The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-09-13
GAYNOR'S CAREER
MOST INTERESTING
Has Had Busy Life, Large Part of
1t Being Spent in Fighting Graft
and Corruption.

lticlan ana mayor OF new YORK llty, was
born as the son of poor farmer near
Whitestown, N. Y, in 1851. He received
his early education at the public schools
of Whitestown seminary and in Boston
and was originally destined to enter the
priesthood of the Roman Catholic
church. As boy young Gaynor was
Iambitious and made every effort to ac-
lquire good education.
In his young manhood Mr.. Gaynor
taught school in Boston, and afterward
studied law in Utica, N. ", removing to
Brooklyn in 1873 to continue his studies.
Meanwhile he made a scant living by
working for newspapers. He was adj
Emitted TO the bar in 1875. and went to
live in Flatbush, then a separate com
munity in the control of corrupt politi-
clans.
Straightway Gaynor began to study
his surroundings and developed his fight
ing qualities as a reformer. He found
that Flatbush had 40 saloons, but only
one liquor license. He obtained evidence
against the saloons, had their propri-
etors arrested and compelled them to
take out licenses. Then he called the
better element together and reform
ticket was nominated at the next cleo
ton.
Although opposed by both political
machines, the reform ticket was elected
and Gaynor was appointed police com
missioner. As commissioner his most
notable achievement was the closing Of
several illegal road houses on the Ocean
parkway, the evidence being procured,
the keepers convicted and the whole bus
mess cleaned up within 90 days.
In Brooklyn.
In 1885 Mr.. Gaynor moved to Brook
| lyn proper and soon found himself ar
rayed against the late Hugh Mclaughlin,
the Democratic boss. When the town of
New Lots was annexed to Brooklyn in
| 1890, the boss and his friends, with their
peculiar foresight, purchased, through
dummies, the Long Island Water com
pany in the new addition for SlS5,000.
Their purpose was to sell it to the city
and they had contracted with the mayor
to dispose of it for 81 100000. Gaynor
denounced the deal as swindle, and de-
clared he would stop it. He had tax
payers suit started to prevent the con-
summation of the deal, and eventually
won in the highest court in the state,
saving the city of Brooklyn nearly one
million dollars and beating the ring out
of the same amount.
The Tax Fight.
Next, Mr.. Gaynor started out to make
the elevated roads of Brooklyn pay their
taxes. The Brooklyn political ring
stood i'm with the traction companies,
and had refused to allow the property
to be sold for the delinquency Gaynor
compelled the traction companies to pay
about 81 100000 into the city treasury,
much to the astonishment of McIaugh
Inns men, Mr.. Gaynor fought the ring
in various other WAYS, its overthrow be-
ing complete when, in 1898, Gaynor, de-
Ginning citizens nomination for mayor
took nomination from the Republicans
and independent Democrats for justice
Of the supreme court. At the same time
the fusion city tickets, headed by
Charles A. Schieren, won sweeping
victory. The Mclaughlin ring lost its
power.
Encounter with McKane.
Coineident with the overthrow of Nc
Laughlin was the humiliation of Chief
OF Police John " Mckane, Democratic
ruler OF Coney Island, whose padded list
OF voters was used to swing elections
with impunity During the campaign
Gaynor had declared that he would
send Mckane to prison ii he attempted
TO debauch the ballot box again. On
election day Gaynor sent watchers TO
the polling places, having first procured
an injunction which forbade interference
with them. McKane's henchmen threw
the watchers out of the polling booths
aud the boss himself uttered that fam !
Gus declaration: '.Injunctions don't 90
here Gaynor threw himself into the
work of the prosecution and after one
of the most memorable series of trials !
in the country's history McKane and his !
associates were sent TO prison for terms
of various lengths Mckane died in Sing |
Sing.
His Subsequent Career
The next year David b. Hill wanted |
Gaynor to take the Democratic nomna-
ton for governor, but he declined and |
also refused to accept a nomination for
Judge of the court of appeals. In 1895 |
Gaynor refused the nomination for |
mayor of Brooklyn, because it did not |
come iIOm uIlttu ItHOCTdcN. III the I
following year he strongly supported |
Bryan and the radical Democratic plat /
form. He was candidate against Nc
Clellan for the mayoralty nomination |
in 1905, but was defeated by the Tam
many influence. In 1906 he was lead
ing candidate for the Democratic guber
nomination, but was defeated |
and supported Hearst At the election
in 1909 he was elected mayor on the
ticket, but contrary to expee-
tations he maintained an Independent
position and aroused considerable en-
nifty among gang politicians by his en-
ergetic reform measures. On Aug. 8,
1910, while about to sail on his vacation
trip to Europe, Mayor Gaynor was shot
and seriously wounded by James ]. Gal
lagher, discharged city employee. The
mayor had two married daughters, w. I
Seward Webb nd Mrs. Harry X. Vim
gut, and three daughters unmarried.