The sun., 1919-09-28
F. l. BOWLING DIES,
OVERWORK VICTIM
Manhattan Borough President
Ill Only Week From
Pneumonia.
A POWER IN TAMMANY'
Held Several City and state
Offices and Was Univer-
sally Respected.
i !, POWER IN TAMMANY'


Twenty-second street, at o'clock yester-
day morning. But few Of his friends
knew his condition was serious and he
had been Ill but a week. Mayor Hylan
Immediately ordered flags half masted
on City Hall and all other public build
ings 1N. -g
Mr. Bowling, who was 81 years old.
went to bed week ago with an attack
OF gall stones. Pneumonia developed
last Tuesday, but by Friday afternoon
change for the worse came early yester-
day and he grew steadily weaker until
the end came. DR.. Bert Munday, his
family physician, has been apprehensive
for some days. Mrs. Bowling, their
three children and a brother and sister
were at his bedside when he died.
The Borough President has been all
ing for year, due to overwork," said
DR.. Munday yesterday. He suffered
from gall stones twelve years ago, but at
that time Pneumonia did not set in to
retard his recovery"
DR.. Munday was on his vacation when
Mr.. Bowling was taken Ill and DR.. H.
c. Russell. who was in charge Of his
practice, called Dr. John Wyckof of
Bellevue Hospital into consultation. They
decided to ask DR.. Munday to return to
town. and he came back last Monday.
He found his patient anxious to return
to work and this. he thinks, induced
the pneumonia attack in part.
Mr.. Dowlings funeral will be held
Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock. The
body will be conveyed to the Church OF
St COLUMBIA, in West 125th street, be-
tween Eighth and Ninth avenues, where
the services will take place. The names
of the honorary pallbearers in behalf
Of the city will be announced by Mayor
Hylan tomorrow.
Mr. Dowlings political career has been
typically American. Like Gov. Al Smith,
who succeeded him as President of the
Board of Aldermen, he came up from
the ranks. He was born in New York
city July 81. 1865, not far from where
Re lived all his .life--in old Chelsea VII
lage. When IL years old he was obliged
to leave the public schools and seek his
own living. He filled variety of Jobs
such as usually fall to the lot of New
York youths in similar circumstances
until 1891. when he was given position
in the District Attorneys office. He
held 1t for eight years and made a wide
acquaintance among politicians Of every
shade OF political opinion. At the end OF
that time he was elected member of the
Board of Aldermen, continuing to serve
there for eighteen years.
Succeeds Little TIM"
With the passing of Little FIN" Sulli-
van Mr.. Bowling became leader of the
democratic representation in the board
about ten years ago, and wht his parry
came into power he was given the chair
rnanship of the committee on finance.
Turing the last two years of the presi-
dcncy OF George McAneny Mr.. Bowling
n NJ
Mr. McAneny resigned he filled the re-
uisinder Of his unexpired term as presl-
dent. Before the municipal election two
years ago Mr.. Bowling was spoken of as
probable successor to himself as presl-
dent of the board. But he was nom
mated as Borough President instead and
AL Smith became the official head OF the
Aldermen.
When he first entered politics Mr..
Dcwling was lieutenant of John c.
Sheehan in the old Chelsea ward. He
vas first elected to office as an independ-
ent Democrat but afterward gained the
Endorsement OF the regular organiza-
ton. Despite this fact he was a
close friend of the late Mayor Gaynor
and of most other men prominent in city
affairs in recent years. Politics was
never allowed by him to interfere with
hie official duties and he held the re-
spect OF all with whom he was asso-
c!ated. He was regarded as one OF the
distinctly strong men of the present
municipal administration and had won
for himself an enviabie reputation for
fairness. '--~
In writing an Endorsement OF Mr..
Bowling some years ago Mayor Gaynor
said: -.. ...,.
Il have worked with you for nearly
two years and / want to certify to your
intelligence and your fidelity to public
duties. I know of no one who has been
rore helpful to me than you have. You
have uniformly worked for the best in
terests of the city. and the many times
you have come to inform me of things
that are not right have enabled me to
dG things 20 which otherwise my attention
might not have been directed.
Your influence in the Board OF Alder
man has uniformly been good, and as
leader OF that body, sometimes under
great difficulties, you have displayed
great tact and good judgment"
In February. 1916. when Mayor
Mitchell went to the Adirondacks on a
vacation. Mr.. Bowling first served as
acting Mayor He again occupied that
Position when Mayor Mitchell entered the
Officers Training Camp at Plattsburg.
Elected to Assembly.
MS only serious ulUerence with the
Tammany organization came in 1897,
when he was deposed from the district
leadership because he would not support
Senator Grady. Tammany candidate for
District Attorney. AS Assemblyman and
Alderman he was regarded as the spokes-
man for Charles +. Murphy, the Tam
many leader. This was true to a consid-
cradle extent during the flve years he
was In Albany as a State Senator.
There was never any doubt as 70
Where Mr., Bowling stood upon any mat
ter. His methods were positive and
forceful. Frequently he was witty
Three years ago. when the installation
of new City Hal, clock was being dis
cussel by the Mitchell Board OF Estimate
Marcus M. Marks, then President of Man
haitian, said the face of tho new clock
would have to be smaller than the old
in order to conform with the architecture
OF the new tower which was to be built
in place OF the old one destroyed by fire.
Smaller exclaimed Bowling with
sarcasm. ct object to its being smaller
We don't want a wrist watch on city
Hail. We want a clock that can be seen
across Park Row"
So-called efficiency experts were no,
thought highly of by the Tammany
leader. The Aldermen were discussing
the employment OF some by the city one
day when Mr.. bowling injected himself
into the debate 70 say:
These efficiency experts put me in
mind of a welsh rarebit. It is neithe,
Welsh nor Rabbits Just a piece of
cheese"
Mr.. Bowling was married twenty-four
years ago. and is survived by his wife.
lAsW ~ hRga Ilur