Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-18
TRAITS THAT COUNT IN LIFE.
Notable Career of the Late Mayor
Collins of u0stou.

Notable Career of the Late Mayor
Collins of Boston.
The American voter frequently Is charged
with gross indifference IN UNFOLDING honest
and fearless men In the public service. The
charge has some foundation, a meagre one,
due to the WEAKNESS produced by party
sduabbles and rancor. When. however, some
serious public question is involved OF the
public interests menaced, voters are
aroused and quickly and effectively re-
spond at the ballot box. The most recent
and widespread illustration Of this fact is
to be found in the vote cast for President
Theodore Roosevelt last November. The
public career OF Patrick Andrew Collins,
late mayor OF Boston. is another conspic-
uous example of honesty, ability and fear
less discharge Of duty upheld at the ballot
box.
Mayor Collins exemplihed in public life
many OF the traits which endear President
Roosevelt TO the people. He was a hater Of
shams. He was a foe Of crooks and graft-
ers in every guise. He insisted on his
subordlnates doing the work for which
they were paid. He believed the public was
entitled 10 as good service as the firm or
corporation, and in his appointments gave
greater weight to competency than to tho
strength Of the pull. Honesty, faithfulness,
the greatest good for the greatest num-
Der" were his ideals Of public service, and
so well did he demonstrate them as mayor
that appreciative Boston gave him the
largest majority ever given in that city to
candidate seeking a second term.
The lessons Of the life of Mayor Collins
are not unusual. They affirm anew the fact
that success in this country waits upon
energy, integrity and ability. Necessity
was the spur to his energy; persistency and
brains did the rest. Born in Ireland in 1874
young Collins came TO the United States in
1913, with his parents, and settled in Chel-
sea, Mass. At the age Of IL the boy began
to earn money in a Chelsea shop and later
as office boy for a Boston lawyer When 10
he was taken to Ohio, where he enga ged in
physical and mechanical labor Of the hard
est kind. Returning to Boston, he worked
for eight years at the trade of upholsterer,
until following his ambition 70 become a
lawyer, he entered the Office OF James N
Keith and finally took a two years. course
In the Harvard law school, from which he
was graduated with high honors in 1871,
when he was duly admitted to the Suffolk
bar.
His oratorical gifts early won him repu-
'ouOi anu Wnlle yet student at law he
was elected to the Massachusetts, house OF
representatives, where he served through
1868 and 1863, and in 1870 and 1871 he was a
member of the senate. In 1873 and 1874 he
was chairman Of the Boston democratic
city committee in 1875 he was made Judge
advocate general on the STAFF of Governor
William CASTOR and he was o delegate-at-
large to the national democratic conven-
tions Of 1876, 1880, 1884, 1888 (of which he was
permanent chairman) and 1892, in which
last he made a great speech seconding the
nomination of Grover Cleveland for the
presidency. He was first sent to congress
In 1882 and was twice reelected. From 1884
to 1894 he was chairman Of the Massa-
chusetts democratic state committee. In
1888 he was appointed by Cleveland to be
United States consul general at London in
which position he served until 1897 He was
elected mayor Of Boston in 1902 and re-
elected last year.