New-York tribune., 1904-08-15


for his activities.
II Is gall and wormwood to many OF the for
mer friends and supporters OF Grover Cleveland
in this city that "BIue-eysd Billy Sheehan. az
he once was popularity known here. should be
placed In position OF power in the Democrats
National Committee. where he may seek to re-
peat some OF his well known methods OF cam
paigning- They feel and say that Buffalo has
not quite recovered even at this late day from
the disgrace which fell on IL on account OF those
methods AS one Cleveland Democrat has sung.
with apologies to a more successful bard.
You may squsIch and beIittls
That boss you will.
But the shame OF his methods
Remains with US still
The rise OF 'Blue-eyed Billy" from a ward
worker to be boss OF his party organization in
Erie County. and from ferry boy to be Lieu
tenant Governor OF the State. was due in great
measure, old politicians OF Buffalo say to his
clever use OF the cloak Of the reformer IN the
early stages Of his political career. Mindful OF
the success OF Grover Cleveland as a reformer.
Sheehan played the part Of a good" politician
while he building up an organization NJ
his own. Many Cleveland Democrats OF Buffalo
acknowledge now with modification that tbav
supported him earnestly at a time when he was
using their influence 70 make himself their party
master.
I'VE hear It said that Mr.. sheehan is once more
a reformer in politics." said one Of his former
supporters the editor OF a Buffalo news
paper to The Tribune correspondent. with quiet
sarcasm. We helped him TO power here when
he was reformer. We believe yet in his abH-
ity. but we suspect his motives There need be
no doubt as TO his ability He proved that His
first entry into politics here was as bond clerk
in the Controllers Office when his brother John
c. Sheehan, was Controller OF the city Billy
Sheehan, as we knew him then. was a popular
fellow in his ward. and a hard worker studying
law while he held a political job worth to him
only 5000 year.
BUILT UP STRONG ORGANIZATION
When John C. sheehan left Buffalo under a
cloud nobody held William F. sheehan IN the re-
motest degree responsible for the trouble IN the
Controllers Office. His friends were glad to have
him get the nomination for Assemblyman in his
district, which had overwhelming Democratic
majority. He rising young lawyer. He
showed his political and forensic ability by be-
coming the Democratic leader on the door Of the
Assembly When he undertook the work Of re-
organizing the badly divided Democratic or
ganization in Erie County ne seemed 10 be a
real reformsr. He put forward as candidates
for local Offices men of high character and
standing. The Cleveland Democrats hocked to
hts standard. The party organization became
compact. united and powerful under his leader
ship.
Having become master OF the organization.
he turned his back on the reform element and
put into local Office such men as were ready
10 do his bidding Then his plan seemed to be
TO establish a second Tammauy Hall in Buffalo.
Everything seemed TO be ready for the estab-
lishment OF graft system here when the cry
OF little Tammany' was raised against him. He
aPVa h. had heco faIf
ant Governor. for persisting in using Tammany
methods including attempts TO steal elections
The Buffalo newspapers in 1892 and 1893. on
file in the Public Library here. tell the story
OF the fight which was waged against Mr. Shee-
han and the local troubles which led TO that
fight They show that the storm OF popular
indignation against the boss was rising fast be-
fore the fall campaign of 1892 From the tone
OF the newspaper articles 1t is apparent that the
Buffalo people were more excited over Mr.
Sheehan's control OF local Offices and HIS plans
to retain that control than over the approach
ing national election
The storm centre IN the campaign of 1892 in
Buffalo really was confined to the election OF
Henry P Emerson to the Office OF Supertnten-
dent OF Education and OF George T. Quinby to
the office Of District Attorney of Erie County.
They were the Republican candidates. and Op-
posed to them were the Sheehan candidates.
William II. Love and Herbert P. Bissel. The
attempt OF Sheehan's Heutenants to defeat the
election OF the Republican candidates by
fraudulentIy counting in Love and Bissell
created more popular excitement and indigna-
ton than ever had been witnessed in this city.
RESULT OF ELEvATING CROKER.
one Of the things Mr.. Saeehan accomplished
after becoming Lieutenant Governor was the
appointment of James F. Crooker. Superinten-
dent OF Education in Buffalo. to be State Su-
perintendent Of Instruction. To I'll the vacancy
in Buffalo caused by the elevation Of Mr..
Crooker. Mr.. Sheehan had Mr.. Love appointed
Superintendent OF Education, and had Inn
nominated for election TO that Office in lSy--
The Sheehan plan to retain Mr.. Love In office
created strong opposition. and many indepen-
dent Democrats OF Buffalo came out openly IN
support OF Mr.. Emerson, popular principal VI
one of the schools. when he wa nominated TOT
superintendent by the Republicans. The sans
Democrats also supported Mr.. Ouinhy, the Ne
nubIIcan candidate for District ATTORNEY. IN
the weeks Immediately preceding the slseuo"
there appeared IN the BufraIo papers reports
that the sheehan organization was preparing %
sacrifice other candidates to make sure Of nc
election OF Love and BisselL and that $-VVVV
had been pledged to the work of placlns 'A0
Sheehan candidates in Office
An attempt to coerce women teachers IN tn7
public schools Of Buffalo into working TOT 'H
election OF Love was made In the name y
lanes F. Croker the State Superintendent.
Under the. headline Cur Work there appeaFeu
IN The Buffalo Evening News" Of Novemos.
= 1892. a redhot article the subject. IN p@''
as follows:
young and pretty woman. who is teaenes ,15 II
a public school, spent yesterday In n Gssp t ,,tS a