Murderers, Scoundrels and Ragamuffins

by Richard Sullivan

  Conners ran for the position unopposed.

  Matt Merzig from Buffalo put Conners’ name in nomination. A Broome County committeeman named Henry G. Jackson seconded it, colorfully saying, “You can do no better than to take on that husky, ruby-faced Democrat from Erie. He is on to all the dodges and slick jobs in politics, and if we elect him it will put us old fellows who have been doing all the work in past years on Easy Street. Conners wants the job, though it is a thankless job at best. If we win, people will say we couldn’t help it. But if we lose, they will say that Conners is a damned fool. But he likes the game of politics as I used to like the game of draw poker at one time, and for that reason I say, let him have it.”

  Following its reportage the Times printed a short biography of William J. Conners to jog the memories of its readers as to exactly who this seemingly-from-out-of-nowhere face now at the head of the politics of New York State Democrats was. Conners was not at all happy about its “inaccurate” contents and “sloppy editing.”

  “FINGEY” CONNERS’S CAREER.

  New State Chairman Started Life as a Steamboat Porter.

  The mother of William J. Conners kept a candy store in the First Ward of Buffalo. The store was next door to Public School No. 2. Young Conners did not like to go to school, however. He says he atoned for this later in life by marrying a school teacher.

  Conners is a man of great force and ability. Though he is lacking in education, he is to-day worth a million dollars or more. He was born Jan. 3, 1857, in Buffalo. His first job was a porter on the lake steamboat Pacific, which ran the Great Lakes from Buffalo. He then became a dock laborer and a boat painter. He worked on the docks of Buffalo for a few years, and then he opened a saloon in the First Ward, the roughest district of Buffalo. His place was frequented mostly by dock laborers. Here Conners laid the foundation of his fortune. He soon started a contracting business. To-day he is the largest stevedore contractor on the lakes. He is also the principal stockholder in the Interurban Railway Company, and he is interested in various industrial enterprises. He owns two newspapers, The Buffalo Enquirer, an evening paper, and The Buffalo Courier, a morning paper.

  After Conners became a stevedore contractor for the grain and ore-carrying lake steamship lines, he started a number of saloons in the vicinity of the docks. He made it a condition that the men employed by him must spend part of their earnings in his saloons, and in order to make sure that they did, he paid them partly in brass checks exchangeable for drinks at Conners bars only.

  Once he had a strike on this account. The men made it so warm for him that he submitted the matter to arbitration. The Right Rev. Dr. Quigley, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Buffalo, was one of the arbitrators. He decided the case against Conners. After that Conners would never allow Quigley’s name to appear in any of his papers.

  In 1896 Conners built the yacht Enquirer. He sold the boat to the Government at the outbreak of the Spanish war for $200,000, which was more than twice what he had paid for her. After the war was over the Government sold the yacht for $11,000.

  Conners entered politics as a Republican in 1882, when he ran for Alderman from the First Ward in Buffalo and was defeated. In 1892 he became a Democrat.

  It is understood that it was Fingy Conners himself who bought back his $200,000 yacht Enquirer from the Government after the war for the astonishing discount of $11,000, claiming that the Government had wrecked it and that it would cost at least $100,000 to put her back to a condition where she once had been.

  One would think Conners might be relieved that the Times did not report this particular detail, but Conners’ methodology was to always present an unassailable offense. It was his lifelong strategy to overreact explosively to any and all criticism no matter how trivial, and to threaten with physical violence anyone who opposed him in any way. No criticism of William J. Conners, no matter how minor, ever went unanswered with anything less than a very vivid public performance of his professed rage.

  The day following the New York Times profile, he responded true to form. Even as Chairman of the Democratic Party of New York State he still thought it perfectly acceptable to threaten a news reporter with physical violence for accurate reporting. The Times’ headline of October 3rd read:

  CONNERS OF BUFFALO: HE’S “ON THE JOB”

  His First day’s Work Described in His Own Simplified English.

  “I’M SORE ON THEM STORIES”

  The Same Being The Biographical Notices the

  Democratic Chairman Got in Yesterday’s Newspapers.

  William J. Conners, boss of Buffalo, who said upon his election to the Chairmanship of the Democratic State Committee on Monday, “I ain’t no speechmaker, but I’ll be on the job,” read the story of his life in the morning newspapers yesterday and didn’t like it. He came out strong against it last night, and was particularly displeased with the part that had to do with strike breaking, saloon keeping, and illiteracy.

  “I’m sore on them stories in the morning papers,” said Mr. Conners, wrathfully. “Them stories are not true. They forgot to say that I own two of the biggest newspapers in Western New York. (The Times mentioned this fact.)

  “I know the man who gave you the stuff and I will sidetrack him. If that fellow doesn’t duck, there’ll be some fun. Watch me.”

  The Brooklyn Eagle, October 2, 1906:

  “FINGY” CONNERS, CHAIRMAN

  The election of “Fingy” Conners to be chairman of the State Central Committee is the taking of the Democratic organization into the realms of farce. It is, in the act, bringing down an honorable position to the level of the present leadership of Tammany Hall. In the past and better days of the Democracy, the place has been dignified by the occupancy of such statesmen as Samuel J. Tilden and Daniel Manning. If “Fingy” Conners has a single qualification for the chairmanship it is yet to be discovered.

  A blatant windbag, without a guiding principal in his mind, he is chosen through the favor of Charles F. Murphy, who is, for the time, in the saddle. He is a result of the disgraceful deal by which Hearst was made the Democratic candidate. In this respect alone is he a fit choice? He is a part of the whole.

  In the limited area of his political activity in Buffalo he has shown no capacity for leadership.

  In that city he is looked upon as a joke. In the regard of his fellow Democrats of that city he occupies a place similar to that one in which disported, in his day, Counselor Nolan, of New York, without the latter’s wit or learning. He made money on the docks of the lake port and bought a moribund newspaper. That is the sole reason for his existence as a politician.

  From the position into which Conners climbs by the grace of Murphy, Samuel J. Tilden rose to be governor of the state and later the Democratic candidate for the presidency. Daniel Manning went up to be Secretary of the Treasury and a member of that great cabinet President Cleveland put together in 1885. From that place Edward Murphy Jr., whose election was criticized in its time, went to the United States Senate. And now, “Fingy” Conners!

  Do visions of Hearst as President and himself in the Cabinet disturb the convolutions he calls his brains?

  “Where ever does that man find the time?” asked Annie aloud, reading the evening papers and shaking her head in dismay.

  “Who, dear?” asked the Alderman, half paying attention as he too read the sheets.

  “Fingy Conners. He has all these men under him, all his businesses, the brewery, the asphalt, the banks, the railway. And now they make him the head of your entire Party? And you have no comment about that?”

  “It’s just politics, dear.”

  “Well, you’re a politician, so explain it to me.”

  “Just because I’m in politics doesn’t mean I understand a thing about it, Annie. I’m like a blind man trying my best to feel my way in the dark. ‘Politics makes strange bedfellows.’ You’ve heard that before.”

  “Yes, JP, but Fingy’s never been elected to anything. He has no political career. So how does a man with
no practical experience holding an office get elected by other office holders to head the entire machinery of your own Democratic Party in the most powerful State in the Union?”

  There was a knock at the door.

  Saved, thought the Alderman.

  Annie got up to answer. Hannah stood there, red-eyed.

  “Hannah? Is there something wrong?”

  Hannah shot a look at the Alderman, then back at Annie, indicating she wouldn’t say, what with him sitting right there.

  “Come into the kitchen and we’ll have some tea,” Annie responded.

  The Alderman never looked up.

  In the kitchen the women sat. Sophie was playing Parcheesi in the dining room with the younger kids.

  “Are you blue again?” asked Annie.

  “A little,” admitted Hannah.

  It would have to be more than just a little to send you over here in the rain. Where’s David?”

  “Nellie’s keeping watch on him.”

  “Hannah, you have to stop. We can’t bring our children back, and you can’t go on torturing yourself. Everyone in the Ward has lost babies. I’ve lost two. It’s terrible and regrettable but it can’t be helped. There are microbes everywhere. All we can do is try our best.”

  Hannah stood up to leave.

  “Where are you going? You just got here,” Annie said.

  “I know. I shouldn’t have come. You’re right. I need to find something to occupy my mind. I have too much time to think, Annie. Too much time. The kids are at school. I’ve got nothing to do anymore but housework. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t you ever be sorry, Hannah. You and I are all we’ve got. We’re the only ones who understand our problems. Sit down. Stay a while.”

  “No, it’s fine. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  As Hannah was ready to walk out of the room, Annie spoke. She’d wanted to say something for a long while now.

  “Hannah.”

  “Yes?” Hannah responded, turning.

  “If you’re not careful, the real tragedy of your life won’t be the four children you’ve lost, but the three living children you’re allowing to slip through your fingers.”

  Quid Pro Quo

  ◆◆◆

  SAYS THAT HEARST

  OFFERED $500,000

  Tammany Man Charles F. Murphy

  Tells of “Fingy” Conners’ Elevation

  to State Chairmanship

  [Special Dispatch to The San Francisco Call]

  NEW YORK Oct 22.”Fingy” Conners owes his elevation to the chairmanship, of the Democratic state committee to no less a personage than William R. Hearst. Charles F. Murphy today told how Hearst personally secured the election of Conners over P. E. McCabe of Albany N.Y. who had been promised the position by the state leaders. Hearst got McCabe out of the race by promising to put up $500,000 as a campaign contribution, Murphy said.

  “Did Hearst solicit the leaders to nominate him for governor in 1906?” Murphy was asked.

  “His agents were active and they were around doing a lot of talk about how strong the organization was,” said he.

  “Did Hearst pledge himself personally to contribute $500,000?”

  “I understand the arrangement was made between Hearst and Conners.”

  “Did Hearst insist upon Conners being made state chairman?”

  “Yes. He wanted Conners to handle his money.”

  “Then Hearst was responsible for Conners?”

  “Yes.”

  “Was all the money that Hearst promised put up?”

  “Conners has since told me he forwarded the bills with vouchers to Hearst amounting to a good many thousand dollars—probably as much as $426,000. Hearst did not pay them. The last time I saw Conners they had not been settled.”

  Silver Anniversary

  ◆◆◆

  “Is Fingy going to be there?” Annie asked the alderman.

  “He said he will,” murmured JP, distracted by the evening newspaper.

  “Well then, I’m not going.”

  “Uh-huh. Suit yourself,” he said absentmindedly.

  “You shouldn’t be going either.”

  “Of course. I’ll boycott my own club’s Silver Anniversary just to appease you. Wait. What do you mean you’re ‘not going’? Women aren’t invited.”

  She lowered her voice. “You know damn well why you don’t want Fingy there. And it’s not just because his hired thug shot at our Thomas! We might’ve lost our son then, don’t you dare forget!” she whispered hoarsely. Annie was sewing buttons on a shirt from the basket of the children’s clothes waiting by her chair.

  “Fingy had nothing to do with that. Nevels was an idiot. He did something foolish and dangerous and he paid a heavy price. And that was seven years ago.”

  Angered, she raised her voice. “Nothing to do with it? You jackass! How dare you? Oh, it’s just like Hannah says: ‘You are who you defend!’”

  “Here we go again with Hannah. Jesus Christ in Heaven! Listen Annie, let’s not have the same fight over and again.”

  “Fingy was at that police station less than an hour after Nevels was arrested and posted his bail! And Nevels never went before a judge!” she fumed. “And you continue to ally yourself with that pig after all he’s done to you—and to us? You should want justice for our son, if not for yourself!”

  “Calm down Annie. You’ll wake the baby. If you’re going to call me names when the children are within earshot then please lower your voice. Now explain to me. What better justice is there than leaving that thug Nevels sobbing in the middle of the street with two broken legs? He’ll never walk right, not ever again. Whenever I see him strugglin’ to walk it warms the cockles of me heart,” he said with a smile and an Irish brogue. “I sure do prefer that to his spending a few months in prison any day. You have to be a bit more pragmatic about this. He got what was coming to him, good and hard.”

  “Well, I’ll be needin’ a new dress then.”

  “What? Whatever for?”

  “For the anniversary banquet.”

  “Oh no. Women aren’t invited, Annie. It’s for club members only. Only the men.”

  “In a pig’s eye it is,” Annie countered.

  “You listen to me now Annie…”

  “No! You listen to me. There’ll be no more of your excludin’ the wives malarkey at these events that we women are expected to contribute to but then are told to stay away from. Unh-un. Not no more. For twenty five years I put up with it, but times are changing and for all I’ve contributed for a quarter century I will no longer have that clubhouse door slammed in my face.”

  “Nobody’s slamming no door in your face Annie. You get to go to the dances and the masquerades and…”

  “That’s three or four times a year! You fellas throw a shindig for yourselves every two weeks. That’s over with. Finished! You can have your smokers and your rower’s meetings and boxing and handball and baseball and quoit and all the rest, but when it comes to the celebrations, the women are included or you can just stay home and finally get to know your children for a change before they’re all married and gone!”

  “Goddamn that Cady Stanton woman! Stop reading that crap! She’s an anarchist!”

  “She was a realist, God rest her sweet soul! If you’d bother to read what she has to say, and consider her rational thought on the subject, you’d realize that as a politician you’d best hop on the bandwagon and get yourself prepared to take advantage of the women’s vote. Because the men smart enough to do that will be soon replacin’ you! We’re gettin’ the vote, JP Sullivan, half the population, come hell or high water, and when we do I for one will votin’ you out!”

  Annie laughed out loud at her own threat as if she were just having some fun at the alderman’s expense, but JP recognized his wife’s truth.

  “Well I can smell Hannah’s fine work in all this! As always she’s the constant thorn in my side, her with her new-fangled ideas and arguments.”

  “ Hannah? Don’t y
ou dare denigrate me as if I don’t have an original thought of my own, JP Sullivan! Elizabeth Cady Stanton opened my eyes good and wide to the ridiculous conditions that we women have blindly accepted in our misguided deference to men. There’s no goin’ back now, JP. I’ve been quiet far too long and I intend to make up for it in a jiffy. I’m goin’ to the Mutuals’ anniversary celebration even if me and Hannah are the only women there and have to break down the door, so better get ready!”

  “Damn it, Annie!”

  ◆◆◆

  Jim had asked Hannah if she might help wax the furniture in the clubhouse parlors in preparation for the big party. When she arrived it was without wax or rags or the intention of doing any such thing. The men were all sitting around a spittoon, smoking cigars and gulping big schooners of beer and laughing dirty laughs. Her timing was intentional.

  “Us wives are all coming to your Silver Anniversary party,” she announced to the circle of smelly lads.

  “Hannah, we’ll talk later…” began Jim.

  “We’re talkin’ right now, so listen well, all o’ yous. You ask me to come here to do your drudge work for you while you plan on just sittin’ around drinkin’ and doin’ nothin’ while we women are your servants? This is our anniversary too. We’ve been giving up our husbands so you lads can row your boats, play your games, and attend your weekly socials while we stay home with children who hardly know their fathers. So this anniversary of yours will primarily be a celebration to honor your long-suffering wives, and secondarily for you boys who have enjoyed a long tradition of celebrating something new on a weekly basis without the bother of including the likes of us.”