Colvin Chronicles — Patronage jobs

State Treasurer-elect Addison B. Colvin, a Republican from Glens Falls, was waiting a respectable amount of time before doling out patronage jobs.

“I am a young man, with little experience as regards the disposal of patronage, and in making my appointments, I shall confer with older and more experienced party men,” said the nearly 35-year-old newspaper publisher, banker and businessman from Glens Falls, according to Nov. 16, 1893 report in The Morning Star of Glens Falls.

Colvin was founder of the Glens Falls Times and had recently stepped down as publisher after his election victory.

Colvin was more acquainted with the process of seeking patronage jobs from state officials he had helped to elect for friends and fellow Warren County Republicans.

In other Addison B. Colvin news collected from historic newspapers of the region:

1894

• After Colvin took office, he quickly set to work making friends and influencing people.

“’Well, how does Colvin appear?’ we are asked by a good many in reference to the new state treasurer’s demeanor,” The Granville Sentinel reported on Jan. 5. “Mr. Colvin appears all right gentlemen — just the same as he always did. Official honor has produced no ‘rheumatism above the shoulders’ in his case.”

• “State Treasurer Colvin’s personal checks on the People’s Bank of Sandy Hill are made attractive to those who receive them by handsome photo engravings of his three pretty daughters,” The Morning Star reported on Feb. 5, 1894.

1895

• On Sept. 23, The Morning Star republished a Troy Budget endorsement of Addison B. Colvin for a second term as state Treasurer.

“Brother Colvin is a newspaper man and has manifested true journalistic versatility in adapting himself to the arduous and responsible duties of the state treasurer. He is the youngest and handsomest man on the ticket and takes a refined pleasure in saying, ‘Ah there, treasurer,’ to his reflection in the looking glass of his editorial sanctum of Glens Falls.”

1925

• Addison B. Colvin was appointed chairman of the Glens Falls advisory committee to a national campaign to recruit 1 million new members of the United States Flag Association, a patriotic organization.
• Addison B. Colvin was elected president of The New York State Association, an organization to support passing Gov. Al Smith’s state government reorganization Constitutional amendment and other measures, The Glens Falls Times reported on May 1.
• “The president, Mr. Colvin, was authorized to devise any plan and place thought best by him to increase membership of the organization and give statewide publicity to aims and achievements of the Association.”

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