Johnny Fitzgerald is Home Again

Fitzgerald's Blarney is Louder Than Money

Jul 4, 2006 Mary Trotter Kion

Fitzgerald's takes on James Jackson Storrow and sings out oh so sweetly. His voice is like pure honey to his voters.

Johnny Fitzgerald, although unable to match James Jackson Storrow in funds, had a considerable oration/blarney bank account to draw from. To counteract Storrow's money, Fitzgerald started a slogan for himself of "Manhood against Money." This slogan was used beneath a touching family photograph of Johnny and his growing brood. But this was only pocket change compared to his next performance.

Rally Round Boys

One warm Saturday night in "the dear old North End" Fitzgerald held a huge rally. After hiring a brass band for the rally he instructed them to play "The Star Spangled Banner" as well as "The Wearing of the Green" as he sauntered onto the platform. There was just one hitch in the program; both songs ended before Johnny had finished performing all of the necessary handshaking on his way to the front. But once again, Johnny Fitzgerald turned an awkward situation into a sweet delight that was also to his political advantage.

Honey Fitz

The bandleader, attempting to fill in the gap, had his players strike up "Sweet Adeline." The song was a popular favorite of the time and Johnny, smiling broadly, stepped to the edge of the platform and sang the song solo. He then led the crowd in the chorus. It was then that the name "Honey Fitz" was attached and became his trademark because it was said that Johnny had such a "honey-sweet voice."

Ever after that event, when Johnny was present at a public occasion, he was urged, probably without any arm-twisting, to sing "Sweet Adeline."

Johnny Fitzgerald won the election for Mayor of Boston for the second time. When another round for elections came about he played with the idea of running a third time. If he ran his opponent would be James Michael Curley, "a brash young upstart," who was the boss of the South Side.

John Fitzgerald, now also known as "Honey Fitz," did take on opponent Curley for the position of Mayor of Boston. But soon there would be a busy bee buzzing nasty words in the honeycomb.

Curley organized his campaign against John Fitzgerald around a series of lectures. The first, held at Dorchester High School, was on graft and was aimed squarely at Fitzgerald's first term in office.

John Fitzgerald continues with: John Fitzgerald Meets His Match.

Previous: Johnny Fitzgerald Comes Home .

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