The Washington times., 1913-09-11
: WILLIAM J. GAYNOR
LONG A REFORMER
Son of Poor Farmer Successful
in Politics in Crusades
Against Corruption.

William Jay Gaynor, jurist and politi.
clan, who made a remarkable record al
reform mayor Of New York city, wa.
Whitestown. N. Y, in 1851. He received
his early education at the public schools
of Whitestown, and later at the Whites
town Seminary and in Boston. and was
originally destined to enter the priest
hood of the Roman Catholic Church.
As a boy young Gaynor was ambitious,
and made every effort to acquire a good
education.
In his young manhood Mr.. Gaynor
taught school in Boston, and afterward
studied law in Utica, N. Y, removing
les. Meanwhile he made scant living
by working for newspapers He was
admitted to the bar In 1876. and went to
live in Flatbush, then a separate COM
nlunity. in the control of corrupt politi-
clans. Strafghtway Gaynor began 10
study his surroundings, and developed
his fighting qualities as a reformer. He
found that F1atbush had forty saloons
hut only one liquor license. He obtain
ed evidence against the saloons. had
ed them to take out licenses. Then he
called the better element together and
reform ticket was nominated at the
next election.
Ticket Was Elected.
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 roadhouses on the ocean
Parkway, the evidence being procured,
the keepers convicted, and the whole
business cleaned up within sixty days.
In 1855 Mr.. Gaynor moved to Brooklyn
proper snd soon found himself arrayed
against the late Hugh Mclaughlin the
Democratic boss. When the town OF
New Lots was annexed to Brooklyn in
1889. the boss and his friends. with their
peculiar foresight. purchased through
dummies the Long Island Water. Com
pany. in the new addition, for s1S5.OO0.
Their purpose was to sell 1t to the city,
and they had contracted with the. mayor
to dispose of ii for g. 10000. Gaynor
declared he would stop it. He had a
taxpayers suit started to prevent the
contamination of the deal, and eventu-
ally won In the, highest court in the
State. saving the city Of Brooklyn near
ly one million dollars and beating the
ring out Of the same amount.
War On Elevated.
Next, Mr.. Gaynor started out to
make the elevated roads Of Brooklyn
pay their taxes. The Brooklyn po-
litical ring stood in" with the trac-
tion companies. and had refused to
allow the property to be sold for the
delinquency. Gaynor compelled tho
traction companies to pay about
100000 into the city treasury. much
to the establishment Of McLaughlin's
R. rlv,r To-,
various other ways, its overthrow be-
ing complete when, in 1893, Gaynor,
declining q citizens nomination for
mayor, took a. nomination from the
Republicans and Independent Demo-
Gratis for Justice Of the supreme court.
ct. headed by Charles A. Schieren,
won q sweeping victory. The Nc
Laughlin ring lost its power.
Coincident with the overthrow Of
Mclaughlin was the annihilation OF
Chief Of Police John 7. McKane, DEM
ocratic ruler OF Coney Island, whose
padded list of voters was used to
swing elections with impunity. Dur
ing the campaign Gaynor had declared
that he would send McKane to prison
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 watch
ers out of the polling booths and the
boss himself uttered that famous dec
laration: '1njunctions don't go 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 20 prison for
terms Of various lengths.
Turns Down Nomination.
The next year David B. Hill wanted
Gaynor to take the Democratic nomi-
nation for governor. but he declined
and also refused to accept a nomina-
tion for Judge of the court of appeals.
In 1895 Gaynor refused the nomination
for mayor OF Brooklyn, because il did
r rot come from a united Democracy In
the following year he strongly sup
ported Bryan and the radical Demo-
candidate agtnst Mcclellan for the
nomination in 1908 but was
defeated by the Tammany influence.
In 1906 he was a leading candidate
for the Democratic gubernatorial nom
fnation, but was defeated and SUP
ported Hearst. At the election in
1909 he was elected mayor on the
Tammany ticket, but contrary to ex-
pectations he maintained an independent
position and aroused considerable en-
nifty among gang politicians by his
energetic reform measures. On August
8, 1910, while about to sail on a vaca-
ton trip to Europe, Mayor Gaynor was
shot and seriously wounded by James
G. Gallagher. a discharged city en-
ploye.