Edward J. Flynn

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 55, 6 March 1943, Page 3

Edward J. Flynn

SUGGESTED U.S. AMBASSADOR Recently controversy raged round the appointment of one-time Tammany Boss Edward J. Flynn as ambassador to Australia. After breaking precedent by announcing the appointment himself, the six-foot, well-built ex-chairman of the Democratic party calmly waited the Senate's confirmation or veto of his new role. He described the charges that linked his name with graft, particularly the use—admittedly without his knowledge —of Bronx Borough paving blocks to pave liis private estate, as Republican and anti-New Deal propaganda. Fiercest critic of Flynn was former racket-buster, Thomas Dewey, now Governor of New York State, aud a Republican favourite for the next Presidential elections. Said Dewey, whose own past has often been questioned: “The best that cun be said is that a Bronx Grand Jury found that he had innocently received stolen paving blocks, not knowing that they had been stolen." Cracked back a Flynn supporter: "People who want to live in White Houses shouldn't throw paving stones."

Whatever his political or ambassadorial faults, nobody charged Flynn with lack of personality. Heavy black eyebrows beetle against a background of prematurely grey hair and a ruddy face that tops the six foot and 14 stone of energy that ruled the Democratic party for so many years. Close friends describe him as shrewd, cultured, with the potentialities of a diplomat to be found in his personal friendships with the higher-ups at Washington, particularly the President. He has a farm at Carmel, New York, where he relaxes, .a luxury ranch in Nevada, but his pride is his city flat, where he spends most of his spare time with his attractive non-political wife, Helen, his sons, Patrick, aged 10, Richard 8, and daughter Sheila, aged 5. TJi3 family live in a penthouse on top of a large apartment building overlooking the Hudson River. Flynn, who chews gum, smokes heavily, shares the passion of many American city politicians for clothes. Especially does Flynn delight in extraordinarily loud ties, startling sports' outfits. Unlike many other local politicians, ho doesn't lean against railings, nor, when lie can avoid it, preside at picnics. He is one of the most difficult men in tflfi United States to see, and has an unlisted telephone. Flynn, who, say his friends, lias never had political ambitions and had to be persuaded several times before accepting the Democratic chairmanship, lias weathered several political attempts to unseat him. Dewey lias frequently attacked him, once declared lie was finished politically, and compared him with the song "Rose of Washington Square," the words of which go, "I haven’t much! of a future, but oh, what a past." "Paving Block Eddie" Alost sensational charge was that which had branded him as “Paving Block Eddie." Early last year Paul Kern, chairman of the New Yof’k Civil Service Commission, charged that 8000 paving blocks belonging to the city, and t'ivic labour had been used to provide an antique type of Belgian courtyard for Flynn’s country home at Lake Mahopac, New York State. Kern was ultimately removed from office by New York Mayor la Guardia. In the meantime Investigation Commissioner William Herlands sustained a number of the charges and the case went to the Grand Jury. Sitting in camera, the jury heard 15,000 pages of evidence, while Flynn publicly declared that an over-zealous Bronx borough 1 official, on his own initiative, had sent a city gang of workmen to build the

courtyard. Flynn added that he was in Florida at the time and knew nothing about the scheme. The jury found that “800 U city-owned paving blocks had been taken to the Mahopac estate, laid there by city employees, but that Flynn had not asked the city to do the work, that the blocks were later returned and the city reimbursed for the cost.’ ’ A citizens' committee has since been demanding the re-opening of the case. Flynn declared he would welcome the fullest Senate investigation "to clear the air of baseless charges." As a political figure Flynn showed little national prominence until recently. In 19.17 lie was a successful young lawyer with neither the time* nor the inclination to enter politics, but was persuaded to run for the lower house in the New York State legislature. lie won, rose quickly in polities, soon became the Big Shot of Tammany Hall. He helped Roosevelt win the New York governorship in 1928, became Roosevelt’s State secretary, later chairman of the Bronx County Democratic party, and finally the party's national chairman. Born of fairly wealthy parents, Flynn is a partner in a prosperous law j firm, lias dabbled successfully in real estate. Aside from his private earnings he has at various times enjoyed salaries of 10,000 a year as New York sheriff, 12,000 dollars as City Chamberlain, 12,000 dollars as New YorkState secretary, 10,000 dollars as U.S. Commissioner to the New York World’s Fair. It was Up to Flynn In Canberra political circles felt that it was up to Flynn. Original news of the probable appointment was received with mixed feelings. One view was that Australia had been made a party plum or that in sending his Democratic henchmen to the key south Pacific post, Roosevelt might be setting a watchdog on one-time Republican MacArthur, despite the general’s flat declaration months ago, that lie had no interest whatever in politics, would never reenter them, would retire once the Japs were beaten, and his beloved Philippines restored. The other view was that if Prime Minister John Curtin eould convince a man so close to Roosevelt of the urgent needs in this area, Allied strategy would take a more realistic view of the South Pacific zone. Summed up: Five hundred modem aeroplanes were of more interest to Australia than 800 H antique paving blocks.