New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-23

summer Of last year Mccarren also ap-
peared with delegates. The convention,
however. rejected his credentials and seated
the delegation headed by Bird s. Coler.
As consequence OF these rebuffs the
prophets again predicted the Senator's
overthrow. Again the forecast was prena-
ture. He fought the Murphy faction through
the courts. and the Appellate Division or
dered the acceptance OF his election inspec-
tors and clerks for the election OF 1905.
This September he received what he regard
ed as final vindication. when he won nine
teen Of the twenty-three districts of the Dor
ough
Senator McCarren was active in Opposi-
ton 20 the Insurance. reform bills and the
anti-racetrack measures. He always took
positions Of this kind with the utmost frank
ness. and never ninched at the expression
of adverse public opinion.
He figured conspicuously IN the failure of
the brokerage firm Of Ennis Stoppanf last
spring. as debtor TO the amount Of S124.-
600 under a blind account He agreed 20
pay promptly on delivery Of the stock.
which was accomplished.
WAS CALLED LONG PAT"
Physically Senator McCarren was very tall
and very lanks characteristics which won
him the sobriquet Of Long Pat" His face
was almost funereaI when in repose. and
not hilarious even when animated by his
peculiar smile. He appeared to be stoop-
shouldered. but this was more an attitude
than a characteristic. The impression he
gave was that he was constantly revolving
problems in his mind: constantly striving
to strike a balance. and to see the answer.
In manner he was courteous and consider
ate. He was easy 70 approach and gener-
Gus OF attention, but niggardly Of speech
When listening to others he habitually
moved his head slowly up and down, as a
sign that he understood and agreed.
The qualities Of Senator McCarren which,
IN the opinion Of his friends. contributed
most to his success in politics were keen
ness, tenacity of purpose, fidelity to per-
sonal obligation. lack OF emotion. or, rather
perfect emotional self-control and patience
These attributes his enemies admitted, but
10 them added unscrupulousness. The Sem
ator himself in an interview once gave this
estimate Of the elements Of success:
Success in life" he said. consists. to my
way of thinking. in accomplishing what a
man sets out TO accomplish. 1t depends
about 10 per cent on intelligent effort and
90 per cent on luck. Take ten men who
equipment. One succeeds and the other
nine do not. In my opinion it IS because
circumstances over which none OF the men
had any control whatever shaped themselves
in such a way that the one in the ten had
all the best Of it. Any one Of the ten could
have done exactly what he did under like
circumstances. But things broke right for
him, while they broke badly for the others
1t was the philosophy Of born gambler.
Senator McCarren was often called
hard man, devoid OF sentiment When Mrs.
Mary a. Dixon sued him for breach Of
promise in 1906 the public expected an in
sight of new phase of his character. Soon
afterward. however, Mrs. Dixon withdrew
all her allegations.
"I had a romance once" he said to close
friend Of his at that time. When was
a young man 7 fell in love with girl and
we were married We lived very happily
We had five children When 7 was thirty
one years old had buried my wife and
five children Do you think have forgot
ten her and our five babies? That is Just
as green in my memory as If It had hap
pened yesterday.
AS a turfman he possessed the necessary
quality of nerve. He had been remarkably
successful in his betting, He had made any
number of coups. and was one Of the few
plungers who was practically always ahead
of the game. His success as an owner Of
race horses. however. had not been so great
as he wished He liked good horse. and
he liked the surroundings connected with
the turf When weary OF the worry Incl
dental 10 the active political life he led
nothing delighted him more than an after
noon al the track. where. seated on the
vsranda Of the clubhouse. surrounded by
congenial companions, he speedily forgot
his business cares and lent himself whole
heartedly to the spirit Of the sport Ions
odds attracted him. and 1t was his boast
that he would rather bet on long shot
than on an odds-on favorite at any time