Colvin chronicles — No Assembly run in 1883

This is the latest in an occasional series of posts about Addison B. Colvin, newspaper publisher, business man, politician and character extraordinaire of Glens Falls.

Relations between The Morning Star, a Glens Falls start-up morning daily news paper in 1883, and The Glens Falls Daily Times, its afternoon competitor, were cordial.

“The Star always takes pleasure in giving credit where credit is due, and therefore most cheerfully conceded that the Daily Times’ report of Bishop Doane’s sermon at the Church of the Messiah Sunday was exceedingly graphic and highly meritorious in a literary sense,” The Morning Star reported on May 22, 1883.

“Immediately after the serious runaway accident yesterday the people along Glen Street were the witnesses of an exciting foot race,” The Morning Star reported on July 12, 1883. “The contestants were rival newspaper men, each eagerly striving to reach the spot where the disaster culminated.”

Addison B. Colvin, publisher of The Daily Times, invited publishers of The Morning Star to his wedding.

“Editor Colvin and his prospective bride have our best wishes,” The Morning Star editorialized on May 8, 1883.

When newlywed Colvin’s name was floated for the Republican nomination for state Assembly, The Morning Star jumped in with an early endorsement.

“A gentleman from the northern part of the county informs us that the name of Addison B. Colvin is prominently mentioned in that section in connection with the nomination for member of Assembly. The nomination would be in every respect a good one and we heartily indorse it,” The Morning Star, a nonpartisan newspaper, editorialized on July 12, 1883.

“Mr. Colvin is a gentleman of known scholarly attainments, of unimpeachable character, a sound parliamentarian, ‘cunning of fence’ in debate, and possesses withal a thorough knowledge of the people of Warren County and their needs.”

This next bit of logic is ironical, considering Colvin eventually became a political insider who served as state treasurer, was a delegate to several Republican national conventions, and was a close cross-party associate of Gov. Al Smith.

“The fact that he is not a politician would be a point in his favor, and his entire independence of rings or cliques would win for him the popular vote, irrespective of party. The state needs such men as Mr. Colvin at the capitol, and the voters should see to it that he is placed in a position which he is so well calculated adorn.”

Other newspapers were not so kind to Colvin, who had a reputation of egotism.

“Colvin, of the Glens Falls Times, it is said, is laying wire for member of Assembly,” the Port Henry Herald editorialized sarcastically. “He should be elected; it would be a great saving of expense to the taxpayers, he alone being an entire legislature and capable of doing all necessary business of the state. Perhaps it would be well enough to retain the governor in office, merely as company for Colvin.”

Colvin announced July 21 in The Glens Falls Daily Times that he would not run.

“Mr. Colvin’s determination is received by us with the deepest of regret,” The Morning Star editorialized on July 23, 1883.

Click here to read the most recent previous post in the series.