Evening journal., 1913-09-16
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
When Prizeflghter Was
Candidate for the N. Y.
State Senate
BY Holland.

In the late summer of the year 1878.
John Morrissey was nominated as a
candidate for the New York state Sen
ate by an element OF the Democratic
party in New York city which had m,ir-
tanned for some years an organization in
opposition to 1ammany Hall
Alorrissey had gained second and
an absolutely unique notoriety through
his election to the lower House OF ;hc
Federal Congress as the Representatives
from New York city. Only ten or iweNe
years earlier ne had gained world
wide notoricty because he had defeated
John G. Hcenan in the prize ring in a
battle which was fought at Long Poiut,
Canada, which was a supreme test of
enduring, both men Fighting with bare
fists. Although AIorrissey then defeated
IIccnan, the latter's reputation as box
en- and a man of great stamina was en-.
hanccd by this meeting so that wear
later he fought battle for the cham
pionship of the world at Marlborough,
England, with the English champion,
'rom Savers. The Hcenan Saycrs prize
fight commanded the attention Of
the people. both in Great Britain and in
, the United States, although the battle
was fought at tbs time when tho pre-
lminary arrangements for the prcsiden-
tal campaign of lsGO were under way.
II was accounted unique feature of
New York political life that champion
prizcfghtcr as Alorrissey was, shouli
have becn able to secure nomination
and receive enough votes to elect him.
Morrissey. however. when a mem
her OF Congress. gained and deserved
some measure OF the respect OF his
colleagues. He was strangely diff
don't He never was self-cOnscious
and he was in his entire demoanor
as modest and sclf-rcspecting a man
as could be found upon the lower
floor of the House.
There was always a feeling of Won
der that Morrssey. who could have
been returned to Congress for several
terms at least should have preferred
a seat in the State Senate at Albany.
was instructed to call upon him at
his Headquarters and to ask him II
there were any special reason why he
chose Albany. rather than Washington
as place for the kind of political
career that he wanted to make.
The night was very warm when
called upon him. His headquarters at
one of the old-fashioned hotels in New
York. no longer standing, were
thrOnged but It was an orderly and
quiet crowd, with not the slightest in
dication that any OF those who we're
there had been drinking.
Morrissey stood in the center Of a
throng of admirers giving various or
dcrs ina quick, lacOnic utterances. He
wore neither coat nor waistcoat nor
had he any collar. His shirt was un-
buttoned at the throat The herculean
proportions of his shoulders, mas
sivoness of his neck. the perfect poise
with which his head-which was
really OF noble proportions-re rested
upon his shoulders. made IL clear to
anyone who saw him that evening
why he had been triumphant in as
desperate a prizefght as was ever
fought i'm the United States. Tie took
me To one side when opportunity
came and we sat down by an open
window TO get breath OF fresh air.
noticed that his voice was very
husky. as though he were suffering
from some pulmonary trouble, as was
the case Organic disease had al
ready seized that massive form, eN-
actly as It seized aud carried away
John C. Heenan. But his manner was
very kindly.
"You want 10 know why it is better
for a politician in New York city "a
serve in the Assembly at Albany or
i'm the Senate than TO serve as a Con
gressman at Washington he said
The reason is very easy to give. Tn
less q man is a great lawyer or a great
speaker he is a perfect blank in the
House Of Representatives But il
doesn't take "A great lawyer or a great
speaker TO gain and keep political
influence If he is a member Of tho
Legislature At Albany Now, ! wan
10 get political influence enough {,
carry on my fight against Tamman,
Hall aud that is the reason why
want TO 20 10 the State Senate.
You mustn't repeat what am nov
going 10 tell you. but will say to yot
that begin TO think that ! am
loser Something has got hold Of me
don't know whether Il is consump
/ tion or what. but ! feel that m,
power and strength have failed mo
II ! was the John Morrissey I wa,
when ! was elected 10 Congress
could win the fight, but I am nov
fighting not only against Tammauy
but against something that seems {,
be clutching me at the throat"
Morrisseys premonition was cor
rect Mortal disease had seized hin
and he lived only a Few months.
Copyright. 1919 by L. J. Edwards
All rights reserved)
Tomorrow NJ. Edwards will tel
How Farmers Family Was hi
vided on the Currency Question"