The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-11-12
BOOKS
sMayor oaynors Letters and
epoochos."

Men Of high public position who
are OF philosophical turn OF mind
and who have the ability to express
themselves aptly are 80 few and far
between in this country that the con
spicuous talent OF the late Mayor
Gaynor Is for that reason all the more
noticeable. The traits which made
him master writer Or letters and an
entertaining speaker are evident In z
collection Of letters and addresses
compiled shortly before his deaths
The charm Of his letters, their power
OF attracting general interest although
written for the most part on affairs
OF the moment. does not lie In any
single characteristic. One OF their
common qualities however. is o never.
failing lucidity. The mayor followed
his own precept as to the use OF
Anglo-Saxon words and simple
construction. With him though. the
use of such diction IL the result OF
telling directness OF thought rather
than the conscious following Of rule,
Sometimes his plain speaking be-
come more than bluntness. as when
he discussed bitterly the policies OF
Iapers opposed to his administration.
But whatever the apparent vindictive-
ness shown on such occasions, 1t was
what appeared to him TO be frank
statement Of just grievances.
a Though the style OF Mr.. Gaynor's
writing was almost always informal
its content varied from the most SER
ious discussion to playful comment
He was often witty and not infre-
quently sarcastic. In fact. he was
particularly adept at turning sharp
phrases, but usually there went with
them a kindness which took away
the sting
His manner Of argument was worthy
OF BENJAMIN Franklin whom he SO
much admired. Time and again, We
find. he closed his argumentative let
tiers with n pregnant query throwing
, rlle burden Of the issue back upon his
correspondent, but In such way tina.
the almost unavoidable answer was
an expression Of his own conclusion
The humor which shows up con
tinually, especially in hts letter, Is
unique. 1t 10 always a seasoning to
the thought expressed and never a
sauce added to IL, IL so close distinc-
zion may be drawn. 1t IL an essential
part Of what he had to say. This
peculiar quality made It applicable in
all sorts Of circumstances. He could
almost have written funeral notice
humorously and stood a chance OF
getting away with It"
Extended quotation from his work
Is impossible. The two following let.
tiers, however, are self-explanatory.
Both were written to f. p. Prentiss,
chairman OF the Republican state cen
trail committee Of New York. The
first dated. Nov. 3, 1912. il as follows !:
Dear Sir-lt might be good
thing for you to stop putting out false
statements, even though you cannot
get your campaign speakers to do the
like. l never favored the nomination
of Judge Keogh for governor. nor was
he q candidate for governor SO far
as know. never knew q dividend
To be got out Of false statements yet.
suppose, very naturally. that the
other statements Of fact In your pub
lfshed statement are equally false.
Suppose you pray every morning for
awhile for -Gcd-to direct you TO tell
the truth, and see what fruits it will
bear"
Then two days later: Sir am
glad to perceive from your letter OF
Nov. 4. just received, that I have al
ready SO far cured you Of your pro-
pensity to make false statements that
you drop your forged quotation from
my letter to Mr. Ridder. and use the
correct quotation. While the lamp
holds out to burn, the vilest sinner
may return
We cannot even enumerate here the
qualities Of character shown by the
things Mayor Gaynor wrote about and
what he said OF them. His judicious
appreciation Of books; his humanitar
Ian interests evidenced by frequent
letters to his department heads like
the one protesting against the over
loading OF horses; his repeated recon
nendations OF studious life; hi:
philosophy OF government which hi
often summed up by saying that ours
Is q government Of law and not o.
men: all these and many other inter
esting traits of his must go untouch
ed.
The prevailing characteristic OF thu
man, II he had one. was honesty. HI
hated indirection of any sort. Hi
opinion Of fawning seekers after pre-
ferment il expressed in letter Il
former Governor Sulzer as follows
They are scoundrels Of the wors
kind. They have not an honest hail
In their heads.
william j. Gaynor was not without
obvious faults OF temper and tenn
permanent perhaps. He was not Z
statesman of overshadowing abilities
His actions bordered on the naive al
times a. do those OF all men who are
not afraid of originality. But he was
q faithful student, an able and cour
agenus man.
This collection OF his letters and
speeches deserves a place on the shelf
reserved for books that. are to be
read not once but MANY times. 1t IL
pnblfshed by the GreAves pWnffshfng
Co., OF New York. Price, 1925 net.