Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-15

crnor in 1888 brought Gahnn to the
front as factor in state Democratic
politics. lie had much to say In the
convention that nominated Palmer ana
afterward was delegate in the nation
al convention at st. Louis. The tempo.
rary ipverses of that year. although dis
cOuragiDg. merely prompted him to
greater effort and the opening of the
next presidential campaign found him
In the saddle. How he practically die
tated the nomination of Altgeld for
Governor. his services In securing the
national convention for Chicago. the
energy he displayed as Il member Of the
committee which constructed the wig
wan. are all matters of recent history.
1t was during the succeeding campaign
that his ability as u political manager
was displayed and recognized. When
the record of n sweeping Democratic
victory had been made the reputation
of Gahan as campaigncr was made
also.
Governor Altgcld promptly recogniz.
cd his services by appointing him to the
Board of Railroad and Warehouse
Commissioners. aifOrling him an oppor.
tunity to retire from the city Council.
a sphere never attractive tn him. ana
which he entered solely at the request
of his reighbOrs. the Stock Yards pco-
pie. His conduct as State official was
In line with his lifelong policy. and
during the interim between the cam
palgns Of 1892 and 1896 he engaged In
every battle fought by his party. The
election of Carter Harrison the elder
as Worlds Fair Mayor received his
hearty support. and when that sturdy
figure fell beneath the assassin's hand
Galnn's skill was shown In the manner
In which the management Of municipal
affairs VS. saved to the Democracy for
the balance Of the MayOralty term. No
one did more to secure the election Of
John T.. Hopkins than he. aud the cam.
paign. brief hut vindictivc. enabled
him to display his mettlc.
The succeeding year found the party
lishcartened by rcvcrses and rent In
twain by internal dissensiOns. The
county organization was In debt and
no Moses was In sight to lead the
Democratic hosts to n better condition.
Again Gahan's genius was apparent.
He yielded to pressure. assumed the
leadership. applied business methods to
political affairs. and nj the opening of
the 1896 campaign had freed the or
gnnization from debt and placed II on
n footing Of enthusiasm and efficiency
that excited admiration. His election
to the National Democratic Committee
at the National Convention at the Coli.
scum was his reward. and during the
hnrtl.fOught succeeding campaign no
one man contributed more In labor. en-
couragemcnt or financial support to the
carrying on Of the campaign than he.
At present he occupies q leading posi-.
ton In the party. and with the election
Of u Democratic President In 1900 his
prestIgc will bc unqucstIoned.
AZ n business man Mr.. Galiuns work
hus been characterized by the same
success az his political efforts. The con-
trncting firm Of Gahan 4 Byrnc ranks
among the largest In the city. Its fame
has been acquired mainly In the sue.
cessful carrying out Of immense drain.
agc canal contracts. although the con.
struction Of the Robcy street sewer. tho
largest work Of its kind In the city. and
the underground system at the COlunl.
bInn Exposition were tasks of no small
magnitude.
In developing machinery for the eXc,l.
walton Of the drainage canal Gahan Il
Byrnc utilized the best inventive genius
OF the age and spent Incredible sums Of
money In experiments. When they I'M.
dertOOk this work twenty-five of the
twenty-sly contractors had failed and
abandoned their tasks, decmlng the DIFF.
tlculties insurmOuntnblc. and adversely
seemed to have bcset the huge enter,
prise so essential to the health of the
metropolis. In n few weeks Gahan 4
Byrne had altered the entire aspect OF
canal operations. Their specially dc.
visel machinery was the wonder Of the
mechanical world. AMI thousands gath.
cred to witness It's operation. Under
the impetus OF this energy, the big ditch
began to assume depth and breadth
and responsibility for the construction
Of section after section was undertaken
; ut the same prices for which the orig.
lnal contractors had agreed to do the
work and failed. To-day the firm II the
most extensive Of any In its drainage
canal work, and has Just commenced
another large section ut Joliet.
Contracting business does not. how.
ever, absorb Mr. Gahan's entire ntten
ton. lie Is the President of the Ogden
Gas Company, ana also Of the COsmO
pOlitan Electric Company, a new com
pany which IL to spend $45O,OOO within
short time.
Unlike many public men. Mr.. Gahai
has not had his virtues frequently OK
t0lled or his defects criticised. Enjoy,
ing q wide personal acquaintance
among newspaper writers, he asks OF
them nothing. Otherwise many n good
: story of his achievements might add
Interest to the newspaper pages. 1t was
eX-GOv. Hubbard of Texas, who. Will,
chairman Of the 1884 Democratic ma
ti0nal convention In this city, seized
Gahan by the hand ana said warmly:
"rhe State of Texas could well affOri
to give you substantial life pension
The eX-GOvernOr's reference TO tn,
Lone Star States cause for gratitude