The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-09-12
MAYOR GAYN0R
DIES ON OCEAN
Victim Of Heart Failure While On
Board Steamer Baltic Bound
For Europe
NAN OF NATIONAL REPUTE
Candidate For Presidential Nominal
ton Before Last Democratic
Convention

New York, Sept. 12-Mayor Will.
lam J. Gaynor of New York died of
heart failure on the steamer Baltic in
mid-ocean, according to a cablegram
received here from Rufus w. Gaynor,
his son.
Mayor Gaynor's deaf was Indirect
y due to the bullet which James j.
Gallagher fired into his neck in Au.
gust, 1910, on board a ship in Ho.
boken.
The bullet lodged in his neck and
gave him great discomfort. Recently
he had suffered severely from it. The
bullet caused him to suffer repeatedly
hts of vomiting, which weakened his
heart and generally broke him down.
Ne had been forced to remain at his
country home much of the time. The
shooting took place on board the
liner Kaiser Wilhelm, which was pre-
pairing to leave it's dock.
Mayor Gaynor had been renominat-
ed Wednesday, Sept. 3, in one of the
most remarkable demonstrations in
the history Of New York. A crowd
estimated at 10000 gathered in City
Hall square and proclaimed him in
dependent candidate to run against
Tammany. The mayor was then so
weak it was necessary for his speech
TO be read to the throng, while he sat
m an armchair on a balcony overlook.
ing the crowd. The next day he sud.
denly decided to go abroad and with
his son, Rufus w. Gaynor and young
nurse boarded the Baltic, hoping that
the sea air would relieve the increas-
Ing irritation in his throat.
Man Of National Reputation.
There has never been but one Will
lam j. Gaynor. 1t was not that he
was SO startling in his originality, but
he applied his large stock of hard
headed common sense to everyday at.
fairs in such manner that it nearly
always obtained results.
In this way, without any apparent
effort on his part, Judge Gaynor be-.
came national character. Not all
men approved of his methods and poll
cies in every case, but by all he was
recognized as national asset rather
than a liability.
1t was as a police magistrate in
New York city that he first attracted
attention. The police had become
harsh in their dealing with delinquents
and those whom they came to regard
as delinquents, whether they were ac-
tually guilty or not. Judge Gaynor
took the part of the plain citizen
against the police officer.
Living in the country, where he had
plenty Of elbow room himself and
where his children had no lack OF play
ground he always manifested a keen
sympathy for the little ones who grew
up in the tenements and on the streets
OF the city. 1t was in this that he, as
a magistrate, first attracted national
attention.
Tireless as a Reformer.
Long before this he became known
to politicians all over the country be-.
cause of his work in breaking I'D
rings within the Democratic party.
That was as far back ds 1890. The
conviction of John Y. Kane on &C.
count of election frauds was secured
by Gaynor and the case attracted
wide attention not only in this coun-
try but abroad.
In 1898 Mr.. Gaynor was first elect
ed member of the supreme court of
New York. This position he held
until he was elected mayor in 1909.
From the date of his election to
Continued on Page s.