New-York tribune., 1901-09-22

his overthrowine OF PADDY" who had come to
be looked upon as the Gear of Cherry HILL" and
personal friend of Richard Croker, greater
political honors said TO be in store for Sull-
vans prize scholar. At the end Of Senator
Ahearn's term, it is said that air. Ahearn will
turn his seat over to Mr.. Foley. Then will the
city Of New-York have Big Tom" well as
Big Tim" TO guard its interests. kill its bridge
bills, stamp out Ramapo plots. and pass strin-
gent excise laws.
Should one desire to see the new leader who
is known Thomas F. Foley all banners
and Big Tom" by the sailors in South-st.
he should go TO the northeast corner of Centre
and Franklin SITS. The building which stands on
this corner is not particularly striking from any
architectural point Of view, and would not par
tcularly impress Flemish artist in search of
a subject; but II has a peculiar fascination for
the youth of the lid, and since big TOMS ele-
walton TO the leadership its popularity has in
creased amazingly.
Its de SWEETEST ginmill blow de line" said
old time Madison-st politician. who. until
the battle at the primaries. hao always boasted
Of being a Divver man. THE line" by way Of
explanation, is Fourteenth-st.
"Dey's a lot Of rum shops in de Secon'," he
continued, and a lot OF de grog goes over de
bar IN a day. but deres Waldurf-
Asturia-like Toms joint in Centre-st''
A visit TO Mr. Foley's retail house bears out
this statement The saloon Is kept remark a bly,
clean In all sorts Of weather, and the brasses
and glasses shine with the resplendency of an
upper Broadway bar. Particular attention is
paid to the luncheon counter, both by the hos
pitable proprietor and by his hungry patrons
Its dishes are heaped with an unstinted hand
and on saints days little delicacies added
TO mark the occasion.
There is trouble picking out big Tom" in
the crowd at the bar. for he is rarely ever found
behind it. In the centre of the throng with
which he is sure TO be surrounded he stands
head and shoulders above the rest. His clean
shaven face generally has lurking smile, and
the half closed eyes look from to another
with an expression Of apparent contentment OF
soul. Tom is not great talker, but he has
the way OF many other successful Saloonkeepers
OF appearing to hear ones story when in fact his
mind is fixed on some far distant subject. Peti-
Cons from constituents, who tell him how long
they have been "on the bum and in need of
wise charity, are always heard with patience.
Like big Tim" Sullivan, of whom Foley is
ardent disciple, he always gives something. il ii
Is only glass OF beer. 1t is by such means that
his popularity has grown to its present dimen-
sions.
Such is big Tom at rest His behavior in
war affords a striking contrast. On the day OF
the primary fight he moved from polling
place to another with astonishing activity. The
dappied gray team which drew his carriage
would dash up to the polls at the crack of
Italian coachman's whip. and before any of his
Ieutenants could reach the vehicle Big Tom
had sprung out and had pushed his way through
the crowd. On occasion inspectors had held
up the Foley line. which had been waiting eight
hours TO vote, and would rot permit one of the
heard the news. he WAS there soon his
team could carry him through the tortuous East
Side streets without killing half dozen fish
pedlers AS he stood beside the ballot boxes
his eyes. although half shut, had fire in them
that meant i'll to any one who crossed their
masters viii.
Let these men vote. DO you hear that?"
were his words There was no cursing although
81 might have been expected. And the men
voted The inspectors sized UP the brawny
arms and broad shoulders Of the leader and
said nothing
big Tom" I'm his boyhood days was black
smith. He was born in the Ninth Ward Of
Brooklyn forty-eight years ago and came TO
the East Side in 1874. Soon after he went into
the saloon business, believing that there was
more OF future for aspiring politician as a
dispenser Of liquor than a shoer of horses
His FIRST saloon at Water and Oliver SITS
He early became captain Of his election district
and as his circle of acqusintances and patrons
enlarged, the horizon Of his political aspirations
grew correspondingiy. In the Van WICKLOW
Tracy campaign there were threatened upris-
by some Of ''hogging too much Of the fat" II
was Foley who was then called on to take up
the banner Of insurrection, but the influence OF
Croker, who has always been a kind of big
brother OF "Paddy's," allayed the Storm
AL the present time the power OF Sullivan has
30 far eclpsed the will of Croker south OF Four
teenth-sf that the commands OF the ten-rnonth hs
a~year Britisher are dsdainfully disobeyed
The ascendency CT sig Tom" brings a halt
In the career of the illustrious PADDY" whose
name Ii as well known among the people OF the
lower East Side az the Brooklyn Bridge in whose
far reaching shadow many OF them live. In