Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 November 1893 — BOSS McKANE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BOSS McKANE.

The Mogul of Coney Island —A "Tough” Man With a Good Moral Character. The New York politician who achieved an unenviable distinction at Gravesend, -Ns-Y., on last election day, has been described as “the most notorious criminal in the United States” by the New York Post, and the New York press generally appear to have nothing but condemnation for his coarse on that occasion and during the week previous. His defiance of a mandate of the Supreme Court, and arrogation to himself of extra-judicial powers, has been told the country over. McKane appears to be a typical “boss” without political principles, training with both parties as occasion seems to serve his own interests, and withal a genial,

moral, upright citizen, without an enemy in his own community. It is said that he has cast the vote of Gravesend for twenty - five years, as freely as hc-woulU throw a penny to a beggar. McKane is a member of the Methodist church in good standing, superintendent of the Sunday school, generous to a fault. Rev. J. H. Churchill, pastor of McKanc’s church, in an interview, said: “John Y. McKane is as generous a man as ever lived. No man ever went to him and asked for work without getting it. The poor people of Gravesend and Sheepshead Bay and Coney Island are never witlioiit a ton of coal or without food if he knows it. Many times Mr. McKane has seen young girls living hereabouts out rather late at night, and it is his invariable rule to call a policeman to escort these girls to their homes.” McKane supported Harrison in 1888 and controlled considerable Federal patronage during Harrison’s administration. He was a visitor at the White House during Harrison’s term. He is at present supposed to be a Democrat.