Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-09-16
MEATH oy JOEL n. EpHARDr.

Zoe, y. Erhardt Of New York whose
death is announced. was born IN Potts
tonw. pa, In 1898. His father was Of
cer,nan parcntage. His mother was n
e,ster of the late Prof George WHY'S
rcpedict Of Burlington, When only
four years old he was brought to New
York city. and there received his elemen-
tnry education at the old Whitehead
school, afterwards entering the Uni
versity Of Vermont In 1850
when the CIVIL war began he left the
university and went to tho front as
private in Co. r OF the seventh regimen,
OF New York serving with II until tho
expir alton of It's term Of service. He I'm
mediatciy enlisted agnin. In tho first YER
mont cavalry. and left FOR the front
agnin, serving two years and rising to
the rank OF captain. For the last Two
weeks Of the war he was provost mar
shnl In the fourth district Of New York
city.
Colonel Erhardt again took up the
study or law, and was admitted TO the
bar In 1865. In the last part Of the same
year he was appointed assistant United
states district attorney under benjamin
F. Siliman of Brooklyn. In this position
was defeated IN 1875 as candidate for
member Of the board Of aldermen.
One year later. In 1876, Mayor Wick
ham appointed Colonel Erhardt police
commissioner which Office he lreld until
1879, when he was succeeded by Stephen
y French. While commissioner, charges
we're preferred against him by Mayor
Ely: he was tried on these charges and
nothing came Of them.
IN his ONCE es police commissioner. and
nfterwsrd IN all the changes which took
place In the department under Ely. Van
Wyck. and others Colonel Erhardt stood
for a military system Of dscfpline-the
absolute power Of the head of the de-
partment to control his force by sum
mary removal. The law attempting to bet
ter the administration Of the force by sub
s'ituting one commissioner for the older
board Of four Colonel Erherdt denounced
ms failure. calling Il n destroyer Of dis
cipline by creating "a removable COM
missioner at the head OF an rremovabie
force" One outcome Of this law, which
nullifed the results II was intended to
bring about. was the appointment In 1907.
OF William s. Eevery. whom the measure
had thrown out OF his former ONCE Of
chief Of police. az deputy commissioner
by Michael C.. Murphy, the newly ap-
pointed commissioner. Murphy was one
OF the Joke" committee Of i've created
| by Richard Croker 10 clean UP the
city" the committee dishanded on the
appointment Of Devery.
Colonel Erhardt made n protest against
this action then. when he vas member
OF tho old committee OF fifteen. a reform
orga nization. In all subsequent con-
troversins IN regard TO the police depart
ment he took a strong stand In favor Of
giving more power to the commissioner
Following his term as n member Of the
police board, Colonel Erhardt entered
again on the practice Of law. In 1882 he was
appointed United States marshal for the
southern district Of New York. by Presi-
dent Arthur. remaining In this post I'M
I'll 1885. during which time he was close
~ associated with Elihu Root. who held
the office Of United States district attor-
ney The two men continued fast friends
and allies from that day He was made
receiver for the New York and Northern
railroad in the same year. and recon-
| structed the organization entirely. be-
coming It's president in 1896. He resigned
In 1888 10 enter the city campaign as re-
publican candidate for mayor
, At the city convention. ono Of the most
enthusiastic ever held, E'hu hoot made
the speech nominating Colonel Erhnrdt
IN which he said:
"Hls name is the synonym for the
faithful discharge Of duty In hi. bust
ness relations he has won the respect
and admiration of all who know him.
AS public officer when fortunes were
within his grasp not thought OF SELF
ing them entered his mind. He ,s man
vigorously positive. determined honest
generous and able. Not n stain hns been
cast on his name. Not q man can say n
word against him to impeach his uiali-
fcations for the nayornlty Of New
York"
/ The mayOraltv contest rf that wear
1883, was q sort Of free-for-all race with
seven candidates IN the field Tammany
named Hugh J. Grant at tho head Of a
| straight ticket. and the county democ-
rscy nominated Mayor Ahram s.
Hewitt whom Tamronv had renounc-
ed. because he would not do it's bidding
All told there were seven candidates In
the field. among tho lesser being Cooga n.
the nominee Of the Labor party. Al that
time the mayoralty election was held on
the Same day as tho election for presi-
dent and governor. New York's electoral
vote had elected Cleveland IN 1854. and
Matthew QUAY. chairman 81 the repuh-
lican national committee. was do
term'ncd TO leave no stone un-
turned to swing the state into the
Harrison column that fail The only
sure why TO DO il was by an extern
sive system Of trading. and this plan
was put into operation, With the result
that republican votes for governor and
mayor were traded freely In exchange for
democratic votes for Harrison. Harrison
carried the State. but HIN was elected
governor and Grant mayor. To make
assurance doubly sure QUAY poured SO
ooo into the Golfers Of the labor mavoralty
candidate. although the republicans had
barely enough to pay for rent Of meeting
halls. Colonel F:rhardt knew from the
start that he WIS being sacrificed. but
he put up a splendid eight running sec
ond In the race. and polling 400 votes.
which was 1000 more than William NJ.
WINS pollcd IN the same area Il years
later.
Colonel Erhardt's friends believed that
something was due him ror allowing him
self to be sacrificed IN this manner, and
II. ~.