The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-30
HIGGINS AS KNOWN AT HOME.
Although OF Vast Wealth He Has Done
Nothing to Beneflt or Beautify Olcan.

CLEAN, Oct. 29.-Democrate OF Clean and
vicinity are being besieged by friends OF
the Hon. Frank w. Higgins with the plea
that they give the Governor
| a complimentary VOTE Their local pride
is Icing appealed to also. and it is pointed
| out that il an Clean man is elected Gov
ernor it will serve to advertise the town
the metropolis OF Cattaraugus county
in every part Of the State and elsewhere.
Many OF the persons who are I'M
portuned in this manner-men who have
known MIR. Higgins for Ifetime-are
wondering what he has done that he should
stand before the people in such lofty
position. BY conservative and thoughtful
men who are not unfrisndly to Mr.,
Higgins he Is regarded as a man who
has in recent years been found useful
to greater politicians than himself. He
is the head oil company which con-
ducts four grocery stores IN Oiean'
Previous TO his fathers death the URN
nan e was U. =. Higgins Son he senior
higgins founded the grooery business
ana on his death left large esta te, TO lie
divided between his two heirs.
frank ~. higgins l. worth numb er OF
millions Of dollars, his Western mineral and
tint er properties having grown In vaILe
with each year. He is the weelthiest man
in tattarausLs county. but Is not an en-
pioyer OF Ia. or to any extent, Is not inter-
eSted in constructive or manu- featuring
enterprises, and has not used his wealth
in any ways especially lenencial to the
pull tic. he has done nothing for Clean
/ as a community has endoW Cd no hospital
or school, has teautihed no park, nor given
anything OF eauty or utility TO the coInmu-
nifty from " hich he has drawn such vast
Sums of money in the aggregate through
the years OF LIS business here. -.
In this respect he - quite unlike most
men Of his wealth and ami ition; The
! pal X, " ch is ever efore his eyes when he
as his front yard, has cen hideous anG
ugly lotch Upon the face OF Olesn Tor q
| generation, but the fact that It could lie
| transformed from its wretohed condition
to thing OF eauty, pleasant TO lock Upon
apparently has not interested Frank W.
tiig,, ms, who wax, around its corners
year after year as contentedly and un-
concernealy as If the park " as reserve Tor
ats, owls. pollywogs and all the denizens
of dark, damp and noisoine places. The
what an unexampled grasp Mr. higgins
intends 10 maintain upon his inherited
fortune, come what may In business or
politics-and Mr. higgins, lei It not be
forgotten, is one OF the fellows Tho think
that politics Is usiness.
When the bakers complain that Mr..
Higgins launche int t bakary business,
using lis wealth t. their detriment, he
saws that lbs partners and statesmen con-
Duct the business. OF which he is the nominal
heal This, Of course detra to from any
olaiu that can be male T. his having dis
tinguisNei himself In business here.
TIE limitations OF lis abilities In other
Gireoti ms are we'll known, The chief and
primary factr In the distinction he at
tame in tie first place inquest nably
was his inherited wealth. He finally be-
came one of the political bosses in Olean.
He was net the str INCEST Of these, and
he is above all an ins e man and unable
t. mingle freely with his fellow men.
Mr.. Higgins has achieved no great thing
at this end Of the State. He Ia simply a
good boy. who has grown up In this COM
munitv, and has many warn friends and
supporters. But he early affected politics.
and the general eminence to which he now
aspires Is enough to turn the head Of a
stronger man than he. He has fallen in
with the most evil OF politicians, and there
is reason to fear that he is dominated by
TIE worst Of these Some Of bis best friends
these who have his welfare nearest their
Enthusiastically hope that he will not be
elected Governor bec ause Of the over
shadowing and preeminent influence Of
evil politicians who will inevitably dictate
his conduct and which they fear will spoil
his reputation as good boy.