The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-17

deal as swindle, and said he would
stop H. He induced one of his clients.
William Zlegler. OF baking powder fame.
to allow the use OF his name In a tax
payers suit 10 prevent the contamination
OF the deal. The ring fought back and
the suit was carried TO the highest court
IN the State. to the discomfort OF the
McLaughlins, who were defeated. A COM
mission afterward appraised the property
at $4,000 so nearly s1.0O0.0O0 had been
saved to Brooklyn, and the ring had lost
that amount
The elevated roads Of Brooklyn had up
to that timo neglected TO pay taxes, and
the city officers refused 10 sell the prop
erty for nonpayment; but GaynOr. de-
termined to make the companies obey the
law. brought a taxpayers suit, and about
S1.0Oo,O0O was paid into the city treasury.
much 70 the astonishment of McLaugh-
Inns men.
Called Another Halt.
After the Columbian parade OF 1888 Cay
nor had another opportunity to call a halt
on the Mclaughlin city officers. by expos
ing bills presented for the celebration in
Brooklyn. More brass bands than could
be hired In New York and Brooklyn had
been charged for, ard the bill for one
street stand contained charges for more
lumber than had been used in all the
reviewing places. The Mclaughlin crowd
had their account legallzed by the legls-
lature, and then GaynOr induced the gov
ernor to exercise his veto.
Citizens Of Brooklyn wanted Gaynor 10
run for mayor that year, but he declined
a nj f1sal~ u
cans and Independent Democrats for jus
tico OF the Supreme Court His cleo
ton and those OF Charles A. Schieren.
fusion candidate for may and his associ-
ates on the ticket, was a sweeping VIC
tory, the Mclaughlin ring being driven
out Of power.
The downfall OF the Brooklyn boss was
coincident with the humiliation OF John
y. McKane, the defiant Democratic ruler
OF COney Island. whose padded list Of
voters was swung in any way that he
willed. In the campaign Gaynor had de-
clared that he would send McKane TO
prison II he attempted 10 debauch the
ballot box again. On election day Gay
nor sent watchers to the polling places
having first procured an injunction which
forbade interference with them. Nc
kane's henchmen threw the watchers out
Of the polling booths. and the boss him
self made the most famous remark oe
his life: 'Injunctions don't go here"
That remark practically sent McKane
20 States prison. After election. Gaynor
got the governor 20 appoint special depu-
~ Encouragement IN order to take
the prosecution out OF the hands OF the
boss-ridden local district attorney. and
he threw himself into tho work with en-
ergy. thereby exciting New York as we'll
as Brooklyn. McKane was sentenced TO
seven years, sixteen OF his followers were
imprisoned, and the value of the injuno-
tl0n as a legal weapon was indicated
IL was said Gaynor had spent 49,
COO in his election, all but 600 OF which
came from his own pocket; and recently
Il was explained, the money was used
mainly to stop registration frauds in Nc
Kane's bailiwick and IN the prosecution
that followed.
The following year David B. Hill want
ed Gaynor 10 be the Democratic candi-
date for governor, but the demands Of
the Justices supporters were embarras-
sing TO the State boss, and the Tammany
delegates sought TO. undermine GaynOr's
chances by circulating stories to the
effect that he had been divorced. That
he had been divorced on statutory
=
leaders made outrageous and malicious
statements about the suit, and GaynOr's
friends declared that he had acted chival-
rously in giving his wife her release.
Declines TO Run.
When the Democrats nominated Hill for
governor they also put Gaynor on the
ticket for judge of the Court OF Appeals.
but he declined 10 run, saying the same
reasons which compelled him 10 refuse
the nomination for governor precluded
him from accepting another place on the
ticket.
Probably Gaynor's withdrawal injured
Hits canvass. although the justice gave
his support TO the candidate for COVER
nor; az all events, the Democratic ticket
was showed under by Levi p. Morton
and his Republican associates. Perhaps
Gaynor had foreshadowed defeat.
In 1895 an effort was made to induce
GaynOr 70 run for mayor OF Brooklyn.
but he declined on the ground that the
nomination did not come from a united
Democracy. The following year found
him supporting the free-silver platform
OF the Democracy. Mystery has been
made Of Gaynor's religion. and this fact
has hurt him politically, only as late
for the Democratic VIce-PresidentiaI
nomination. Bryan wanted Gaynor for
his running mate, and matters were
progressing smoothly at Denver, when
some Of the delegates produced news
paper editorials criticising the Justices
manner OF Gbjuring his former church
and attacking II from the lecture plat
form. Those criticisms, many Of them
fifteen years old. killed the Gaynor boom
out OF hand.
Returning 10 the Justices political ven
lures, II will be remembered that he was
a candidate against Mcclellan in the
Democratic city convention in 1903 He
received 21s votes. all but one OF the
Brooklyn delegation. Martin w. Little
ton nominated Gaynor for mayor, say
ing:
He Is a great lawyer. a great judge,
and, beyond all. a great man; he has the
moral courage OF martyr, the profound
learning OF a statesman, the conservative
wisdom OF a Judge. the controversial
talent OF q lawyer. and the imperial
intellect OF a genius
But Tammany did not want Gaynor.
Murphy had f1lched Edward NJ Grout and
Charles V. Fornes from the fusion ticket,
and the Gaynor adherents did not want
these two men, believing them 70 be
traitors. Said Littleton, shaking his fist
at Murphy, and referring TO GrOut: IF