The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-29
THOMAS p. M'MAlsoN.
Tom Maek" has zone

A"n MACK mas gone. 1Uu 1910 81
This simple sentence will mean sor.
row and deprival to the hundreds who
loved the genial Irishman through thick
and thin. whether they always, agreed
With him or not. Tom Mack" with
his dry humor. warm friendships and
agreeable personality. was n figure who
meant much to Chattanooga.
Even as a boy "Tom Mack"--it Ia no
nfectation TO speak OF MIR. McMahon by
tho title which no was affectlonately
known by literally thousands OF people
IN the county and state--lnew more
people than any one else OF his years.
In school, on the road. playing ball,
In politics and out, ho was always
making friends, He had magnetism
about him that drew TO him the hearts
OF the people; perhaps II was this fac
u'ty OF his that made OF him one OF the
most powerful politicians that the city
has known.
As chief OF the police department
ne had In his hands great deal of
power, and despite his political predo-
notions, no one can doubt that he
made an efficient head OF the police
OF the city. After Mr.. Wilcox went
to the board OF control, MIR. McMahon
took his place on the board Of public
safety. under the cid charter OF the
city His direction OF the police made
II seaious In rounding up lawbreakers,
and In enforcing the laws that at that
time public sentiment was behind.
Then came one OF the perennial mu.
nicipal reform movements. and the
wilcox regime came 20 an end. II was
with sorrow that Chattanooga saw
Tom Mack" leave the city hall, how.
ever even though they disagreed with
his political policies. for even In the
heat OF political battle one could not
hell but like him; II Ia not too much
to say that TON Mack" had. q larger
following Of personal friends than any
other man in the county, these Outlines
disagreed, but they never ceased to
love and hold him close to their hearts.
Mr.. Mcmahon was for a time United
states deputy marshal. ana In that ca
pacity chased wildcat stills In the
mountains OF East Tennessee: here. too.
although tho 'revenooers" have long
been the most hated thing that the
mountaineer can see o: conceive of,
Tom Mack" made friends, and firm
friends; the writer Of this editorial
had the pleasure Of accompanying TON
Mick" on political trip through the
mountains this summer, and the num-
Der OF farmers, miners, storekeepers
and bankers In the towns and noun
tnins Of East Tennessee who would
shout, Tom. where did you come from7
I'm glad TO sec youl' as they saw him
pass on tho streets was truly an in.
ceN OF the quick attachments that his
loVable personality drew to him,
One OF the finest things about "Tom
Mack was the brilliant mind he pos.
scssed his schooling did not extend
very far, In textbook hut there were
few men In Chattanooga who had NJ
wdo knowledge OF AFFAIRS as did
Tom Mack" or who used as large a
Vocabulary as skllfully as he did His
Keen intelligence was always on the
outlook for new fact. and his truly
mod'Eious memory enabled him 10 call
that fact back from It's rerting place Of
years when he could make use Of Il.
Any account Of Tom Mack" would he
Incomplete II there were omitted from
II reference to the love that he bore
20 his family and the love his family
bore 10 him. When anyone would mon
tion his wife or children. Tom Macks"
fecc would lieht up with a smile Of
happiness that was In itself the best
Indication 81 tho size OF the heart Of
ihic man whose departure leaves sor-
row In the soul OF Chattanooga.