New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-21
I'll" DAGGETT7S CAREER.
He Played an Important Part in
Nominating Garfield.

Republican politicians in Brooklyn yesterday were
taking Of the death OF Albert Daggett in RumfOrd
Falls. Me, and recalling "reminiscences Of the days
~hen Az Daggett ruled the Republican machine
IN Kings County with a strong hand. His mag
DetiSm. energy and tho methods he used in gaining
his ends will never be forgotten in Brooklyn He
settled there in the Nineteenth Ward in 1861.
ing an entire stranger from Washington. That
ward was the home of many prominent Repub
cans. among them General Isaac S. Catlin. Colonel
Lewis K. Stegman and Jacob Worth. Daggett in
Few years became leader OF the ward by wrestling
control from General Catlin. His rise steady
Throughout his career he always engaged IN
fractional fights He bowled over leader after
leader One Of the pecul.srities about Daggett was
that he seemed always able to keep the friendship
Of those he assaiied bitterly in politics
IN 1873 ne instrumental IN the election OF
A. G. Williams as Sheriff. and became under
sherin- He forced this appointment. as Under
sherin Murphy a Democrat had been continued
in office for years being considered indispensable
in that position Daggett virtually the Sheriff,
and entered the succeeding convention a
ddate for the nomination TO succeed Williams.
1t was one of the storrnIest conventions ever held
by the Republicans in Kings County Daggett
winning by vote II was generally conceded
that Thomas F. Nevins. the Democratic candidate.
would be elected. but Daggett's campaign was
revelation. He mortgaged his property and raised
$1,000 which he spent. II said that the last
two weeks Of the campaign he did not take his
clothes of When the returns in they
placed him as leader OF the party in Kings County.
Daggett penniess at the close OF the cam
paign, but he placed the SheriTs ofise on a foot
ing that netted for the incumbent at least S0O0
a year. This he did by putting through bill at
Albany providing that all sales Of real estate
dered by the courts should be made by the Sheriff
fixed fee,
DagEett went as the head Of the Kings County
delegation. which supposed TO be solid for the
denomination Of Grant for a third term. In Chi
cago Daggett Joined the half breeds and started
active campaign for the nomination Of John
sherman His headquarters the Palmer House
said to cost 81 coo day, and champagne
flowed freely When il became evident that Sher
could not win Daggett swung his forces to
contract for government weighing in ew-York
him the enmity Of Senator Roscoe Conkling ana
he assisted Garfield in his fight against the Sena
tor. The death of Garfield checked his ambitions
In national politics
In 1888 Daggett was elected State Senator, but he
was defeated for reelection In 1884 he managed
the Blaine campaign in Kings County, and a few
months before election day established news
paper called The Brooklyn Standard, TO assist in
the Blaine fight. Tn" paper was later merged with
The Union Daggett gradually lost his hold on
political affairs Early in the first Harrison cam
paign he entered a combine ton with ex-Alderman
Birkett TO overthrow the Willis faction. but was
defeated through the betrayal Of one OF his fol-
lowers. Several years later he obtained the postal
card contract and left Brooklyn for Washington