The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-03-20
"PLAIN FRANK BLACK.
Pomp and Ceremony Oiious to the
Spirit of New Sork's New Governor.
Albany Letter, Buffalo News.

Pomp and Ceremony Oiious to the
Spirit of New Sork's New Governor.
Albany Letter Buffalo News.
His excellency. Governor Black is
having a hard time trying to forget
that he is not still plain Frank Black,
Of Troy. only a few years ago he was
n newspaper reporter on the old Troy
Budget. Then he was a law student
and then he got to be a congressman
but he has never been accustomed to
have people wait on him, just as though
he We're not able to wait ON himself,
and now he cuts an awkward figure in
these new attentions
When Governor Morton moved out of
the executive mansion Governor Black
was ready to move in Governor Nor
ton required score of large moving
vans to take his chattc!s away from
the mansion, but Governor Black could
have brought nearly all of his belong
ings down from Troy in an old fashion
ed democratic wagon.
In Troy Governor Black lived in
little story and half frame cottage,
up on the hill. quite a distance out of
the town. If he had moved the entire
cottage to Albany, with the front yard
fence and the horse block thrown in,
he could have put them all inside one
of the several great reception rooms in
the executive mansion and still had
space to spare.
But no governor of New York has
ever been happier in the executive man
sion than is Governor Black. He and
his little family occupy only two rooms,
two of the second-lloor rooms, where
there is most sunlight and throughout
the other great rooms and corridors the
rats and the bats may play at Will in
the moonlight and there is nobody to
disturb them.
The reports that have been sent out
from Albany to the effect that the state
has furnished the mansion for the new
governor are untrue. No new furniture
has been put into the mansion and none
will be. Governor Black does not de-
sire 1t and will not have it.
OPENS HIS OWN DOORS.
The governor has no horses and car
riages and walks from the mansion to
the capitol every day. When he reach
es the capitol he does not allow any
of tho orderlies or attaches to beStoW
upon him any special favor. Friday
morning. as he was about to enter the
executive chamber, an orderly named
King sprang forward to open the heavy
oaken door for him.
"t.Xcuse me-" he said, but | would
rather you would not do that. | am d
strong man and prefer to do those
things for myself
The same day an elevator passed
him on the second floor of the senate
side, and the conductor, seeing that
he had passed the governor, started
the elevator back.
Don't run your elevator back for
me again" said the governor. IF |
am not at the door when it passes
can walk up the stairs. That's what
my legs We're made for"
The utter disregard of convention
alities is likely to bring embarrass-
ment upon some of the governors
friends who are not so AYERS to pOmr
and official attention. In fact, it came
hear making him ridiculous at the
centennial exercises last week Nher
rhe state dignitaries came out of the
hall where the exercises had been held
the finest carriages in Albany were il
course, was the first of them all anc
walked with the lieutenant governo"
When they reached the carrigCe the
governor looked at the cushioned sea
and the rich trappings of the vehicle
| for an instant, and stretching his Ions
| legs, said: Come on; let's walk.
have been sitting uD there until In
| stiff"
OF course that would not do, and tn,
! governor had to get into the carriage
much against his will. Even the ossi
fled coachmen lifted their eyebrows a
| the governors independence.
INDEPENDENCE IN ALL THINGS
But the young governors independ
| ence does not assert itself only in hi
| disregard for conVentionalities. H
| shows an inclination to be quite inde
pendent officially. and there is NOR
than one gray-haired politician shak
| ing in his shoes with apprehension o
what Governor Black may take it in:
| lis head to do. So far to be sure tn
Republican machine and the governo
| occasion for trouble has not yet ar
rived. Both the governors admins
| tratiOn and the legislature of 1897 ar
new and there is plenty of time 70
| many interesting things to happen be
tween this date and the first day o
next May.