New-York tribune., 1901-10-27

A-Oihdo L bIduy, Dy the grace OF Croker, leader
OF the Democratic party in the State Senate, is
now the most conspicuous He is the leader
at such times as he is not absent at a sana-
torium being treated for a malady which seems
10 DC lncurable. People who have seen him
III charse Of his friend and fellow Senator Bar
leS martin, at times when his disorder
ntted him for legislative business would hardly
peileve that Grady first attracted attention by
MS eloquent temperance speeches. 1t was then
mat he gained the title of silver tongued ora
tor which he has held ever since
Thomas +. Grady was born in the old Fourth
ward in 1853 and received his education in
st. James's and st. Mary's parochial schools
de attended other Roman Catholic educational
institutions. and was graduated from Manhat-
tan College
ne was census enumerator in 1870 and
was elected to the Assembly for the first time IN
IoH. He built his fences we'll. laid pipes sue
cessfully, got next" to the chief in the ap-
proved manner. and returned to the As
Sembly repeatedly until 1881 when he was
elected State Senator. While in the Senate he
showed violent antagonism to Grover Cleveland
ana on many occasions openly declared that he
would break the old man" Mr. Cleveland was
seriously annoyed and hampered by Grady ami
determined to his influence toward Kidding
the Senate of his presence. With that erd N
view he wrote a letter to John Kelly, who was
at that time leader in Tammany Hail. in which
he said:
1t is not without hesitation that | write this
have determined to do So however, because
see no reason why L should not be entir,I ,Iy
frank with you | am anxious that Mr.. Grady
should not be returned to the next Senate |
do not wish to conceal the fact that my peg
sonal comfort and satisfaction involved in
this matter, but l know that good legislation
based upon pure desire to promote the best in
terestS or the people and the Improvement IF
legislative methods, is also deeply involved. !
forbear to write in detail of the other considerl
tions having relation to the welfare of the party
and the approval to be secured by change for
the better in the character of its represent 4
tives. These things will occur to YOU without
suggestion from me.
Mr.. Cleveand's wishes were respected and
Grady withdrew for a time from Tammany HALL
but a man like Grady. who wishes to make
politics a business. must naturally be in the
Croker Sullivan Carroll Scannen party. and
when Hugh j. Grant became Mayor he ap-
pointed Grady police justice. He disap-
ptared frequently while he served on the
bench. In it's presentnent of March 80 lS.E
the grand jury. before Judge Fitzgerald said.
ON November II, 1892. Justice Taintor. sitting
in the Yorkyille Police Court. sentenced to the
Workh"use Tor SIX months each eight dsorder'y
women. and on the following day Justice Grady
at the ToInbs Police Court signed recon-
nendatiOn for the discharge of these eight va
grants. and their discharge was secured on this
recommendation, he acting upon representati
made tn him by Conrad Smyth. clerk of the
iorkVille court. The grand jury feels that while
Justice Grady has violated no law in the dis
charge of the offenders his action on November
- defeated the ends of justice.
Grady Iegislated out of office in 1893 De.
spite his unsavory record. he was Croker's can
didate for District Attorney at time but II,
failed TO secure the nomination. In the cam,
paign of 1894 Grady made many violent attacks
upon DR.. Parkhurst. and denounced him in
terms that showed that his silver had become
badly tarnished He sued by the Lelands
for board bill contracted at the Deavan
House. in Albany. and by Captain COnnor. of
the St. James Hotel. for a similar debt In
February. 1896, John F. Brugh. the former pro-
prietor of the Gedney House. sued Grady for a
board bill This bin contracted by Grady's
wife, who is actress.
This power in the Tammany dictatorship is
Croker's agent in the Senate at Albany; a man
to be relied upon in good and in bad times
Croker knows his failings. but he puts him for
crowd with his resonant voice and ready flow
of language, which is at times more forcefuI
than elegant.
AS legislator Grady attained considerable
notorety in March. 1900. by his efforts to de-
feat the repeal of the Horton Boxing law As
semblyman Roche and Little Tim" Sullivan had
done the preliminary fighting. and at the critical
champion of priZeiighting.