Volume 9 • Number 4

SPRING 2010

$4.95

New York Governor Impeached

Harlem Church Torn Apart Buffalo Magician Earns Rock Star Fame Murdering the Wrong Millionaire Terrorism in No-Man’s Land 18 TheThe ImpeachmentImpeachment ofof GovernorGovernor SulzerSulzer BY MATTHEW L. LIFFLANDER

William Sulzer, the “People’s Governor,” was overwhelmingly elected in 1912 to clean up New York’s politics. Just ten months later, he was removed from office. Was his impeachment good government, or just payback for defection from the Tammany machine?

illiam Sulzer was elected vative legislator, a Tammany state’s political leaders accepted governor of New York stalwart, and a great orator, this campaign rhetoric as in November 1912, rising to become chairman good politics for a candidate inaugurated on January 1, of the House Committee on from New York City seeking 1913––and by October Foreign Affairs. statewide support. Well aware Whe was impeached and Although Tammany of upstaters who considered removed from office. This expected absolute, unwaver- the Tammany machine forgotten incident is one of the ing, and total loyalty from its anathema, they nevertheless most intriguing, dramatic, and candidates, its influence was enthusiastically supported colorful stories in the history of sublimated during Sulzer’s Sulzer because, despite years American politics. It embodies New York gubernatorial of Tammany endorsements, issues that continue until this campaign. “Plain Bill” Sulzer he had a superb record of day, including pervasive ques- was presented to the people standing for progressive tions about money in politics. as an independent who legislation and of eloquently With the support of the would stand up to “invisible articulating his beliefs. powerful Tammany political government,” even though Sulzer’s winning plurality of machine led by the infamous his nomination received a 205,000 votes was the largest Richard Crocker, Sulzer had necessary nod from Tammany in New York’s history. been elected to the State chieftain Charles F. Murphy In eight years as Tammany’s Assembly from New York’s and the theme of the campaign chief, Charles Murphy had Lower East Side in 1889 at was Sulzer’s proud pronounce- grasped unprecedented age twenty-seven; three years ment that he was totally free power as the leader of the later he became the youngest of boss control. However, Democratic Party in both man in history to be elected based on the long history of New York City and the state. Assembly speaker. In 1894 he his relationship with Tammany Murphy, a saloon keeper, went to Congress and served (especially as a Richard Crocker made a good living by running with considerable distinction man in the Assembly and his Tammany Hall, selecting for eighteen years as an inno- early years in Congress), the winning candidates, and LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

­NEW YORK archives • SPRING 2010 19 TheThe ImpeachmentImpeachment ofof GovernorGovernor SulzerSulzer

Although Tammany expected absolute, unwavering, and total loyalty from its candidates, its influence was sublimated during Sulzer’s New York gubernatorial campaign.

Governor William Sulzer.

www.nysarchivestrust.org 20

Right: Governor Sulzer, seated to the left of John Cardinal Murphy Farley in the front row, views the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City. Below: Sulzer had a distinguished career in Congress before he became governor. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

influencing government in Executive Mansion “The justifiably flattered by his New York City and Albany. People’s House,” held a public attention, especially when he When Sulzer was elected reception for all who wanted started asking for their advice governor in November 1912, to attend, and abolished the on issues. Democrats also carried New traditional inaugural military During the late afternoon,

NEW YORK STATE LIBRARY/MANUSCRIPTS AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS York for Woodrow Wilson as parade and twenty-one-gun when Sulzer, intending to president and won a solid salute. For the inaugural alert the press to his plans for Democratic majority in both festivities, Sulzer wore his instilling honesty, efficiency, houses of the state legislature–– battered fedora instead of and economy in his adminis- On the second day whose leaders were loyal a top hat and rejected the tration, met again with the Tammany men destined to traditional horse-drawn reporters, a newspaperman of his term, Sulzer ascend to the highest rungs carriage, instead walking to asked, half in jest, “Have you challenged of the Democratic ladder. the Capitol and up the steps received the O.K. of Charles Alfred E. Smith of Manhattan to the second floor. F. Murphy, Tammany leader, Tammany’s complete was the new Assembly speaker, On the second day of his on your plans?” Until that and Robert F. Wagner of term, Sulzer challenged moment, Sulzer had been control of political Manhattan was Senate major- Tammany’s complete control seated among the reporters, patronage and ity leader. Both were very of political patronage and talking on an off-the-record much beholden to Murphy. began investigating corruption basis––a clear understanding began investigating in state government––battles in exchange for candor. But Turmoil in Albany that would have far-reaching suddenly he stood up. “I corruption in state On Inauguration Day, Sulzer consequences. He started by knew that question would government–– initiated unprecedented inviting reporters for official come up sooner or later, and turmoil. First, he began the briefings twice a day. As they it’s just as well that we have battles that would process of ingratiating himself gathered around him, Sulzer an understanding on this to political reporters at the endeared himself to them by subject right now, and then have far-reaching Capitol by telling them he having chairs brought into the we will never refer to it consequences. would always be available to chamber. It was not lost on again,” he said. The governor them. This went hand in hand the reporters that Theodore then asked that his remarks with the brand of populism Roosevelt had been the last go on the record: “I am the he was trying to bring to his governor to offer them seats, Democratic leader of the State new administration. He also thirteen years ago. They were of New York. The people announced that he “belonged delighted with the governor’s decreed it at the polls, and to no man,” renamed the availability and most were I stand on their verdict. I

­NEW YORK archives • SPRING 2010 21

cannot succeed in doing what I want to do as Governor unless I am the leader. If any Democrat wants to challenge that, let him come out in the open and the people will decide.” Another reporter asked, “Does that mean that if Mr. Murphy wants to see you, For the inaugural he will have to come to the festivities, Sulzer Executive Chamber?” “This is the place,” the wore his battered governor answered with a determined nod. fedora instead of a One of the reporters who top hat and rejected was stunned by the governor’s challenge to Murphy’s leader- the traditional ship said, “Those are the most comforting words I have horse-drawn carriage, heard in this room since instead walking to Governor Hughes left” (refer- ring to Charles Evan Hughes, the Capitol and whose administration ended in 1910). To which Sulzer up the steps to the replied, “Well, you are likely Sulzer ascending the steps of the State Capitol with a deputy. second floor. to hear plenty like it if occa- sion should arise. I am not LIBRARY OF CONGRESS afraid of Murphy, I am afraid 1913: “Sulzer Invites Murphy Sulzer ultimately told his of no man. No political boss To Fight for Leadership, side of the story. According can make me do anything I Proclaims That He Is Democratic to his account, which I found don’t think I ought to do.” Chief in the State by Decree in a draft of a never-published The governor had declared of the People.” partial autobiography in the war on Tammany. Later in the year, when governor’s personal files at Sulzer rejected Murphy’s Cornell University, “Just prior The Battle Is Joined most reliable allies for key to taking office as Governor, While the press could not positions regulating railroads I spent an afternoon with Mr. get any direct reaction from and distributing highway Murphy, at his request, at his Murphy himself, several construction contracts, Murphy private room in Delmonico’s. Tammany district leaders (who finally realized he was being …He said he was my friend… were guaranteed anonymity) thwarted: a candidate whom and that he wished to help predicted that the “Chief” he had supported was leaving me out. would take up the governor’s the Tammany reservation. In a “To my astonishment he gauntlet and make the confrontation, Murphy called informed me that he knew challenge to his leadership the the governor an “ingrate” and I was heavily in debt. Then fight of his life. The essence let him know that his refusal he offered me money to pay of what Sulzer was trying to to designate James E. Gaffney, my debts, and have enough accomplish was captured in a Murphy business partner, as left to take things easy while the headline of the New York state highway commissioner Governor. … Times’s lead story on January 3, indeed meant “war.” “He said that nobody

www.nysarchivestrust.org 22

would know anything about it; that I could pay what I owed, and go to Albany feeling easy financially. … “I declined Mr. Murphy’s offer, saying that I was paying off my debts gradually; that my creditors were friends The trial drew and would not press me; that I was economical; and that I daily nationwide would try to get along on my attention, and on salary as Governor.” October 17, 1913, A Bridge Too Far The second battle of Sulzer’s the Court on war also began on the second Impeachment found day of his term. In his inaugural address, Sulzer had signaled Sulzer guilty on his intention to review state government for the purpose three of eight Articles of eliminating useless expen- of Impeachment ditures, abolishing sinecures, and promoting honesty and and removed him efficiency for the taxpayers’ benefit. On Day 2, he from office. announced creation of a three- The New York State Assembly voting to impeach Governor William man Commission on Inquiry Sulzer, less than a year after he was inaugurated. with the broad power to investigate all of the state’s money contributed and select statewide candidates. departments. The commission expended in his gubernatorial Sulzer’s month-long quickly initiated investigations campaign––reports that had impeachment trial before the of state officials involved been filed before he took State Senate involved the with the awarding of lucrative office. The committee alleged state’s best lawyers and a prison, highway, and canal that Sulzer had pocketed parade of prominent real contracts––many of whom large amounts of cash for his estate developers, industrial- were Tammany’s close friends own use and invested it in ists, and financiers who from the previous administra- Wall Street. After an all-night described their campaign tion of Governor John Dix, telephone session, orches- contributions as personal an upstate Tammany man trated by Charles Murphy, gifts to Sulzer, for whatever who was not re-electable. between Murphy at his purpose he wanted to use This would prove too much Long Island retreat and Smith them. Some of them involved for Tammany. In August, in Albany, the Assembly very large sums of cash that an Assembly investigating shocked everyone––especially proved embarrassing to the committee appointed by Sulzer––by voting to impeach “People’s Governor.” Speaker Al Smith recommended Sulzer at a special legislative The trial drew daily Sulzer’s impeachment for a session that he had called to nationwide attention, and on variety of offenses, primarily consider his direct primary October 17, 1913, the Court challenging the accuracy of bill, which challenged the on Impeachment found the governor’s reports on the power of political bosses to Sulzer guilty on three of eight

­NEW YORK archives • SPRING 2010 23

THE ARCHIVES C O N N E C T I O N

or several years after his in Manhattan, I found The Fimpeachment, William Impeachment of Governor Sulzer’s loyal adherents Sulzer (1939) by Jacob continued an impressive Friedman of the Department public relations effort on his of History, CUNY, which behalf. Charles C. Platt, who provided an objective history had been Sulzer’s secretary, of the whole story based was also the editor of the on excellent analyses of Batavia Times (Genesee numerous newspapers of the County) and co-editor of a day. A 1968 Smith College book entitled The Boss and thesis by Nancy Joan Weiss, the Governor. Platt, a Cornell Charles Francis Murphy University graduate, suggested 1858–1924, Respectability that Sulzer leave his personal and Responsibility in papers to Cornell, and Tammany Politics, I found in Sulzer, who had no alma an Ithaca, New York used mater of his own, took his bookstore; this provided a friend’s advice. There I wealth of detailed informa-

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS found a treasure trove that tion on Murphy’s career. included many years of Archivists will appreciate personal correspondence, as the fact that during his years well as a file box containing in Congress, Sulzer assembled an unfinished draft of scrapbooks of newspaper Sulzer’s autobiography filled clippings about himself and Articles of Impeachment and ever. In the same November with details of his childhood, invitations received by his removed him from office. election, the Democratic education, and early law office. He sent these to the However, the Court did not Assembly majority was lost to practice—and his version of New York Public Library, exercise its power to bar him the Republicans, and many of the battle with Boss Murphy. where they remain. Sulzer from ever holding public the Tammany senators who I found a copy of the official was also an early master of office again. had voted to remove Sulzer Public Papers of Governor public relations: he bound lost their seats. Tammany Sulzer at the Siena College official printed copies of his A Political Survivor–– also lost the New York City library in Albany. Congressional addresses into Temporarily mayor’s office, mainly due to Two Ph.D. theses proved hardcover volumes, which The next morning Sulzer took Sulzer’s campaigning. basic to my research. At the he sent to many universities a train to New York City, Tammany’s influence was library of the University Club across the country. where thousands of enthusi- severely set back for several astic supporters greeted him years. Sulzer was re-elected to and took him in a motorcade the Assembly in 1914, where from Grand Central Station he served without distinction. to his old Lower East Side He mounted an ineffective Assembly district. A month independent campaign to later, after speaking at many regain the governorship in receptions populated by huge 1914 and an unsuccessful crowds demanding Tammany’s effort to gain the Prohibition punishment, Sulzer was Party nomination for president re-elected to his old Assembly in 1916, and was never heard seat by his biggest majority from again politically. n

www.nysarchivestrust.org