The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-11-21

In the recent campaign of surprises
and contradictions the Hon. Hugh
Mclaughlin, the aged democratic
warrior of Kings county. assumed an
attitude which it will puzzle political
philosophers for many Il day to cX-
plain satisfactorily, says the New
York Sun. The very suggestion that
the Sage of Willoughby street," for
half a century the apostle of party
regularity, would become a boltcr in
hot partisan battle for control of the
administration of Greater New York,
would have been brushed aside as alb
surd two months ago. People would
naturally recall this declaration which
lie made soon after the last presidcn-
tial election:
Il voted for William Jennings
Bryan, and I would vote even for il
North Carolina negro if he were the
regular nominee of the Democratic
party"
Throughout his long political reign
he had been uncompromising in his
demand, that when IL convention had
put up ticket there was nothing for
any member of the organization to do,
be he leader or simply a private in
the ranks but get out and support it.
Once in while political prodigal
son, like Edward NJ. Shepard, would
be taken back into the fold, but as IL
general rule the sharp scourgc of
discipline, if not indeed perpetual
ostra cism, awaited all kickers against
the DEGREES of the Willouglby street
machine. That Hugh McLaughlin's
teachings had taken solid root among
the district leaders received remark
able eXemplification. 1t was seen by
his failure to carry them with him in
his revolt and by the easy transfer of
the party leadership to Senator Pat
rick Henry NIcCarren, one of his most
astute political pupils. But what
ever feelings may be entertained for
some of his advisers, no disposition
has been or will be manifested to de-
tract from Mr.. McLaughlin's ,memor-
able leadership of the Kings county
democracy or to humiliate him in any
way in his retirement. For years
and years to come, his in many re-
spects unmatched political career will
he recalled, while the act which vir-
tually terminate ted it will be forgiven
if not forgotten. Although he will
celebrate his seventy-sixth birthday
on April 2, Mr.. Mclaughlin is still of
robust figure and vigorous frame,
with his faculties all we'll preserved,
and in possession Of mental and
physical alertness seldom found in
men of his advanced years. His IA
ther, who was also Hugh Mclaughlin,
came over from Ireland shortly after
the revolutionary war and settled in
brooklyn, then a little struggling viii
lage with farms and orchards, ex-
tending beyond where the old city
hall is now. Like Irish emigrants of
that and all subsequent periods he
was inspired with ardent love for his
adopted country. AS was related by
Martin D. Littleton in his notable
speech in the Academy of Music in
the closing stage of the recent cam
paign, he assisted during the war of
1912 in digging trenches about Fort
Greene as a barrier against the in
vading Britons. In 1914 the elder
Hugh Mclaughlin opened little
grocery store under the Heights in
what is now known as Furman street,
the original name, Evers street, hav-
ing long disappeared. 1t was in Evers
street, "alongshore," that young Hugh
and his six brothers and sisters We're
born, Hugh being the youngest of the
family. His father died in 1889, but
his mother, who was known to all
Brooklynites of those early days as
Mother Grace" from her kindly and
charitable disposition, lived to a ripe
old age. Mother Grace" took much
interest in the politics Of the day, and
it was doubtless from her that Hugh
derived his bent toward the political
game so early in life. His schooling