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? Did you knowingly allow common gamblers
to accompany you to picnics, meetings and parties and introduce
them as personal friends. Did you knowingly attend parties
arranged by gamblers for gamblers?"
Chairman Forhead said that the former Mayor was "an
unmitigated liar."
Dowd was called before a special federal grand jury
in April, 1952, regarding crime and corruption
in Buffalo
On July 14, 1952 Dowd was appointed to an $8,000
a year job as a Civil Defense liaison for the civil Defense
Department. In the position he was a liaison between state
and local Civil Defense organizations.
He continued working as a pharmacist until the late
1960's when he retired.
Dowd was a member of Troop I Post, American Legion;
Maxwell Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars; 78th Division Veterans'
Association; New York State and Erie County Pharmaceutical
Associations; Kensington Post, American Legion
; West Side Businessmen's Association
and Forest
District Association
On October 22, 1971 the Dowd's celebrated their 49th
wedding anniversary.
On Monday, November 1, 1971 Dowd died in Veteran's
Hospital
after a long illness.
