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SEPTEMBER 1899

DEWEY CELEBRATION
LOCAL POLITICS

Get into a conversation with a long time Queens resident and you're likely to discover a subscriber of the Long Island Star- Journal, a daily paper that informed the community about local and world news until it folded in 1968. A banner across the Star Journal masthead reminded readers that the newspaper's name came from the merger of the Long Island Daily Star (1876) and the North Shore Daily Journal - The Flushing Journal (1841).

Welcome to September 1899!

September 29 and 30 were chosen to honor the hero of the Spanish war, Admiral Dewey. On the 29^th, the Star reported: "Dewey to the right of you! Dewey to the left of you! Dewey to the front of you! Dewey everywhere! That was about the situation in Long Island City where flags were floating in lines of bright colors along the avenues and in every nook and corner where the National ensign could be displayed in honor of the nation’s hero. Many parties have been made up in Long Island City to view the naval parade today and the grand review on land tomorrow in Manhattan. The naval parade will start from Quarantine on Friday at 1PM. The police boat, ‘Patrol’ will lead, followed by the fireboats ‘New Yorker’ and ‘VanWyck’ and then the ‘Olympia,’ flagship of Admiral Dewy. The rest of the fleet and the vessels composing the several divisions of the parade will be arranged in accordance with the order of the Naval Committee. There will be a grand display of fireworks in Long Island City in front of the Queens County Court House on Friday evening at 7:30PM. There will be an almost universal holiday on Saturday, stores and businesses closing up to enable their employees to view the magnificent land parade."

Regarding security, the Star warned: "Now that the days of ‘Dewey’ have come, bolt your house doors and bar your windows if your domicile is to left alone while you journey to Manhattan to see the turnout. Remember, nearly every policemen (in this Borough) will be on duty in that Borough and householders must exercise extra care and vigilance."

Earlier in the month, the recruiting office, at 103 Third Street, Long Island City, for the United States Volunteer Army was shut up after only 25 men volunteered. The office was moved to Flushing. The recruitment was slow because there was not the enthusiasm that was observable at the time of the Spanish war. Now recruits went to the Philippines.

Politics was in the news. The Democratic and Republican primaries were on September 19. In preparation for this, the Democrats held a huge rally in Ridgewood Park on Monday, August 28. The Star reported: " The Democrats of the Borough of Queens on Monday testified their loyalty to Democratic principles and their admiration and appreciation of the labors of the popular leader of the Borough, the Hon. John P. Madden, by one of the most magnificent gatherings at Ridgewood Park of the United Democratic Clubs of the Borough ever witnessed in Queens. They came from Flushing, Jamaica, the Rockaways, Newtown, Long Island City, and in fact every section of the Borough….There were fully 3,000 Democrats on the grounds." There were speeches and athletic events.

On the 15^th, the Star published a letter signed by the "Executive Committee of the Democratic County Committee." Former Long Island City Mayor Gleason was attempting to make a political comeback. The letter read: "An effort is being made by Sutphin and Gleason to form a combination to wrest the Democratic leadership from John P. Madden. In order to accomplish their ends, they are conducting a campaign of falsehoods and abuse, and resorting to the most barefaced lies…Are you willing to go back to Gleasonism and barbarism, or Sutphinism and Republican ‘combines;’ or do you desire to adhere to progressiveness and Democracy? If the latter, which will surely lead to decency and business methods in your city affairs, vote the regular ticket headed by John P. Madden at the primaries next Tuesday, September 19, between the hours of 2 and 9 p. m."

On August 19th, the voters spoke, and the Star reported the results, on the 22^nd, with a headline that read: "MADDEN WINS. HE CARRIES EVERYTHING AT THE PRIMARIES EXCEPT JAMAICA. The Gleason-Sutphin Combination Buried Beyond Resurrection-Rejoicing on all Sides Over the Result." The Madden slate won the primary by a vote of 6,382 to 2,515.

On the 29^th, the Star reported, with banner headline "TURNED DOWN: THE PARTIES ANXIOUS TO OVERTURN THE WILL OF THE VOTERS DEFEATED: Count Judge Moore Declares There Was No Cause for Action and Pronounces the Madden Ticket Legal," that, on Monday afternoon, Judge Moore had thrown out a challenge to the validity of the vote. The Judge wasted no time. He wrote an opinion which simply said "The ballot is in conformity with the law." The argument was that the ballots in some Wards were irregular, but the Judge’s ruling upheld the primary results.

The Board of Aldermen was concerned about the progress of bridge building. The Board passed the Cassidy resolution, requesting that the Commissioner of Bridges state the progress of the work already done in the building of the two new East River bridges, one between Queens and Manhattan and the other between Brooklyn and Queens. It was clear from the resolution that the Aldermen were in favor of both bridges and not disposed to a "hold up" in either one of them. Regarding the Ravenswood bridge (which would emerge as the Queensboro Bridge, opened in 1909), the Star commented: "The first sign of actual construction means a boom in the purchase of real estate and building. Everything in the line of real estate and building is awaiting on this, and perhaps it is not surprising that begin to doubt who have heard so much about the bridge-and continue to take it out only in hearing."

For recreation, the Star carried an advertisement for the perfect place."NORTH BEACH, L. I. THE IDEAL FAMILY AND PLESURE RESORT. Shooting the Chutes, Mammoth Carousels, Toboggan Slides, Pony Tracks, Bathing, Ferris Wheel. AND ALL OTHER UP-TO-DATE AMUSEMENTS. Just the Place Where One May Have an Enjoyable Day’s Outing. BATHING BY ELECTRIC LIGHTS, VAUDEVILLE AND DANCING, CONCERTS EVERY DAY. Reached by large double-decked Ferry Boats from the foot of East 99^th St., N. Y. City direct to Grand Pier; hourly on week days, and half hourly on Sundays. Fare 10 cents. Also by elegant Electric Cars from 34^th and 92^nd St. Ferries, Long Island City. Elegant accommodations for Pic-Nic Parties, Private Excursions and Trolley Parties, in the ‘Chute’ grounds (enclosed) especially built for that purpose."

From the Star classified advertisement page: "Wanted: Respectable young girl wanted to assist in housework." "Wanted: Large strong boy, 18 to 20 years of age, to work in feed store; must write well and be quick with figures." "Lost: $10 reward for return of a $50 bill lost Tuesday, September 5^th on Eighth St. between Vernon and East avs; bill was patched and belonged to a poor man who has buried his wife and child within 3 weeks. If the finder is honest, he will return it to owner."

That's the way it was in September 1899!