Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-11-11
"FINGY" WANTS TO WORK
AT THROWING FREIGHT
Youthful Days ns n Stcvetiorc Come
Back to the Buffalo Politician.
Who Is Now Rich.

tics these many years. and has been OF
late somewhat a man OF leisure. But
the war has stirred him, and he Is de-
sirous of doing his bit for the country
This dispatch comes out of Buffalo
the home Of the former boss, who rose
from longshoreman to millionaire:
William j. Corners, chairman Of
The board of directors of the Great
Lakes corporation, today confirmed a
rumor that he had indicated his will
ingness to accept an appointment
from Washington that would place
him in charge of unloading boats for
the allies In France. No official ac-
ton has been taken on the appoint
ment, Mr.. Conners said. L told them
| am willing to do all that ] can he
added. L stand ready to construct IA
cilitics that would result in the un-
loading of any OF these boats in two
days"
That is the spirit which chara cter-
lies America today. Retired farmers
are gong back to the plow, success
ful men everywhere are giving up
their ease or personal activities for
pests of duty in the national service.
Started as a Dock Rat.
Conncrs Is u creation OF the lake
front in Buffalo, where all the enor-
NOUS grain cargoes of the Great Lakes
are discharged. When he was dock
rat he got the name OF "F'ngyi" which
sticks to him still. A boy had sumpin
to shoot at" he said.
Shoot at that" Connors said, and
held up his right hand with the thumb
erect The hoy pulled the trigger.
Conners went home and told his
mother he had lost his "fingy." Mr..
Corners Is referred To as "Fingy" eX-
cept when personally addressed.
On the docks the man who could
whip the n ost men got the leadership.
Conner5 was a big, broad shouldered
husky. could fight like tiger and
He became n boss stevedcre and con-
tracted to unload all the steamship
and railroad freight at Buffalo. Cleve-
land, Milwaukee and Duluth.
His first considerable profits came
not alone from his freight contracts,
but from forcing the men in his EN-
ploy to drink In his saloon. If they
drank elsewhere they would get no
work. or II they didn't give back to
hila over his bar large percentage
Of their wages, he fired them.
A Nafional Politician.
Meantime he entered into politics
along the water front. starting as 4
ward Republican and ending up as a
national figure in the Democratic
party. He made money occasionally
by finding out where new schools and
fire houses were to be built and get
ting the property cheap to sell II 10
the city al high price His gospel
WAS that of a brute force and he grew
wealthy rapidly.
He passed thru the diamond and
red vest stage and then sought rcspec-
liability. one OF his friends went to
hin, nd - l. in 10
a fool Of yourself with all this display
of diamonds. Take them off. They
are vulgar A ring may be all right,
or n stud. hut you've got this junk all
over you. Take 1t off"
Conners pondered "I've heard that
before" he said. II have been told
that diamonds is vulgar. but | notice
them that has 'em wears 'em."
1t was not long before he took off
the diamonds, thodgh. and discarded
the fancy waistcoats and plaid shirts.
| They were merely The signs of his ear
| " development. He learned that his
search for respectability did not pros
per in such harness and he retreated
| to modest clothes and forsook all his
diamonds except one. That was an
enormous ring He couldn't get HIM
J self to give that up.
/ As the fruit of his experience he
summed up his philosophy by saying:
"If you've got money enough you
can break into society; If you've got
brains enough you can break into pol
ltics, It's n grand old game. Yes. sir
| / tell you. politics is the greatest
sport known to mankind There are
only three kinds of games that are
/ really fit for men to PLAY at and poll
tics leads all the rest. The other two
are poker and baseball. Talk about
your sport kings, why, no subject IN
anv other county has a chanc, to en-
| 10y himself as has the humbcst cit-
zen In any ward In any big city in
! America"
Rccamc an Editor.
| He put his saloon in another's name
He gave II out that he had sold 1t, but
the stevedcres had to drink there just
the same. lie cast about for some
| thing to use as n lever and finally
| bought n newspaper. He dabbled in
street railway franchises and went in
| t. everything whore he could be as
ISOLATED with the real men OF Buffalo
and at the same time turn q penny or
| two.
After he began to get money and
/ had his fine home in South Buffalo,
he had his gardener put his name
william J. Conners," In letters six
feet high. with foliage plants on his
lawn. The social leader of Buffalo
Mrs. Metcalfe. came along In car
riage Conners would have given
$1,000 for a word Of recognition.
Mrs. Metcalfe put up her lorgnette
and read the name. 'rhc poor man, y
she said. "Ile must thing he Is u
railroad station"
And that was the unkindest cut of
all.
| Can lie Come Rack?
! One doubts II "Fingy" can cone
back. knowledge of unloading ships
in his youth probably is still fresh
within him. but labor conditions have
changed since the day his employees
struck for the right to drink where
they pleased. II his offer to aid wal
| transportation Is accepted it is prob
! able that his methods would be almos:
as mild as In story those who wish
cd 20 belittle him used to tell.
| once when he had just hired 4 new
/ hatch Of stevedores he lined the men
uT before him.
Does any man I'm this bunch thinl,
| he can lick me?" he asked
Three men stepped forward
You think you'se guys can put il
on mc?" Querie3 the boss.
1--WE do" came the vAorus
| "All right, you're fired"
| q