The New York herald., 1921-10-03


him to Brooklyn to live when he was
years old and he received his education
in the public schools of East New York.
where he has resided continuously for
more than forty years. He was a brush
maker by trade. He IS married and is a
member OF numerous clubs and social
political and fraternal organizations, In
Guiding the Royal .-canum and the
Concc-dia Singing Society.
Begins Political Career.
Livingston began MS political career
as a worker for Israel r. Fisher, leader
of the then Twenty-irst, now Twenty
second Assembly district. AS q reward
for such services Fisher had him elected
to the Assembly in 1895. the only elective
office he ever held, though he was a
candidate in 1909 for the Republican
nomination for Sheriff of Kings county.
Livingston served one term in the AS
sembly. in the course of which he voted
for the Raines excise bill, to which liq-
uor interests were opposed, and he was
defeated when he stood for reelection.
Timothy L. Woodruff, veteran leadc-
OF Kings, later characterized that vote
as Livingston's first flop"
In 1900. when Fisher retired as leader
OF the Twenty-first district, Livingston
succeeded him, holding that post until
the Twenty-first became the Twenty
second. since when he has been leader
Of that district. In 1902 he was elected
a member of the Republican County
Executive Committee.
Livingstons first appointive Office was
chief clerk of the Bureau of Elections,
from which position he was promoted
in 1906 by Jacob Brenner. Commits
.f1 - e.. he IL
sioner of jurors. succeeding Frank J.
Gardner who was elected to the Senate.
Livingston's influence Immediately be-
gan to spread and he made it felt, par
ticularly in efforts to gain jurisdiction
over additional territory in the redis-
tricting of Kings. in which he partially
succeeded. From that day to this Liv
ingston has been noted for the extreme
jealousy with which he regards his
power.
His first tilt with Woodruff came the
year after he was appointed deputy
commissioner of jurors, and, strangely
enough. the cause of 1t was nothing
more momentous than the appointment
of West Point cadet and the distribu-
tion of Congressional flower seed.
Woodruff appointed the cadet, but IL IL
reported that Livingston got most OF
the flower seed.
That historic battle took place in
March Of 1905. and by August OF that
year Woodruff had made a public
declaration of his intention to "annihi-
late Livingston politically. At this
point II is worthy of note that Living
ston has held the leadership Of Kings
county ever since Woodruff was advised
automatically four years later that his
resignation in that capacity would be
appreciated.
Woodruff however. did make his an
nounced effort to annihiate Livingston,
and the process and outcome Of ii is
Interesting.
Changes His vote.
Al the state committee meeting in
August, 1906 vote was taken upon
certain resolutions, disclosing that
Brooklyn held the balance of power by
= single vote. Immediately after the
vote however. Livingston held whls-
pcred consultation with former Gov.
Benjamin p. Odell, who was presiding.
then returned TO the floor and moved a
reconsideration. Upon the reconsidera-
tion Livingston stated he had voted at
first under a misapprehension" and
changed his vote, reversing the COM
plexion of strength.
Woodruff charged that Livingston
changed his vote for personal political
advantage and never quite forgave him
for IT, He returned to Brooklyn with
his hatchet whettcd for Livingston.
Three days later, upon instructions from
Woodruff, Commissioner Brenner asked
Livingston 60 resign as deputy. and
made the public statement that Living
ston had "brokea his word" and he mo
longer could trust him.
Woodruff then called together |, living
ston's district captains for the purpose
Of ousting him from the district leader
ship But Livingston apparently had
beat him to the post, for when Wood
ruff got done telling the district cap
tains what 10 do about their leader they
promptly told Woodruff that there would
be no new deputy commissioner of iu-
rors. And there wasn't. Within the
week. Livingston was back on the job
with Brenner. and the next year Bren-
ncr reappointed him for another term.
Kracke-CaIder Combine.
BY 1910 Woodruff had moved TO Man
haitian and had become interested in 80
many other matters than the Kings
County leadership that number OF the
more influential Republicans in Brook
iyn began 90 think they could get along
without him. II was then that the r.
J. IT. Kracke-Calder combine began to
take the ascendancy. As result OF
their judgment Woodruff resigned. and
the affairs Of the party I'm Kings went
into the hands Of "a regency composed
Of Kracke. Calder. Livingston and
others. with Marcus II. Campbell as ex-
ecutlve chairman. A little later the
tregcncy" brought Woodruff back into