The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-11-21
His Downfall Due to the Fact that He Dis
regarded His Life Long Teaching
of Party Regularity.
His Father An Irish Emigrant, Who Game
to This Country Shortly After the
Revolutionary War.

I was limited. "One Of the first things
1 remember MI. Mclaughlin said
once Willie in Il reminiscent mood,
was going to work at Billy Barnett S
type foundry in New York. was
| about six years old when I went to
work. Barnett was a ncighbor of
ours, and he used to take me too and
fro on the boat. Between Futon
Perry and the place where Soutl.
Ferry is now there were only about
seven houses at the time | recall"
Soon after his fathers death in 1885,
Hugh then in his twelfth year, was
apprenticcd to Il rope maker, Thurs
by of Bushwick, but lie quit the busl-
ness in Il few years to assist his
brother james, better known as
"Cllanpion' Mclaughlin, in work
ing lighter for loading and unload
ing ships. The crew consisted solely
Of "Champion' as captain, and Hugh
us mate. The future statesman was
known in those early days as "Chip"
Mclaughlin. The nickname had been
given to him in his boyhood by the
neighbors, who called him "chip of
the old block" because he was so
much like his father in appearance
and general characteristics. In 1913
he left the lightering business and
opened Il stand in Atlantic Market in
lower Atlantic street The NIcLaugh-
lin stand has long disappeared but
the market still remains. Even in
that year, in which he just reached
his majority, Mr.. Mclaughlin was
known all over Brooklyn as young
man likely to come to the front in
democratic politics. Around his
stand in the market men gathered
daily to discuss politics and candi-
dates and lay plans for carrying a
primary or controlling convention.
At that time and for several years
afterwad Messrs. Lott, Murphy and
Vanderbilt, composing the famous
law firm Of Front street, controlled
the democratic machine in Kings
county. The political triumvirate
found in young Mclaughlin a most
valuable lieutenant, and in due time
his services were rewarded with an
appointment as master workman in
the Navy Yard, berth then and long
afterward recognized as furnishing
most valuable field for political activ-
ity and advancement. It was during
his regime as master workman in the
Navy Yard that Mclaughlin got the
name Of "Boss," title he has since
retained, but with a changed mean
ing, which he has frequently taken
occasion to repudiate. 1t was un-
doubtedly as an employee of Uncle
Sam that Hugh Mclaughlin laid the
foundation for his political supremacy
in Kings county. Lott Murphy and
Vanderbilt, who had the disposal Of
most of the Navy Yard patronage,
were so much occupied with their
professional business and higher mat
ters Of state that they referred all
persons seeking jobs at the yard to
the master workman. "Go and see
Hughey," was the way they put it.
And so the year 1856 witnessed for
ward step in the political prestige Of
Hugh Mclaughlin. There was then
formed the famous Union club, and
he was elected it's president. The Or
ganization soon became one of the
most influential in the state and the
Union cabin, which is built in Pierre
pont street, near Fulton, became the
favorite rallying point for Kings coun-
ty democrats. With his installation
as head of the Union club, the virtual
leadership of Mclaughlin over the
democratic organization in Kings
county began, and it remained sub
stantially unimpaired for the inter-
vening forty-seven years, until, prac-
tically of his own volition, it dropped
from his grasp few weeks ago. In
the year following the organization
of the club a split occurred in the
democratic organization. The Front
street law firm was on one side:
Daniel Bradley, who still survives,