The Jersey City news., 1898-10-29
Honor and Credit Rescued in
the Most Critical Hour
of the Municipality.
FIGHTER FOR HOME RULE
Glowing Tributes Paid TO His Pub
lio Services by His Repub-
lican Foes.

Allan Langdon McDermott, the Demo-
cratic nominee for State Senator, was
born in South Boston, Mass, on March
80. 1854. His father was Hugh Farrer Nc
Dermott, who, to use the language of the
memorial resolutions adopted by the New
York Press Club, on his decease, in 1890,
'.in the wide scope of his literary labors,.
as journalist, dramatist, author and poet,
made conspicuous place and earned en-
during fame for himself" !" His mothers
maiden name was Annie j. Langdon and
she was Of one of the Oldest families in
New England. In 1870 the subject Of this
sketch determined to follow journalism,
and. as a preliminary step. learned to set
type and run a press. A few verses pub
lished in Boston paper, and reprinted
show that Mr. McDermott had a very mar
row escape from a literary tomb. In 1876
he entered the law school of. the Uni
yersity of the City of New York, and
was graduated the following year, deliv-
ering an essay on 1.-THE Sanction of the
Law" at the commencement exercises,
held at the Academy of Music, in June,
1871 The same year he was admitted to
the bar of New Jersey, becoming a coun-
sellor in 1880. While he was a student in
the office of the late Leon Albeit there
was formed a friendship between precep-
years, and had on more than one occa-
sion evidenced steadfastness which is
rarely found in the harsh lines of political
association. In 1878 Mr.. McDermott was
defeated as a candidate for Assembly
from the Fourth district of Hudson coun-
ty. but was elected in 1879 and 1880, and in
1881 was the Democratic candidate for
Speaker of that body. From 1878 to 1883
he was Corporation Attorney of Jersey
City, resigning that position when APP
pointed Judge of the Second District
Court, by Governor Ludlow In 1884, Gov
ernor Albeit appointed Mr.. McDermott
a member of the State Board of Asses
sors. In that position he formulated the
lowed in the taxation of railroad prop
erty and corporate franchises in New Jer-
sey. In 1856, Governor Albeit nominated
him to be Clerk in Chancery. In COM
municating the fact to the Legislature,
the late ex-United States Senator Cattel,
also a member of the State Board wrote.
THE Hon. Allan L. McDermott, one of
the original members of the Board, was,
during the last session of the Legisla-
ture, appointed and confirmed as Clerk in
the Court of Chancery, and, on April /,
resigned as a member Of this Board, to
enter upon his new position. Much of the
success of the early work Of this Board
is due to the intelligent and faithful SER
vice Of Mr.. McDermott, largely supple
mented by his legal knowledge, which was
Invaluable. The Board parted with him
most regretfully and we are free to say.
that in our judgment it will be difficult to
find one who will in all respects fill his
place. In 1SS4-S5-Se Mr.. McDermott was
President of the Board Of Finance and
Taxation Of Jersey City Upon his retire
ment from that position. the Argus
said THE withdrawal of Allan L. Nc
Dermott from the management Of our
municipal finances is a public calamity.
His clear head his honesty Of purpose
and untiring energy have rendered him Of
inestimable value to our city. He has IN
troduced and enforced rigid principles of
economy in our local expenditures, and
has, with the aid of his colleagues, estab-
lished an admirable financial system,
which has placed our credit above cavil or
sisplei0n.. When M MeDermott left