Thursday, May 29, 2014

Short History of the Bad Boy



The Cortland News, Friday, October 12, 1883.
Short History of the Bad Boy.
   Pa, who is the tall young man in the picture bending over a printing press?
   That, my son, is Billy Clark, and let me tell you his history as a warning to other bad boys.
   In 1874 Clark lived in Wayne county, and on the plea that he was going to correct abuses in the office of the County Treasurer of that county by legislation was elected Member of Assembly. He had no sooner been elected than his crooked transactions became known.
   Instead of fighting the Treasurer as he was elected to do, he turned in with him. The Treasurer became a defaulter, and Wayne County was a severe loser by the defalcation. By packing caucuses and other practices similar to tissue ballot business last fall, he again secured the nomination, but unfortunately for him, the people had found him out, and in 1875 he was defeated by several hundred in the district where he was elected by several hundred the year before.
   He said it was a snow storm that did it. There is no doubt it was a chilly time for Clark. And then he moved into this county early in 1876, and his pa bought the "bad boy" a printing office, and he has been doing his level best to raise the devil ever since. This is the history of Cortland's bad boy in one volume—popular edition.

At It Again.
   Not content with assisting in defeating the entire Republican county and State ticket last fall, while keeping it at the head of his columns and hypocritically pretending to support it, William H. Clark, after pretending to be in favor of harmony, by which he obtained concessions in the last Republican County Convention, is now at his old game. He is laying the wires for the defeat of the Republican county ticket this fall.
   It is well understood that a corrupt bargain has been made between Clark and Knox, by which, if the latter is elected County Judge, he is to give the lion's share of the pap of his office to Clark. Isn't this a fine start for a judicial officer? Doesn't it reflect great credit as well upon the purchaser as the purchased?
   It is of no importance that Mr. Knox is acknowledged to be entirely incompetent and inexperienced. It is immaterial that if elected he will be the head of a Ring which will make the office of Surrogate a terror to the dying. It is of no moment that the father-in-law and former law partner of Mr. Knox will be the only man that will be able to successfully practice before him. And yet it will be remembered that it was he who so drew the will of the dying Daniel J. Shaw, as had it been legal and binding, would have robbed the relatives and lawful heirs of over three hundred thousand dollars, and given the great bulk of that estate to Mr. Waters' friend. What the private understanding was between that friend and he who wrote the will can only be imagined.
   And ever since the decision of Judge Smith in the matter, whereby the fraud was thwarted, Mr. Knox and his friends have any but friendly feelings toward the Judge.
   The only and all important question with William H. Clark is, where will I get the most patronage? Will the regular Republican papers get all the patronage of a Republican judge? If so, Mr. Clark, who is not a Republican and has not been since 1872, will support a Democrat. With him, principle goes for nothing. With him the success of the Republican party goes for nothing except as it increases his patronage.
   The sooner he leaves the party and stops fooling the people with his professions of Republicanism the better for the Republican party and all connected with it.

The Judicial Convention.
   The delegates to the Judicial Convention, in accordance with the adjournment, re-assembled at Binghamton on Thursday, the 4th inst., and at 9 A. M. commenced balloting and continued without change in the result until the evening of Friday, when on the 402d ballot H. Boardman Smith, of Chemung, was given 5, Clark 3, Harris 2, Waters 1. Judge Smith continued to receive 5 until the 415th ballot, when he was given 6, and his nomination was immediately made unanimous. Judge Smith was soon introduced, and in accepting the nomination said:
   "Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the convention: My success after this long struggle, I fully appreciate is due, not to any worth of mine, but to the unanswerable logic of situation, to the paramount claims of locality. I offer you not my thanks alone, but those of the counties of Chemung and Schuyler, who have specially requested you to effect my nomination. If elected to the exalted position for which you have nominated me, while 1 shall enter upon the discharge of the duties with supreme mistrust in my abilities, there are two qualifications, I say it perhaps vaingloriously, a high endeavor to do my duty, a love deep in my heart for rigorous and exact justice. I shall always have in mind the duties which the Bench owes to the Bar, as well as the Bar to the Bench. In renewing my thanks, let me return the thanks of Elmira for my nomination."
   L. C. Bowe, of Otsego, A. B. Kennedy, of Madison, S. C. Millard, of Broome, B. A. Benedict, of Cortland, and A. J. Robertson, of Chemung, were appointed a judicial committee. Judge Lyon, of Ithaca, offered a motion that the convention extend thanks to the chairman, Judge Duell, and in so doing said:
   "It is a matter of self congratulation in which we all can indulge, that though the sessions have been protracted and laborious, they have been characterized by the utmost good nature, leaving no stain behind. This is largely due to our chairman and the courteous manner in which he has presided over our labors. I therefore move that the thanks of this convention be extended to our Chairman."
   The motion was put by the secretary and unanimously carried.
   Judge Duell, in responding, said: "I thank you for this expression of your confidence. I have intended and endeavored to preside impartially. I sincerely desired to do that which was best for the convention. We have all stood by our first preferences, until it became apparent that only that nomination could be made which has been made. He will not only be indorsed by the Republicans, but will also meet the approval of the Democrats as a fit and able candidate for a high office."

The Temperance Issue.
   The temperance issue approaches an important standpoint in the politics of this State. The Republican fiat has gone forth, and it has declared its willingness to submit to the voters of the State a constitutional amendment in regard to the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors. The time has undoubtedly arrived when this great and all-absorbing issue must command the attention of thinking men.
   Rum has been from the beginning of our career as a State and as a nation the great curse of our political life. It has warped men's judgment, dulled their sensibilities, and driven them to place personal interest before all public considerations or national necessities. The proper regulation of the liquor traffic is the great coming issue, the root of the greatest evil. When that issue is decided in accordance with reason and conscience and common sense, the purification of our politics will be possible, and the welfare of our great public interests assured.—New York Commercial Advertiser.

Item.
   The frank and candid appeal for aid which the Republican State Committee has just issued is entirely in keeping with the spirit in which all the work of the canvass is being pushed by its official managers. A visit to the committee rooms at the Fifth Avenue Hotel makes this plain. Marks of economy and strict business methods are everywhere visible. Instead of seventy clerks who considered themselves necessary a few years ago, five are now found sufficient to do the work. There is no air of mystery pervading the apartment, but voters of all shades of Republican opinion are welcomed and consulted gladly by the committeemen in the Executive Committee room as well as in the reception room. It was not always thus by a good deal. The change is an agreeable one, and marks an honest return to old-fashioned Republican simplicity.—Tribune.

Corporation Proceedings.
   Monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees held at Fireman's Hall, October 1, 1883. Present—A. Mahan, president; G. W. Bradford, D. E. Smith, T. Stevenson and H. Wells, trustees. Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.
   On the petition of all the property holders on East River street to change its name, it was unanimously
   Resolved, That the name be changed to Clinton avenue and made a continuation of that street from the bridge northeastwardly to the limits of the corporation.
   Messrs. Stevenson and Bradford were appointed a committee to examine the stove in the room of W. W. Engine Co., and if necessary for safety to procure an exchange.
   A petition for the removal of obstructions to a water sluice on Elm street was referred to the street commissioner.
   Moved and carried that the expense incurred in laying the sidewalk on the north side of Railroad street, in front of the premises of Emma C. Lee, be made a charge against the real estate and assessed upon the same.
   Resolved, That a new plank walk five feet wide be built on the west side of Pendleton street, from the north line of the premises of William Nash to the south line of the same, and notice of the same in the usual printed form ordered to be served. Also to serve upon Norman Higgins notice to build a new walk across the driveway in front of his premises on the south side of Elm street.
   Resolved, That the sidewalk in front of the premises of Thomas Mulligan, on the north side of Elm street and west side of Hubbard street, be repaired, and that notice in the usual printed form be served. Also notice to Mrs. L. B, Earle to extend her sidewalk across the lawn on her premises on the south side of Elm street. Also notice to E. Newton to extend the sidewalk across the lawn on his premises on the south side of Elm street.
   On the report and at the request of the Board of Engineers an exempt fireman's certificate was granted to Frank Plumb, who has been honorably discharged from service in the fire department after nine years and five months service therein.
   Ordered also that the name of Isaac Miller be entered on the rolls as a member of W. W. Engine Co., to date, June 1, 1859.
   Ordered also that the name of Horace H. Robbins be recorded as an active member of Excelsior Hook & Ladder Co.
   The matter of the line and width of North Main street, near Dibble's carding mill, was referred to the whole Board for investigation.
   Mr. Mahan was appointed a committee to purchase iron pipe for wells.
   The following bills were allowed and ordered paid:
L. J. Fitzgerald, rent store house, $75.00
Bates & Hollister, repairs lamps, $25.65
"                             engine house, $4.20
Palmer & Loucks,       "          "      $9.00
John Heher, engine house ,           $50.00
Homer & Cortland Gas Light Co.,
gas, engine house,                           $7.00
Homer & Cortland Gas Light Co.,
Street gas,                                      $47.90
Jonathan Hubbard, village clerk,     $9.00
Jay Baker, lighting lamps,               $6.25
C. E. Bennett, M. D., sanitary,        $8.60
F. G. Kinney, printing,                    $9.75
Theodore Stevenson, streets,           $9.20
Estate W. J. Harvey, clearing snow
on streets,                                         $5.00
J. J. Davern, labor on streets,         $43.75
Patrick Kain,           "                      $28.88
John Quinlan,          "                      $28.88
William Nash.         "                      $29.62
John Kain,               "                      $27.37
Luke Doyle,             "                      $27.37
Andrew Kennedy,   "                       $26.63
Cornelius Sweeney, "                      $19.12
Andrew Stout, with team on streets$65.62
Patrick Garrity, labor on streets,      $63.87
John Hayes,                 "                   $59.50
James Heafey,             "                   $43.75
George A. Petrie,         "                   $11.37
G. W. King,                 "                   $41.12
James McDowell,        "                     $3.50.
   On motion, meeting adjourned.
JONATHAN HUBBARD, Clerk.

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