Ardolph Loges Kline
Encyclopedia
Ardolph Loges Kline was a senior officer of the New York National Guard and a Republican politician who became acting Mayor of New York City
on September 10, 1913 upon the death of Mayor William Jay Gaynor
, serving for the rest of the year. He was later a United States Representative from Brooklyn
(1921–1923).
in 1858 and studied at Phillips Academy
in Andover, Massachusetts
but did not attend college. In 1876-77, he started working for a men's clothing company in New York City
and joined the New York National Guard as a private. When the Spanish-American War
of 1898 began, he was named a Lieutenant-Colonel, and in 1901 a Brevet (honorary or acting) Brigadier-General.
of Kings County (Brooklyn)
, Kline was elected as an Alderman for the 51st District in Brooklyn
in 1903 and 1905, but lost re-election in 1907 due to Democratic redrawing of his district. He won back his seat in 1911 and became Vice-Chairman of the Board of Aldermen in 1912, promising to enforce all rules fairly from the chair (including those against smoking).
When John P. Mitchel, the elected President of the Board of Aldermen, resigned in 1912 in order to become Collector of the Port of New York
, Kline succeeded Mitchel. And when Mayor Gaynor
(who had never fully recovered from an attempted assassination in 1910) died at sea in September 1913, Board President Kline became Mayor.
He served out the remainder of Gaynor's term, leaving office on December 31, 1913. Despite his stated intention of keeping all the department heads appointed by his predecessor for the rest of his term, Kline, in his very last days of office, dismissed Rhinelander Waldo
as Commissioner of Police rather than accept a New Year's Eve
resignation.
Although re-elected as Alderman for his old district for the 1914-1915 term, Kline resigned in early January 1914 to begin four years as the City's Tax Commissioner for Brooklyn (reviewing appeals of property tax assessments).
He later served as U.S. Representative from New York
(5th District) from 1921 to 1923, being named to the House Committee on Naval Affairs, but lost re-election in 1922 to Loring M. Black, Jr.
(Democratic, 1923–1935). Kline spent all of his post-Congressional life as New York manager of the sea-service bureau of the United States Shipping Board
.
Ardolph Kline died in October 1930 at the Methodist Episcopal Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, and is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery
.
He is still (as of 2008) the only Mayor of the consolidated
(post-1897) City never to have won a City-wide popular election to any office (such as those from which Joseph V. McKee
and Vincent Impellitteri rose to become Acting Mayor).
in Brooklyn for 1920-22, as reported by William Tyler Page
, the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives
. The sitting Democratic Representative, John B. Johnston
(1919–21), did not seek re-election in 1920.
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
on September 10, 1913 upon the death of Mayor William Jay Gaynor
William Jay Gaynor
William Jay Gaynor was an American politician from New York City, associated with the Tammany Hall political machine. He served as mayor of the City of New York from 1910 to 1913, as well as stints as a New York Supreme Court Justice from 1893 to 1909.-Early life:Gaynor was born in Oriskany, New...
, serving for the rest of the year. He was later a United States Representative from Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
(1921–1923).
Biography
Kline was born near Newton, New JerseyNewton, New Jersey
Newton is a town in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town population was 8,244. It is the county seat of Sussex County....
in 1858 and studied at Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy is a selective, co-educational independent boarding high school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year...
in Andover, Massachusetts
Andover, Massachusetts
Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1646 and as of the 2010 census, the population was 33,201...
but did not attend college. In 1876-77, he started working for a men's clothing company in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and joined the New York National Guard as a private. When the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
of 1898 began, he was named a Lieutenant-Colonel, and in 1901 a Brevet (honorary or acting) Brigadier-General.
Political career
After losing a campaign for SheriffSheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Kings County (Brooklyn)
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, Kline was elected as an Alderman for the 51st District in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
in 1903 and 1905, but lost re-election in 1907 due to Democratic redrawing of his district. He won back his seat in 1911 and became Vice-Chairman of the Board of Aldermen in 1912, promising to enforce all rules fairly from the chair (including those against smoking).
When John P. Mitchel, the elected President of the Board of Aldermen, resigned in 1912 in order to become Collector of the Port of New York
Collector of the Port of New York
The Collector of Customs at the Port of New York, most often referred to as Collector of the Port of New York, sometimes also as Collector of Customs for the Port of New York or Collector of Customs for the District of New York, was a federal officer who was in charge of the collection of import...
, Kline succeeded Mitchel. And when Mayor Gaynor
William Jay Gaynor
William Jay Gaynor was an American politician from New York City, associated with the Tammany Hall political machine. He served as mayor of the City of New York from 1910 to 1913, as well as stints as a New York Supreme Court Justice from 1893 to 1909.-Early life:Gaynor was born in Oriskany, New...
(who had never fully recovered from an attempted assassination in 1910) died at sea in September 1913, Board President Kline became Mayor.
He served out the remainder of Gaynor's term, leaving office on December 31, 1913. Despite his stated intention of keeping all the department heads appointed by his predecessor for the rest of his term, Kline, in his very last days of office, dismissed Rhinelander Waldo
Rhinelander Waldo
Rhinelander Waldo was appointed the 7th New York City Fire Commissioner by Mayor William Jay Gaynor on January 13, 1910. He resigned on May 23, 1911, less than two months after the deadly Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire to accept an appointment as the 8th New York City Police Commissioner...
as Commissioner of Police rather than accept a New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
resignation.
Although re-elected as Alderman for his old district for the 1914-1915 term, Kline resigned in early January 1914 to begin four years as the City's Tax Commissioner for Brooklyn (reviewing appeals of property tax assessments).
He later served as U.S. Representative from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(5th District) from 1921 to 1923, being named to the House Committee on Naval Affairs, but lost re-election in 1922 to Loring M. Black, Jr.
Loring M. Black, Jr.
Loring Milton Black, Jr. was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.-Biography:...
(Democratic, 1923–1935). Kline spent all of his post-Congressional life as New York manager of the sea-service bureau of the United States Shipping Board
United States Shipping Board
The United States Shipping Board was established as an emergency agency by the Shipping Act , 7 September 1916. It was formally organized 30 January 1917. It was sometimes referred to as the War Shipping Board.http://www.gwpda.org/wwi-www/Hurley/bridgeTC.htm | The Bridge To France by Edward N....
.
Ardolph Kline died in October 1930 at the Methodist Episcopal Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, and is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery
Holy Cross Cemetery, New York City
Holy Cross Cemetery located at 3620 Tilden Avenue in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York City is an American Roman Catholic cemetery operated by the Diocese of Brooklyn.-Notable burials:*Louis Capone - Organized crime figure*John Michael Clancy - U.S...
.
He is still (as of 2008) the only Mayor of the consolidated
History of New York City
The history of New York, New York begins with the first European documentation of the area by Giovanni da Verrazzano, in command of the French ship, La Dauphine, when he visited the region in 1524. It is believed he sailed in Upper New York Bay where he encountered native Lenape, returned through...
(post-1897) City never to have won a City-wide popular election to any office (such as those from which Joseph V. McKee
Joseph V. McKee
Joseph V. McKee, Sr. was originally a teacher at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, New York, but later became a politically active Democrat and briefly served as the Mayor of New York City.-Biography:...
and Vincent Impellitteri rose to become Acting Mayor).
Congressman Kline's election returns
Here are the election returns from the Fifth Congressional DistrictNew York's 5th congressional district
The 5th Congressional District of New York is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives that lies along the North Shore of Long Island. It consists of northeastern Queens County and northwestern Nassau County. The Queens portion of the district includes the...
in Brooklyn for 1920-22, as reported by William Tyler Page
William Tyler Page
William Tyler Page , was best known for his authorship of the American's Creed. He was born in Frederick, Maryland, United States, a descendant of Carter Braxton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence; and of the tenth U.S. President John Tyler. In 1881, at the age of 13, he travelled to...
, the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives
Clerk of the United States House of Representatives
The Clerk of the United States House of Representatives is an officer of the United States House of Representatives, whose primary duty is to act as the chief record-keeper for the House....
. The sitting Democratic Representative, John B. Johnston
John B. Johnston
John Brown Johnston was a Scottish American Democratic politician.He was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1886. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives from New York and served from March 4, 1919 to March 3,...
(1919–21), did not seek re-election in 1920.
- (1920 was a landslide election year for the Republicans under President Warren G. HardingWarren G. HardingWarren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
, but in the statewide elections of 1922, without such a national race, the New York City Democrats Al SmithAl SmithAlfred Emanuel Smith. , known in private and public life as Al Smith, was an American statesman who was elected the 42nd Governor of New York three times, and was the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate in 1928...
and Royal Copeland easily unseated Republican Governor Nathan L. MillerNathan L. MillerNathan Lewis Miller was an American lawyer and politician who was the 43rd Governor of New York from 1921 to 1922.-Life:...
and Republican U.S. Senator William M. CalderWilliam M. CalderWilliam Musgrave Calder I was an American politician from New York.-Biography:He was born in Brooklyn on March 3, 1869 to Alexander G. Calder. He trained as a carpenter, attended night classes at Cooper Union....
.)
| year | candidate | party | vote | percent |
| 1920 | Ardolph L. Kline | Republican | 42,129 | 58.2% |
| Edward Cassin | Democratic | 27,650 | 38.2% | |
| Israel M. Chatcuff | Socialist Socialist Party of America The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization... |
2,047 | 2.8% | |
| William M. Nichol | Prohibition Prohibition Party The Prohibition Party is a political party in the United States best known for its historic opposition to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is the oldest existing third party in the US. The party was an integral part of the temperance movement... |
574 | 0.8% | |
| 72,400 | ||||
| 1922 | | Ardolph L. Kline | Republican | 25,917 | 42.1% |
| Loring M. Black, Jr. Loring M. Black, Jr. Loring Milton Black, Jr. was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.-Biography:... |
Democratic | 33,840 | 54.9% | |
| Louis Weil | Socialist & Farmer-Labor Farmer-Labor Party The first modern Farmer–Labor Party in the United States emerged in Minnesota in 1918. Economic dislocation caused by American entry into World War I put agricultural prices and workers' wages into imbalance with rapidly escalating retail prices during the war years, and farmers and workers sought... |
1,412 | 2.3% | |
| William M. Nichol | Prohibition | 428 | 0.7% | |
| 61,597 | ||||