WLIA 23: Enter the Machine Part 2

I continue my reading series about Albany’s modern political machine with parts from Mayor Corning’s biography. This part covers the personal relationship between the party boss Dan O’Connell, and the Mayor as a front man. Also discussed are some of the ways the machine worked; through an equal amount of mob rule, petty rewards, and obscure punishments; as well as a discussion of why Albany is a place that has always been a conservative machine ruled city. What makes the leaders so interesting is that they are actually really boring as people. Much like all the mobster characters with social problems most people love.