Evening star., 1914-03-15

and have begun to make studious inves-
LEGATIONS into the way "O'Shaunessy does
it,
The new politics. if anything, is more
politics for which the warm-hearted,
sympathetic. personally magnetic Celt
is best adapted. 1t Is a politics that
needs no machine; that makes its appeal
to the voter directly and without the
Intervention of organizations and various
gradations of petty bosses. In it the
candidate is his own machine. The
voters are dealt with individually, not
in masses.
That Rhode Island, once known as the
home of iron-bound tradition and con-
servatism, takes kindly to the new
politics is testified by the fact that Mr..
OShaunessy's majority, the second time
he ran. was materially larger than the
first time he ran. And his district in
cludes such cities as Providence and
Newport.
His is career worth while observing,
not only by reason Of his Irish nativity,
but also by reason Of the remarkable
things he has done in the new politics.
To begin with. he was born in Gal
way. a city notable for its prominence in
Irish history and famous as the city of
the tribes on May ], 1860. His father
was a clothing merchant in that place.
Forty-one years ago the family migrated
to New York, and the father obtained
tobacco factory, where he remained to
his death in 1909.
George Francis laid the foundation
of his education by attending st.
Theresa's parochial schools in New
York, but he wanted a college educa-
tion. There was no money in the family
to pay for it. He started out to earn
the money himself. First he was en-
ployed as district messenger boy; then
messenger in brokers' office, and
then he got a position as night clerk in
the New York post Office, working
every night from midnight to 9 am.
During the day he attended De La
Sale Institute and later Columbia Col
lege law school. 1t took him FIVE years
to complete the college course, so diff
cult was the task of finding time and
money. but when he was graduated in
the law class of 1889 he was fully
equipped for his profession and admitted
to the bar.
Leaving the post office. he entered
practice at once and working hard he
rose rapidly In 1904 he was assistant
attorney general Of New York state, but
he resigned that position to become as
sistant corporation counsel of New York
city. He held that office until his re-
moval to Providence
Some one asked him once why he
left New York to go to Rhode Island.
He replied in a public speech. saying,
Il am Rhode Islander by matrimony."
1t was in 1902 that he married Miss
Juliet NJ. Kelly of Providence and the
fact that he had found so much good
in the state in this way is responsible
for turning his attention to Rhode
Island as a place of residence.
Naturally and inevitably Mr. O'Shau-
messy got into politics while he was a
young lawyer in New York. Personal
courage and independence were the
qualities that stood out In his early ex-
peditions into "the great game" as
they have in his later experiences. He
late Judge Gaynor. later mayor of
New York. in the fight which sent Nc
Kane. the ballot-box suffer of Coney
Island. to the penitentiary.
In the contested senatoria, case Of Jo-
seph p. Hennessy. brother of the re-
doutable John A. Hennessy the graft
investigator. he was opposed to .Boss''
Croker himself. And on another occa-
sion he violated orders by support
ing Everett P. Wheeler for governor
of New York as against David b. Hill
MIR. O'Shaunessy removed to Providence
first in 1906 but after a year New York
called him and he went back. Late in
1906 he returned to Providence and has
made that his home ever since.
He had hardly learned the street names
when he began to get into local politics.
Conditions in Rhode Island are peculiar
Under the existing ancient constitution a
property qualification to the extent of
S134 is required Of every citizen before he
may vote for any official who may have
a voice in disposing of public funds.
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