New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-30
VETERAN LEGISLATOR.
AMOS X. HADLEY TELLS OF HIS EARLY
EXPERIENCES IN STATE POLITICS.


OF HIS ELECTION AS SPEAKER OF THE
AssEMBLY-A FRIEND OF WEB
srER CLAY AND CALHOUN.
When the names Of the present citizens OF
New-York who helped to make the pohuca'
history OF the State are mentioned one does
not hear that OF Amos X. Hadley. althoueh ne
played an important part in the game OF poll
tics before many of those who are now al the
helm were born. and had as fellow-politiciahs
won whose names recall the early days OF the
State He celebrated this month the hi.'e'h
anniversary of his election Speaker or the
Assembly of the State of New-York. his I'M
mediate predecessor having been william u
Hasbrouck Since that time many men OF prom
inence in the state have occupied the place.
among whom were Henry ]. Raymond, Robert
II. Pruyn. De Witt Clinton Littlejohn Thothas
G. Alvord Lyman Tremain, AlonZo Is. cornell
James w Hustled and Alfred c. Chapin. Inc
Mace Of honor has also been occupied Dy VIII
lam +. Sheehan and William Sulzer.
In his modest apartments In part OF 'he
CITY which was a wilderness when ne nrst ca'he
TO New-York the veteran legislator watches
the moves on the political chessboara anu
speaks OF the men who have succeeded MN III
the active field He enjoys good health ana 10
those who have the pleasure OF his ac1uaih'-
ance a talk with the venerable man seems like
turning the pages Of an interesting book on 'he
early politics Of the State of New-fork.
Mr. Uadey. despite his eghty-five years. IS
erect and stands six feet In his SOCKS ac-
cording to his own statement. His faculties are
unmpaired except that an affection OF one OF
his eyes makes reading task. but he speaks
Of the inirmity calmly. and says that his daueh-
ter's eyes are good and that she reads Tor MIN.
While he dwells with delight on the stories OF
his youth, his political experiences ana the men
with whom he was brought In contact In the
course of his political life. he Is fully awe 10
the questions OF the day and is as well versed
In the present political questions as many OK
the men who now sit in the body over which
no presided when the old brownstone Capitol
at Albany was considered beautiful building
and when. as he expressed it. men could De
IA politics and still be free men"
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION.
Although Mr. Hadley calls himself New
York man he was born in the town OF water
ford. Vt. and attended school there. He went
to a preparatory school at Whitesboro and tells
with pleasure Of his first visit to that place when
It took him two days and three nights to make
the journey from Schenectady to Utica by the
to Hamilton College. where he remained for TWO
wears "a visit TO Schenectady" he said. changed
my college plans At the suggestion Of Profess
sor Knott whom | met there took an honora-
bile dismissal from Hamilton and entered the
Junior class at Union, and went into the Ia"
Office Of Cushman 81 Seymour. They were both
Wen-known men and political leaders. went
to Troy in January. 1879, to begin the practice
Of law and remained there until 1893. 1t was
while | was resident Of Troy that enjoyed
my short legislative career In 1911 was
elected to the Legislature TO represent Rennsse-
laer County. and when the State was redistricted
the next year / the representative OF the
city OF Troy | was reelected the next year.
always on the Wing ticket. and during the terms
Of 1913 and 1910 the Speaker Of the House
AS chairman of the Committee on Banking and
Insurance in my first term had charge of some
important legislation. and, people at that time
had a way Of thinking for themselves, it re-
quired work to pass or defeat measures, al
though our party always had majority Of two
TO one In the House, which had los members at
that time"
When asked whether the legislative methods
Of those days were the same they are at pres
ent Mr. Hadley said: There was large and
hard working lobby In those days. and pro-
moters Of bills had their friends to argue with
members. but In the three years that |
member Of the House | never heard a hint at
dishonesty the remotest intimation of brib-
cry In 1S47 there was a terrible fight over the
Straight Road BILL which provided for the
tension OF the Central sy stem, and by the pas
sage Of which some important places would be
f..,.