTLE IIE IN HAND MAYOR PAT
LEAPS INTO THE FRAY.

Th. p.,a,,r or the Latter Comes Near
Undoinr the Herouies or Long Island City.
The Hon. Patrick jerome Gleason. armed
with HIS battle axe and attended by q brass
hand and about 200 faithful followers from the
county OF Queens, came to town last night to
accept tho nomination for Mayor OF Greater
Now York from the friends who secured the
8.OOO signatures to his petition. Tho Mayor
had made elaborate preparations for his adj
vent in New York politics. Cooper Union was
decorated with American flags. and a fifteen.
foot battle axe, done in red. yellow, and green
incandescent lights. hung over the centre Of the
stage. At the opening OF the meeting a flag hid
this emblem from view. At the entrance of
Mr.. Gleason. however, the flag was pulled aside,
the band struck up Hail TO tho Chief" and the
Gleasonites made frantic efforts 10 tear down
the building in their excitement
The hall was filled, and o number OF people
had to stand up in tho rear. They all cheerod
the chief magistrate of Long Island City. but
tho sincerity OF some of them was doubtful.
There was no question about tho LOYALTY of tho
front rows, however. All the deep-down. dyed
in.ihe.wool members of the Gleason Democracy
were there. and they couldn't see anybody In the
Msyoralty race but the Hon. Patrick.
Nothing more immaculate in appearance than
Mayor Gleason. when he entered the hall. could
be imagined. He wore q frock suit, patent
leather shoes, q silk hat and n silk-faced opera
coat that came down to his heels. On his vest
sp rkled n diamond battle axe, and his face
fairly beamed as he looked ovor tho crowded
hall.
I'm In tho hands of my friends" he said. IT
was notified to be hero at 7:30 o'clock, and here
1 am, ready to bow to the will Of the voters Of
Greater New York"
Robert Biissort of this city fred the first shot
In the Gleason campaign. He Was the temporary
Chairman. After the usual welcoming remarks
he switched of" into n eulosy OF tho candidate,
which almost made the Hon. Patrick blush.
Throw of tho old hacks" he said in con-
clusion. land take for the Mayor OF Greater
New York a man who has been thrice Mayor Of
a neighboring city and has always been found to
be up to the mark"
Hip. hip, hooray, widout q tiger!" yelled one
Of the front row Enthusiasts.
God bless Paddy Gleasonl God bless Amor
ica!' shouted another.
Francis II. Van Vcchten, the Mayors private
counsel, was the next speaker. He warned the
voters TO look out for the enemies OF the battle
axe candidate.
They'll say all kinds OF things about Patrick
J. Gleason" he said. "bu: don't you believe
them. Over in Long Island City there's an in.
dictueut hanging over Mr.. Glcason's head. yet
he is a man VII has never violated q law. l
have tried repeatedly TO have that indictment
tried or dismissed, but l haven't succeeded with
any Judge or District Attorney yet. They want
to keep 1t over his head and use II as q weapon
against him in this campaign"
The next t irE on the programme was the for.
mai nomination OF AIR. Gleason as a candidate
resoiusi Msf to- that effect I Tell up 30 Cast. John
Kerwin. The resolution contained a number OF
whereases. which were followed by declarations
vnSpD 4 N how thnt NIL rNnN iii Tpr rnrn n n
vor of separating municipal affairs from State
and national issues, and taking the government
OF the city out OF the control OF any one party.
Then they went on:
Therens. The progress. Improvement. and prosper
!ty OF IN" Greater New YORK will depend to a large
extent upon the ch Lrarter amt efficiency OF its gov.
eminent Tor the hrst Few years OF its existence. which
executive onicer possessing honesty. ability. and ex.
perirnce and having the courage TO sustain his con.
v lions OF right aud duty against all efforts to control
Whersas,, TIE Hon. Patrick J. Gleason. generous
city, %eomments himself to our support a. . con.
sclentious. capa lie, aud exp riencsd public onneer.
interested in the success of the new city. Independent
OF corporations. and unaffected by political clanor
in tho performance OF his dut cs. and unselnsh in his
sympathy with the toilinS masses in their labor and
ResUirsd. That We nominate the Honorable Pat J.
Gleason as our candidate for Mayor OF the Greater
New York. aud pledge hin, our earnest support and
that OF thousands OF our fellow citizens toward his
election.
The resolution was adopted with cheers that
touluD W uttEu ClOthS away. ou IL call lOE
votes from those opposed 10 the resolution one
man in the rear row Of seats shouted NO It. at
and got out as fast as he could: II any Of the
front-row men had got their hands on him it
would have gone hard with him.
The man who prepared The speech OF thanks,
acceptance. and general principles for the
Mayor to read after the adoption OF the resolu-
ton nominating him. played him a. mean trick.
He didn't take into consideration the fact that
long words are not one OF the Hon. Patrick,s
an hour for the pundlnAfp. He wrPSflp1 man
fully with tho document, however. and not
more than twenty persons left the hall during
others. however, and they weren't even missed.
The reading wound up as follows:
81 have faith In the patriotism and good sense
OF our citize 5 in general, and / do not believe
that they will permit that the control OF the
other than those who regard its welfare and
prosperity paramount to all other objects and
As you have chosen me to represent you in
this election, l feel bound to accede to your
wishes and perform my share OF the. work,
which should also receive the support of every
Mr.. Gleason, seemed to realize as much as
1 Any H%in that Il bis r .sns had ID, be N somewhat IN IN
reached the end of the paper no threw it down
vici3usly and In q changed tone 8 Md:
now and that's the first speech | ever read. 1
didn't want, to DO 1t anyway. I'd rather Just
Now i want TO tell you people that l was the
first MAYOR to sign the bin consolidating the
three cities, and that i did IL because i wanted
to get out Of politics. Instead of getting out,
though, ] find myself confronted with the big.
Rest battle Of my life. I'm going right in to fight
1t, though, and don't you forget IT,"
in tho rear.
You'll get there. Paddy cried another.
Now. friends" Mr.. Gleason went on, I'm
not in fear OF any charges that my enemies may
make against me. There's {, demand for my
candidacy. and that's why I'm in the fight,
Low in debate. l want to meet tho other can.
didates as fast as they're nominated and argue
with them on the Issues OF present conditions
and what is best TO do for the city after election.
know what improvements are needed, and
I'll make them II I'm elected. You want to
support me because ! know Just what the flaws
In thar charter are. and as Mayor | can straighten
them ont. So i ask for your support and the
support of all good citizens. Remember, I'm no
politician"
There were calls for Mr.. Gleason to 20 on.