Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-09-13
WILLIAM ]. GAYN0R
Continued IRON page one)

much demonstratVeness. Everything
he did or said seemed to tell.
About this time the gradual ABSORB
ton Of small adjacent municipalities
BY the growing town Of Brooklyn
brought to the young lawyer an op
portuuity to continue MS fight agains,
corrupt politics.
The Hugh Mclaughlin ring, which
then dominated Brooklyns politics
had seen IN an annexation OF the
town Of New Lots an opportunity fol
loot Through dummies they gained
control OF the private water plant Of
the little town for the sum Of $3.50,
900. This done the annexation wa
carried through With the assistance
of Alferd q Chaplin, then the mayoi
OF Brooklyn, the ring politicians con
tracted to sell the modest water plan
of New Lots to Brooklyn at profit
of something more than Sl,2000o0
There we're murmurs against this
high handed proceeding, but the ring
continued its preparations to jam thf
measure through the board of aldet
men and were about to make the pnr
chase when Mr.. Gaynor took hand
in the affair.
He interested William liegler, .
rich property owner of Brooklyn and
as zeigler's counsel, applied to the
Supreme Court for an injunction e
prevent the sale. Mayor Chaplia use6
his corporation counsel to oppose tide
injunction and the ring "marshalled
number of prominent lawyers or
their side. but Gaynor routed thosf
who opposed him on every point ane
after a fight that extended into the
Court of Appeals, he succeeded II
having a commission appointed whiel
ultimately appraised and bought the
property for a quarter of million
dollars. The costs. $4,000, he pai6
out of his own pocket.
In the years that followed, Mr. Gay
nor. still private citizen fought the
elevated railroads and compelled the
disagreement of some $l.000.000 il
taxes. He unearthed and brought tc
naught an attempt to rob the city In
connection with the Columbian Cele
bration in 1S9S-also a venture o.
certain Brooklyn politicians, who had
padded the bills the city Was asked
to pay and. were about to stuff the
surplus into their own pockets.
During this same year 1898 Mr.. Gay
nor was asked by Commissioner Ct
Pubic Works Willis, who divided the
political field with Charles A. Schler
en-. as the reform candle date for may
or Mr. Gaynor, In the meantime
without being consulted. had beer.
nominated for the supreme court OF
New York. He made a strong fight
and the Mclaughlin ring, which gen
orally carried Brooklyn by at leasl
10000 was defeated by plufarty OF
$4,000.
1t was also during this campaign
that the John Y Kane, incident added
so materially to his reputation for az
gressiveness. Kane was undisputef
boss of the Grayesend district,
where the city elections and even the
national elections-as in the case o.
The second Cleveland campaign, were
sometimes decided.
There were about 1900 voters mi
Kanes balliwick but when occasion
required from 5000 to $4,000 vote
were cast.
On election day Mr. Gaynor seui
watchers 20 Kane's district armed
with iniunctions from Justice Pan
nard restraining them from interior
ence. The Gaynor men were prompt
" thrown out, Kane remarking that
instructions don't 80 down here"
Gaynor carrie ed his ticket despite
the heavy vote piled up in Kane's
district and after die election pros
ecuted that leader for election frauds
Kane was sent up The river for a term
OF seven years.
While justice of the Supreme Court
Mr. Gaynors name was at different
times before the national state and
municipal Democratic bodies as pos
sble candidate for mayor, governor
and vice resident but il remained
for the Democratic Girls s Of Novem
Der, 1908. to summon him from the
ranks Of the judiciary to Official life
AT the call OF his party Mr. Gaynor
resigned as jusJ &c of the supreme