Evening journal., 1915-05-22
New News Of Yesterday
A Stepping Stone to High
Position
By Holland


There came at one time to me an
opportunity 70 gain information which
I had been for some years anxious to
secure which would explain why the
Office of comptroller Of New York
State was in the early paN OF the past
century so influential and why it was
held by so many men who afterward
gained distinguished public recogni-
tion as TO be called a stepping stone
tc high political honors of the nation
was chatting with the late Charles
c. Clarke, who was for some years as
sistant treasurer Of New YORK State
and in that service was brought in
contact. in the early fifties, with the
leading public men and many Of the
influential business men Of the time.
asked him what the explanation Of
the prominence and influence which
were associated in the early years Of
the past century with the Office OF
State comptroller.
"That is question a good many
persons have asked me- said Mr.
Clarke AT tho present time, espe-
cially among the younger generation,
few know that many of the distin-
guished citizens of New York State
practically began their public career
as comptroller of the State. II was as
such that Martin Van Buren, per-
formed his first important public SER
vice. II was as comptroller of the
State that William L. Marcy first
gained national recognition. Few
people nowadays know that Millard
Fillmore went from the Office Of
comptroller of New York State TO the
Vice Presidency. And it.was by rea-
son OF his brilliant service as comp
troller that Lucius Robinson gained
such favor as made IL possible 10
elect him as the successor OF Samuel
J. Tilden. governor OF New York.
The reason is avery simple one.
In the early years Of the last century,
New York state. inspired by the lead
ership Of De Witt c. Clinton under
took TO connect Lake Erie with the
navigable waters of the Hudson river
and also Lake Champlain with the
Hudson by means of canal These
public works were undertaken be-
fore George Stephenson had demon
strated the COMMERCIAL practicahility
OF the steam locomotive.
1T was made clear to business men
not only of New York bat the nation
that if artificial waterways were con-
structed which connected the Great
Lakes with the Hudson and the St
Lawrence by way of Lake Champlain
hA fuN "a
New York. and especially the city
would receive impulses which would
establish the eminence Of both
State and city.
Now the construction of these can.
ais. the enormous patronage which
these public works made possible, Tho
financial aspects of the constructive
work. put within the power Of th'
State comptroller very great respon
sihilities and equally great opportun
tiles ! suppose there Is no doubt tina
the canal patronage was used 10 fur
ther party advantage, but Il WAS at
time when public opinion tolerated
such use OF patronage. On the othe
hand there was not cne Of thesi
compirollers who personally profite,
TO the extent of a penny. The comp
trollers revealed very great ability
They demonstrated that. while eX
ceedingly adroit politicians. the,
were nevertheless men OF the high
est personal integrity. and that 4
the reason why so many of the Stat
comptrollers who reached distinguish
ed 0fiice--two of them the Presidency
others the United States Senate an
the post OF Secretary OF State, an
three of them governor Of New Yorl
were able 70 gain public favor an
power sufficient to secure these hon
ors"
copyright. 1915. by r. J. Edwards
All rights reserved)