Through The Mayor's Eyes
The Only Complete History of the Mayor's of Buffalo, New York
Compiled by Michael Rizzo

Bernard J. Dowd

1946- 1949

HISTORY

                Bernard J. Dowd was born in Buffalo 's First Ward on December 5, 1891. At two years of age the family moved to the Black Rock  section of the city.

                Dowd graduated from School 51 in 1907, and for one year attended Technical High School At this time he had to quit school to help his family's financial circumstances.

                His first job, at 16, was with the Erie Railroad  checking cars. Two year's later, he began the same type of work with the New York Central Railroad During this entire time, Dowd continued his studies at home, graduating from high school around 1915.

                At this time, he entered the University of Buffalo  School of Pharmacy.

                On September 5, 1917, Dowd left for the Army and trained at Camp Dix. He was the first person drafted from the 21st Ward. "Two days after I arrived at camp they made me a sergeant. It wasn't on account of my ability but because the Regular Army officers there needed non-coms. They picked 5% of the first men to arrive and made them corporals and sergeants," Dowd said. He went overseas in May, 1918 as a sergeant in Company G, 309th Infantry, 78 Division.

                Dowd was gassed in the Battle of St. Mihiel and a companion who saw him fall wrote to his family that he had died.

                His death was reported in the local Buffalo  papers and a mass was held in his honor. When he later recovered and wrote home, his family was surprised to learn of his survival. He had been the first Black Rock  boy reported killed in action.

                In May 1919, Dowd returned to Buffalo , honorably discharged from the service.

                He returned to his pharmacy studies, graduating in 1920. For a short time after his graduation, Dowd worked as a pharmacist in local drugstores, before opening Dowd's Pharmacy at 244 DeWitt Street. He remained at that same location until 1940 when he moved to a larger store, 110 Potomac Avenue, at the corner of DeWitt Street, across from the original store.

                In November, 1935 he was elected to the Board of Supervisors , serving continuously until 1945.

                On June 4, 1945 Dowd was unanimously endorsed by the Republican County Committee as their candidate for mayor.

                Dowd, in accepting the nomination, said:

                "As Republican candidate for mayor, I want to assure the people of Buffalo  that I will devote my energies to the efficient administration of the city's business and do everything possible to carry through a constructive post-war program that will help Buffalo  advance in its ranking in American cities.

                "As a veteran of World War I , I have an understanding of the problems of returning servicemen and women and will devote my efforts to assist them in their problems and cooperate with all agencies set up for their benefit.

                "Subsequently, I will announce my complete platform."

                Former State Representative Joseph Mruk , and Anthony R. Lombardo both ran independently, trying to win the primary from Dowd.

                At the July 31 primary Dowd won the Republican nomination, defeating Mruk and Lombardo, 21,599 to 14,270, and 3,374, respectively.

                The Democrats chose former Mayor Thomas Holling  over Fire Commissioner John J. Tubridy and Mr. McKenzie, 15,898 to 7,092 to 2,915, respectively.

LIFE AS A MAYOR

                The elections of 1945 were held on November 6, 1945. Dowd was a convincing winner, defeating his Democratic opponent, Thomas Holling , 80,182 to 60,182. This 20,000 plurality was the greatest in 20 years. Former Mayor Frank Schwab made a strong showing on the People's party, pulling many of Holling's votes, with 35,257. Liberal, Robert Hoffman , received 1,564 votes and Herman Hahn , Socialist, received 855 votes.

                Dowd announced campaign expenditures of $1,259! An apparent record for the least amount spent on a recent local mayoral campaign.

                 Dowd decided not to make any immediate appointments after the election. Governor Dewey was expected in Buffalo  a week after the election, so Dowd postponed a post-election vacation until Dewey left. In a statement released on November 10, 1945 he said:

                "As yet, I have given no definite consideration to any appointments and have made no commitments of any kind to anybody, before or since election. When I get back to Buffalo  in about two weeks, I shall look over the available candidates and select the best qualified. Meanwhile, any speculation that may arise as to appointments will be strictly speculation."

                By December 28, 1945 Dowd had his department heads all in place. He was sworn in that day and had a luncheon at the Buffalo  Athletic Club , where he told his new cabinet what he expected from them.

                "I want you gentlemen to perform your duties as efficiently and as conscientiously as if you were running your own business and I want you to treat the citizens with the courtesy and consideration you would show them if they were your own customers.

                "I shall expect each department head to run his department in the best possible manner, commensurate with the service to be rendered in the most efficient and economical way. Every department head will be held strictly accountable for his particular segment of our City Hall  setup."

                One by one the department heads promised cooperation with Dowd.

                In addition, Dowd said that there would no longer be extensions for city workers reaching the retirement age of 70.

                Dowd may have stated this since Health Commissioner Fronczak  announced his retirement effective April 1, 1946. Fronczak  was over the 70-year old age limit, but had been allowed to continue on by former mayors.

                 After the inaugural ceremonies, held on January 1, 1946, Dowd held a reception, greeting a line of friends and well-wishers for two hours. Included in the floral gifts overflowing the mayor's office, was a gift from the students of School 51, where Dowd graduated from in 1907.

                Before Mayor Dowd  delivered his Inaugural Address  to the Common Council  on January 2, 1946, he repeated the oath of office, which he had taken on December 28, 1945.

                "By the Grace of Almighty God and the matchless valor of our fighting forces, it is again appropriate to wish our fellow citizens a Happy New Year, free from fear that our civilization will be snuffed out by pagan aggression.

                "Cheered by the prospect of a lasting peace in a war-weary world, we meet today to organize Buffalo 's first postwar administration.

                "Undoubtedly we are called to service in a most crucial period wherein our salvaged civilization is striving to recover from the excesses of the world's most devastating turmoil. We know that a new era is unfolding; that new standards of human relations are developing. How we meet our obligations will influence the welfare  of this great cosmopolitan community of golden promise, not only for the immediate future, but for generations to come.

                "As a candidate for mayor, I promised the people, if elected, to appoint the best-qualified department heads available and to hold them responsible for results. After painstaking analysis of the qualifications of the new department heads, I feel confident that I have kept this promise.

                "Without question the legislative and executive branches of the city government will uphold the merit system in accord with the letter and spirit of the state constitution as implemented by law.

                "Early in life I became imbued with the spirit of the merit system through my father's lifetime service in the Fire Department It has been my observation that city employees generally take pride in their jobs and strive conscientiously to render efficient service.

                "Human nature being what it is, naturally among upwards of 10,000 employees a few lacking in aptitude or incentive find their way into public service as in other human activities. But the presence of a relatively trivial sprinkling of inept or unwilling employees by no means warrants indictment of the whole body of municipal public servants, for whose integrity, ability and devotion to duty I am willing to vouch.

                "In assuming the office of mayor, I have no commitments calling for favoritism, nor have I any enemies to punish.

                "It is not our function to wring our hands, figuratively speaking, in criticism of mistakes of the past. It is our job to start from scratch, assuming our burden as we find it. To succeed, we must cooperate wholeheartedly among ourselves and with the public. We have recently seen how cooperation saved civilization.

                "Conceded on this first day of my tenure I lack factual information warranting intelligent discussion in detail of financial program. Suffice it to say now that I believe adequate garbage collections, snow removal and street cleaning are imperatively necessary for the health and comfort of the people in all parts of the city and I dedicate my administration to competent performance of these vital routine services.

                "Speaking of finances, let me express my sincere admiration of the constructive debt reduction policy to which your honorable body has faithfully adhered during the last eight fiscal years.

                "I am looking forward to adoption of a pay-as-you-go  plan consistent with the city's circumstances. But, I reiterate, until a pay-as-you-go plan of financing capital improvements is established I shall use my official authority in support of a program that will pay off more debt than incurred in each fiscal year.

                "For every dollar of expenditure for personal service or commodities the city must receive full value. We must concern ourselves with bedrock essentials in the appropriation of municipal funds, no matter how attractive proposed expenditures in the category of "desirable-but-not-necessary" may appear.

                "Unprecedented problems arising from the homecoming of many thousand service men and women, and industrial reconversion to peacetime production confront us. From personal experience through service demobilization, I know that the disillusionment of 1919 must not be permitted to recur in Buffalo  or elsewhere. We must employ every available resource to speed re-adaptation of veterans to comfortable living and to cushion dislocation of employment. These matters demand full priority.

                "Buffalo , like other large industrial centers, is confronted by a housing  shortage which challenges the city's utmost cooperation and resourcefulness. As more thousands of veterans return home the housing need will become increasingly urgent. We have two avenues of relief, namely construction of public subsidized housing and private development. Both methods have been used here and there, despite a conflict of opinion as to the justification for public housing subsidies.

                "I am advised that the Buffalo  Municipal Housing  Authority already has reported to Washington a survey showing local need of 5,000 housing  units within three to five years for families of low-level income.

                "Untold benefits should come to Buffalo  through consummation of the state's Thruway  System Fortunately, due to foresight of your honorable body in implementing a responsible city planning agency, a basis has been blueprinted whereby public opinion may be crystallized in support of whatever Thruway  route may prove most advantageous to the city. State authorities are now engaged in routing expressways for which state funds will be expended. A tentative Buffalo  route may be ready for consideration in two or three months.

                "Mindful that the proposed Thruway  is more vitally related to Buffalo 's welfare , both at present and 50 years hence, than any other possible physical transformation, I urge intensive study of Thruway  potentialities so that we may be fully informed when state authorities are ready to give us a hearing. Buffalo  cannot afford any mistakes in this revitalizing improvement that means so much in terms of public safety, convenience and general prosperity.

                "For 30 years, to my own knowledge, inadequate public transportation has obstructed the growth and development of Buffalo  and imposed intolerable hardships on our people. Through creation of the Niagara Frontier Rapid Transit Commission  by legislative enactment the full power and influence of the State of New York have been committed to establishment of adequate modern transit facilities in Buffalo  and environs.

                "But whatever happens, I hereby commit my administration to employ zealously every power and right of municipality to force rapid transit  in Buffalo Let us not temporize with a faithless public utility.

                "Without wishing to be interpreted as criticizing those heretofore engaged in activities to curb juvenile delinquency , I find that informed opinion favors expansion of a crime prevention bureau in the Department of Police adequately staffed with trained personnel. It is my conviction that juvenile delinquency must be combated by every available resource because we owe to the children of today the fullest opportunity for enjoyment of normal, wholesome living.

                "Intermittently since the early 1930's complaint has been voiced over the effect of the so-called "Amherst Decision" whereby the burden of delinquent town taxes  is imposed on the county as a whole. As a candidate for mayor I promised, if elected, to initiate legislation to correct the inequality of requiring taxpayers in all cities and towns to make good the delinquencies of a minority of taxpayers in a few of the towns.

                "It has been demonstrated conclusively that establishment of a centralized unit for administration of social welfare  and public-relief functions for all cities, villages and towns within Erie County, is the most outstanding, administrative reform ever accomplished in local history. As a member of the Board of Supervisors  of Erie County, I had a hand in this administrative betterment.

                "As the world settles into its postwar stride air transportation of passengers and package freight undoubtedly will expand tremendously. Airport facilities already are indispensable in live progressive cities. The war has made our people air-travel minded and as rates are reduced airports will require large capacity.

                "The city is in prospect of receiving free additional land and facilities from the Federal Government. A committee of the Council now has this federal gift under consideration. I cannot overemphasize the importance of adequate airport  facilities, but it is my view that the city government must exercise its full ingenuity to make operation of the Airport self-sustaining. Rail and water carrying concerns furnish their own terminals. It seems to me that publicly owned airports have a right to expect adequate compensation from commercial use of the facilities by private corporations.

                "It is claimed in civic circles, justly, I believe, the Delaware Park  Zoo has not attained its full possibilities as an educational and recreational center, mainly through lack of a professional curator. I respectfully recommend that the Council fix a salary for curator sufficient to attract competent professional ability and that the position be placed in the competitive class, subject to an examination pursuant to the Civil Service  Law.

                "Upon careful consideration of municipal requirements, and entirely without prejudice to the agency established by law in 1888, I recommend that a bill to abolish the Grade Crossing & Terminal Station Commission be presented to the state Legislature.

                "The commission has practically outlived its usefulness because the state constitution now recognizes grade-crossing elimination as a state function and the cost thereof is no longer a burden on the city.

                "Friends, for so I shall hope to regard all citizens of Buffalo  when my job as mayor is completed, let me thank you for your patient indulgence in my presentation of this rather comprehensive message. I want to be a working mayor, giving my full time and energy to the duties of the office. Already I have disposed of my private business. I assume my duties free from commitments except such as I have made publicly to all the people.

                "The door of the mayor's office will be open at regular hours for all citizens having legitimate business. We shall strive for equality; special privilege will not be countenanced.

                "In the words of a former great Mayor from my home neighborhood - Grover Cleveland  - I regard public office as a public trust."

                A large crowd witnessed Mayor Dowd 's 44-minute address, including GOP County Chairman Edwin F. Jaeckle

                On May 9, 1946 Mayor Dowd  was in Washington, where he met President Truman  and accepted the National Safety Council award for "safest large city  in 1945." When Ned H. Dearborn of the Council called Dowd's name to accept the award he said: "Buffalo  is a new winner, and is a city that never received better than honorable mention before. There were fewer traffic deaths in Buffalo  in 1945 than in any one of the past 25 years."

                Dowd responded: "On behalf of the good people of the City of Buffalo , the second largest city in the Empire State, I extend my thanks, and feel highly honored at being awarded this plaque. I can say that we in Buffalo  are continuing the task of reducing the traffic fatalities to a minimum."

                Mayor Dowd  delivered his second Annual Message to the Common Council  on January 7, 1947.

                "At the outset of my term I appointed the best department heads I could find with the explicit understanding that they would be held officially responsible for the conduct of their respective departments. I shall continue to hold  department heads to strict accountability without interference as long as satisfactory results obtain.

                "On the premise that adequate garbage collections, street cleaning and snow removal are imperatively necessary for the health and comfort of the people in all parts of the city, in my inaugural address I dedicated the administration to competent performance of these vital routine services. Complaints have been comparatively negligible - the fewest in many years.

                "Our administration took office following a month of heavy snowfalls with the result that streets and sidewalks were severely impeded. In many districts garbage had not been collected in five weeks, Mechanical equipment indispensable to snow removal and garbage collection was at all-time low operating efficiency due to lack of repairs and replacements.

                "Because of the open Fall weather, some criticism has been voiced because of enforcement of the prohibition  against parking after midnight on main thoroughfares through which buses and street cars are routed. Innumerable times the people of Buffalo  have suffered terrible inconvenience and incalculable financial loss because blizzards gained the jump on our snow-fighting organization. Since weather prognostication has not been reduced to an exact science public safety and convenience demand a continuous alert against surprise.

                "During the year our 500-ton incinerator has been operated beyond capacity but these facilities are woefully inadequate. Plans for another incinerator on Squaw Island  will be completed and ready for bids on construction in a few weeks.

                "Bids for approximately 200 pieces of motor vehicle equipment and appliances were asked. ...Orders have been issued to the extent of available funds. About 30 trucks have arrived in Buffalo  for early operation.

                "Our records show that between 65 and 70% of the crimes committed in 1946 have been cleared which is much higher proportionately than the average for similar cities. The accomplishment of the Homicide  squad in solving death crimes has been so outstanding that it has won honorable citation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

                "Upon taking office I requested the Commissioner of Police to reorganize and expand the Crime Prevention Bureau in the department along up-to-date methods recommended by social agencies and other citizen organizations interested in curbing juvenile delinquency I am happy to report that such a reorganization has been accomplished.

                "Maintenance and operation of the municipal airport  is becoming an increasingly complicated problem because of expanding use of air facilities for passenger travel and freight transportation. Passengers and freight handled through the municipal airport  increased approximately 35% over 1945.

                "Deterioration of runways now being used by heavier planes than were contemplated when the landing facilities were designed demands immediate remedy which will be expensive.

                "Undoubtedly the most notable achievement of the Department of Parks during the last year was inauguration of a long-needed program of care of the city's beautiful trees, which all agree are a priceless asset.

                "For the first time in a decade our municipal playgrounds were opened promptly on May 1 last year.

                "Increased interest was developed in the Municipal Baseball League and in softball competition. In baseball 96 teams and 1,500 players were enrolled. Fifty leagues with 400 teams and 4,000 players competed in basketball.

                "Beyond doubt it is gratifying to all citizens that the City of Buffalo , the County of Erie and the State of New York have reached general agreement on a plan for thruways and arterial highways because this revitalizing improvement means so much in terms of public safety, convenience and general prosperity to Western New York. This vast program will develop a major change in our city and vicinity not equaled by any other single public construction enterprise since the Erie Canal  was opened for travel a dozen decades ago.

                "It appears that Traffic fatalities increased here about 16% which is considerably below the nation-wide average increase over 1945, a year of much lighter mileage for motor-driven vehicles. Pending official figures of 63 tentative traffic deaths, 52 victims were pedestrians. For some weeks the police  department has worked strenuously to curb jaywalking. Much as we dislike to resort to punitive measures, unless pedestrian carelessness shows decided improvement rigid enforcement through wholesale court arraignment will be necessary.

                "Parking is another phase of the traffic problem which is rapidly becoming more complicated. The Board of Safety suggests a reasonable adoption of one-way streets downtown  - a plan that has worked well in...other large cities.

                "While adhering definitely to our firm policy of paying off more debt than is incurred in any fiscal year, certain capital improvements must be undertaken in 1947 if the welfare  of our citizens is to be safeguarded.

                "The administration, embracing both executive and legislative branches, is looking forward hopefully to the report of the Niagara Frontier Rapid Transit Commission "

                Mayor Dowd 's third Annual Message to the Council was delivered on January 2, 1948. Trouble broke out when the Democratic majority, supported by independent Republican Joseph Mruk , rejected a reading of the Mayor's annual message. Lovejoy Councilman Chester C. Gorski  moved that the message be received and filed instead of read. Councilman-at-Large Russell M. Leech , Republican minority leader, jumped to his feet and said:

                "I'd like to hear what the Mayor has to say. It has been a time honored practice not only to present the message for scrutiny in the newspapers and Council records, but to have the message read before the Council."

                Gorski replied: "I feel the Mayor should be here to read the message to the Common Council It's a matter of courtesy. Why didn't he come?"

                The impression was that the Mayor was going to deliver the message in person. But when he made a last minute switch, the Council said there was nothing to do but file it. When asked why he didn't deliver it personally, Dowd said that he had "no reason."

                "No matter how serious our common problems may seem, advent of a new year always stirs the human heart to hope of better things to come.

                "Undoubtedly, all of us are concerned that an enduring peace among the peoples of the world has been too long deferred, that the burdens of war's aftermath are too oppressive everywhere, that rioting and mob violence constantly menace world security, but I cannot smother a wave of optimism which bolsters my faith in the ultimate triumph of the American way of life with its glorious freedoms for which America's matchless youth fought and died.

                "At the close of business December 31, 1947, the bonded debt was...the lowest amount in a quarter of a century. This total reflects a debt reduction of more than sixty-two million dollars in the last ten years, a constructive record that has probably not been surpassed by any large city in the country.

                "Due to reduction in the assessment roll, the city has lost about $4,000,000 annually in potential real estate taxes  for current expenses. This loss has been offset by increased state aid, transfer of certain functions to Erie County, and a county sales tax  for education. Otherwise, increased compensation for city employees would have been impossible. The Sales Tax is the only alternative to a drastic cut in compensation for municipal employees, including police , firemen, teachers and all other groups.

                "...It is timely to congratulate the people of Buffalo  and environs on the prospect the state thruway offers for traffic safety, relief of congestion and enhancement of public convenience. The state plans to spend upwards of $70,000,000 in our community and is asking for the city to bear less than 10% of this outlay. The proposition merits our fullest possible cooperation.

                "In my judgment erection of a new incinerator on Squaw Island  is the most urgent capital expenditure confronting the city.

                "The city will be operating 2,452 parking meters which are expected to yield a revenue exceeding $200,000 annually.

                "There is little prospect that the bankrupt I.R.C. can be re-organized efficiently through pending proceedings in Federal Court. Therefore, the fare increase is only a 'shot-in-the-arm' to prolong temporarily the life of a defunct and obsolete traction setup which has shamefully abused the Buffalo  public. For forty years the deterioration of equipment and service has gone from bad to worse until now the growth and prosperity of Buffalo  and the entire Niagara Frontier is alarmingly jeopardized. Public transportation has reached a crisis. This year of 1948 is a crucial period.

                "It is respectfully submitted that any re-organization which extends the life of I.R.C. will blight future progress of the community. We must have new blood that will revitalize management and attract new capital.

                "Since progress with I.R.C. is utterly hopeless, we have only two alternatives; either I.R.C. must be auctioned at a bankruptcy sale to private interests financially competent to serve Buffalo  and envisions with adequate, modern facilities, or we must organize a public transit authority along the lines recommended by the Niagara Frontier Rapid Transit Commission  which at state expense made an exhaustive survey of our local mass transportation problem.

                "Through the year Buffalo  and Milwaukee have been engaged in a neck and neck race for the honor of winning the safety award among cities of more than half a million population. The result is still in doubt but it seems assured that Buffalo  has not finished worse than second after a rather bad start early in the year.

                "Crime gangs and racketeers have been well suppressed in Buffalo I am advised that final statistics for last year will show that crimes in 1947 are about one-third fewer than in 1946. The record shows that sixty-seven and one-half percent of these crimes have been cleaned up. Buffalo  leads the country in solving homicides.

                "On this new year it is befitting to express our official appreciation to the Veterans' Administration for the erection of a 1,000-bed hospital on the 24-acre site donated by the city.

                "Again, I say: May the new year bring universal peace, and a fuller measure of happiness for everybody."

                Mayor Dowd  delivered his final Annual Message to the Common Council  on January 4, 1949.

                "Since early in the present century the necessity of state aid to local units of government has been acknowledged in New York to assure safe minimum standards of indispensable services to all communities and on the theory that centers of wealth should contribute to the general welfare  of all the people of the state, particularly the poorer communities. But since excessive taxation by the state would drive away industry, thus causing diminishing returns from state revenue sources, obviously there is a limit to which state aid could be extended. Moreover, excessive state aid would be poor business for the richer communities. As it is now, the people of Buffalo  are called upon to pay two dollars in taxes  for every dollar of state aid that our municipality receives.

                "The state's financial problem is rapidly becoming acute and the prospect of increased state taxes is a foregone conclusion.

                "As the official head of the Police Department, I am proud to be able to say that Buffalo  is free from organized crime and racketeering largely because of the efficient and honest police  surveillance that is maintained day in "Re-paving and repairs of streets will demand considerable sums of money in the next few years in order to catch up with the wear and tear of the war years when materials and manpower for paving were restricted.

                "During the last year the Division of Streets  made notable improvement in street lighting by installing 755 modern street lamps;...3,205 new street-name signs are expected to be delivered within a month. In the last year, 2,400 old-type street signs were painted, repaired and re-erected.

                "During the last 15 years tree trimming has been shamefully neglected throughout the city because funds have not been made available for adequate care of the 400,000 shade trees which are a priceless asset. At the present time thousands of trees are hazardous and should have attention, but unless new revenue is forthcoming there is little that can be done to meet the urgent need of expanded tree care.

                "Playground and swimming-pool attendance exceeded the 1947 record and additional areas now being developed will draw larger attendance in the coming year. Both the Dold and Dewey Playgrounds will be available for use in May.

                "In January and February of last year, the city experienced its most critical gas shortage during the severe weather of those months. The lack of gas constituted a real health menace. People were unable to cook or keep warm, property damage in substantial amounts resulted from frozen heating systems, and widespread layoffs of employees occurred because of the necessity to restrict the use of gas for industrial purposes.

                "The control of gas supply by interlocking monopolies imposes a cruel disadvantage on large cities in the Middle Atlantic States, of which the distressing shortage in service to Buffalo  last year is a glaring example."

                Dowd returned to visit his West Side friends nearly every day. He once said: "I can only be mayor for one term but these people can be my friends for life."

PERSONAL LIFE

                When he first left City Hall , Dowd worked for friends as a pharmacist in several West Side drugstores.

                Bernard Dowd  married Grace J. Nolan on October 22, 1922. They had no children. The Dowd's resided at 244 DeWitt Street, the site of his first store, and later at 168 Sanders Road.

                On July 3, 1951 Dowd announced he was to be a candidate in the Republican primary for Common Council  President. He promised to conduct "a vigorous, fighting campaign with straight-from-the-shoulder discussion of major issues and no political double talk." It was possible that he was using this as a platform to possibly set the stage for a mayoral comeback.

                "I feel that the office of president offers an opportunity to restore dignity and public confidence in the Common Council My insight into city government as gained during four years as mayor gives me unusual qualifications, I believe, to serve as Council president.

                "I want to stress the fact that although I am a staunch Republican, I am in this fight as an independent, unfettered candidate, under no obligation to the present Republican leadership and free to acquit myself as Council president in the interests of all the people, as I did while mayor."

                This was the first time Dowd had made a political incantations since leaving the office of mayor two and half years before.

                During his campaign, he laid the blame for the conditions that brought about the ongoing grand jury gambling investigation on the city administration and the local Republican leadership, especially lambasting Republican Chairman Harry J. Forhead  for supposed demands he made of Dowd while he was mayor.

                On October 23, 1951 Dowd stated: "If the district attorney intends to call me, I am ready to go before the grand jury now - today."

                At the November election he was defeated in a close race by Elmer F. Lux , 89,224 to 76,562, with 11,954 votes going to Robert A. Hoffman

                On November 14, 1951it was learned that Dowd was subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury regarding the charges he made during the campaign: "Republican leadership attempted to bring about postponement of the Rolleck-Caputo trial; that Republican Chairman Harry J. Forhead  had demanded the firing of Thomas J. McMahon, police  commissioner under Dowd's reign as mayor so the lid on gambling could be lifted; that State Committeeman White had approached him (Dowd) and asked that certain gambling places receive police  protection."

                He claimed that he was "pressured" to go easy on gamblers while mayor, and accused Forhead of criticizing him for failing to "tip off" the Elks Club before a 1949 police  raid.

                In retaliation, White asked Dowd to answer the following:

                "Did you solicit and receive substantial contributions from known gamblers