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

mine." a "square-deal Judge" a friend
OF the people" He has sent political
bosses TO jail, fought rings Of politicians.
hurled verbal bombs at Tammany and the
reform element. He has denounced the
financial methods OF the Manhattan trac-
ton interests. baited the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit. denounced railroad rebating and
the accumulation OF wealth through ques-
tlonable means, curbed what ne calls
police despotism" through procedure OF
the courts. dehsd legal presidents. criti-
cised bench. bar. and jury, says a writer
IN the New York Post.
An independent, morally strong fudge.
his friends say. What say his opponents?
Only last week District Attorney Jerome
in opening his own campaign for re-
election, said the little group Of men. two
men-Charles F. Murphy and Daniel
Cohalan-controlling the nominating ma
chinery OF the Democratic party. were
about 10 force uDOn It as a candidate for
mayor a man aptly described as a COM
binaton Of a demagOgue and a fanatic
that most ahhorrent product, a political
judge. a judge whose so-oalled personal
liberty decisions have consisted In orders
restraining the law-enfercing powers
from pursuing law-breakers. and have
served as a protection for them"
Called Political ChnrIatan.
Mr.. Jerome also described Gaynor-one
may drop his title-as "a political charla-
tan shown IN the past TO be totally desti-
tute Of political courage and whose
eraic ability is tinged with a morbidness
which is almost akin TO mental unsound-
ness" A severe characterization, but
Jerome IS admittedly no friend Of Gay
nor
The charge that Gaynor Is political
judge and without political courage has
been voiced several times before. In dis
cussing his letter OF September Z an
nOuncing his candidacy. the Post said:
He - 4" has not been content TO be
only a judge. He has been politico-j ur-
ist Too many OF his decisions appear to
have been written with an eye TO the
applause OF the groundlings. He has been
that figure-always dstasteful 10 Ameri-
Cans-a Judge with an itch for publicity.
and with unconcealed aspirations for po-
liticai reward"
GaynOr has been remarked for his "Sat-
urday afternoon decisions on popular
subjects. Through them he has accom-
plished, Willingly or unwittingly. two
space in Sunday newspapers, and pre-
vented a stay OF judgment for twenty
four hours
AS for his political courage or lack Of
f. some persons charge that Gaynor IS IN
the habit OF flirting with a nomination
and then declining to run at the critical
moment lie prefers the quietude OF the
bench to the activity of political life. II
is said. and is not willing TO stand for
victory at tho polls. In refutation, Gay
nor recently remarked that since he had
been a judge he had refused an offer
Of nomination for mayor OF Brooklyn. and
two offers OF nomination for mayor OF
the new City OF New York, when II was
quite certain that I would be elected"
That his political courage will be tested
severely as a Tammany candidate may
not be doubted. To the nine men who
urged him TO enter the mayoralty con-
test, he wrote: Il shall not take
nomination from any organization to
which Is annexed any pledge, promise.
or condition whatsoever other than TO be
mayor in fact, and do my duty II
elected"
Such a declaration sounds Ominous for
Murphy. who usually demands that the
tiger. stripes be worn by his mayoralty
candidates. And the tiger stripes are
emblematic Of the very things which
GaynOr denounces-graft. political prefer
ment. bossism. the corrupt alliance be-
tween politicians, venal corporations, and
contractors who fatten on the public
trough. He can do harm TO Tammany, II
he repeats some OF his old Nominations.
and New York will await his campaign
speeches with interest, and Tammany.
perhaps, with trepidation.
Product of the Farm.
But the future will take care Of that
At present the questions are: Who IS
Gaynor. what has he done. and how is he
qualified for the Office of mayor He
was born at Whitestown. N Y, fifty
eight years ago. the son OF a farmer, the
Gaynor family being of English-Irish
stock. He was educated at WhitestOwn
Seminary and later at Boston and In
tended in youth, II was said, to enter the
priesthood OF the Roman Catholic Church,
even going so far as 10 begin his studies
under the Christian Brothers. Little is
known about that period OF his life but
at all events he did not become a priest
II has been urged against him politically
that he denounced the Roman Catholic
faith on the lecture platform and with his
pen. but II is doubtful whether the pam
phlet he was supposed 20 have written is
now in existence
He taught school In Boston. and after
ward took up the study OF law In Utica,
removing TO Brooklyn in 1873 70 con-
tinue his studies While so doing he
engaged in newspaper work He was ad-
mitted to the bar in 1876, and went to
live in Flatbush. then a separate COM
munity, in the control Of corrupt poll
ticians. Gaynor studied his surroundings,
and ascertained that Flatbush had forty
liquor saloons, but only one license. He
got evidence against the saloons. had
their proprietors arrested. and compelled
them to take out licenses. Then he
called the better element together. and a
reform ticket was nominated at the next
election
Though both political machines COM
bined against the reformers, the lstter's
ticket gained decisive victory, and Gay
nor was appointed police commissioner
by the town board. His most notable
achievement in this capacity was the
manner In which ne closed several Illegal
road-houses on the Ocean Parkway. He
procured evidence against these places.
and succeeded In convicting their pro-
prietors. all within sixty days.
Gaynor went to 1--we In Brooklyn In
1885. and soon found himself arrayed
against Hugh Mclaughlin, the Demo-
cratic boss. His opportunity 20 fight Nc
Laughlin came In 1889. when the town Of
New Lots was annexed to Brooklyn.
The boss and his friends, with the pecu-
liar foresight which men OF their stripe
often display. purchased. through dunn
mics. for S1S5,00o. the Long Island Water
Company, in New Lots, with the pur-
pose Of selling 1t 20 Brooklyn. Indeed,
they had contracted with Alfred c. Chap
in, mayor OF Brooklyn. to purchase the
company, on behalf OF the city, for