New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-05
THE PICTURE AND THE FRAME,

A new star has appeared in the political firma-
ment 10 which all telescopes turned. Yes
terday morning John Drescher, jr., Of No. 0IS
Rodney-st, Brooklyn, was to the general public
merely q name in the official register. To-day
the whole seven million people Of New-York are
asking who he is This sudden leap to fame was
taken easily, but mOdestly, and, we may say,
Shrnkingy. Mr.. DresCher, who happens to
cupy a seat in the State Senate, raised himself
at one bound from obscurity by putting through
the Senate the so-called Niagara grab bill
which would allow electric companies to con-
denim private property at pleasure without any
of the safeguards restricting the exercise of that
power by railroads. This measure had been be
fore the legislature for many days; its vicious
character had been thoroughly exposed Mr..
Drescher had four times voted against it. II
had once been beaten, but saved for another
vote by the clever tactics OF Senator McCarren.
and then on the final test Mr.. Drescher though
Republican, suddenly went over to the side of
his Brooklyn Democratic neighbor, and in a
shamefaced fashion mumbled his assent and
gave the bill the one vote necessary for its
passage. That is his title to greatness No won
der everybody wants to know who and what
manner of man he is. Therefore we take pleas
ure in relieving the public curiosity. The Red
BOOK FOR 1903 contains a picture, apparently
painted by Mr. Dreschers own hand, from which
we reproduce this outline sketch:
John Drescher. 5r., Republican who represants
the fth District in the State Senate was born
IN brooklyn. October 81, 1863. of German ma
rentage He was educated at a public school
ana later attended Wright's Business College
AT the age OF fourteen years Mr. Drescher was
employed as an Office boy by an art house al
" 90 a week. Through hard work Mr. Drescher
finally obtained the position of general manager
or the institution, and later gained the position
OF travelling salesman, his territory covering
all parts OF the United States. When TWENTY
SIX years old Mr.. Drescher engaged in the art
business for himself in the capacity Of COM
mission merchant. and now represents six of
the largest picture frame manufactures in the
world as well as doing a large importing busi-
ness in oil paintings.
MI Drescher is a member Of the ST PauI
lutheran Church, as we'll OF Hyatt Lodge
+. ana A M; the Hanover Club De Long
Souncl, h A, and of the Long Island Camn
traternal Legion. Mr. Drescher also Is nresI
dent Of the Congress Club. Mr.. Drsschnr
Tor the last eight years has been treasurer ~
the Kings County Republic (sic) General Com
mlttee Upon September 81 1904 he was nOrn
mated Tor State Senator from the 9TH Senate
District then represented by Thomas @ whit
lock, Democrat. Mr.. Drescher nevertheless
carried the district by a plurality of 4nS
votes. -'i"0
There is the portrait, as Iifelike as any oil
painting he ever imported. Mr. Drescher shouId
label It The man who changed his vote 70 mass
the Niagara grab" and put It for posterItv in
the finest frame made by any one Of those civ
largest manufactures in the world. Mr.. Dresch-
er gets more than So so a week in these davs
and doubtless afford to have the +roynn
heavily gilded. - "A10