Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/294

 244 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS elected by a majority of 3,530, the largest ever given to a candidate in that city. In the same elec tion the republican state ticket was carried in Buf falo by an average majority of over 1,600; but Cleveland had a partial republican, independent, and &quot;reform&quot; movement support. He entered upon the office, January, 1, 1882. He soon became known as the &quot;veto mayor,&quot; using that prerogative fearlessly in checking unwise, illegal, or extrava gant expenditure of the public money, and enforc ing strict compliance with the requirements of the state constitution and the city charter. By veto ing extravagant appropriations he saved the city nearly $1,000,000 in the first six months of his ad ministration. He opposed giving $500 of the tax payers money to the Firemen s benevolent society, on the ground that such appropriation was not per missible under the terms of the state constitution and the charter of the city. He vetoed a resolution diverting $500 from the Fourth-of-July appropri ation to the observance of Memorial day for the same reason, and immediately subscribed one tenth of the sum wanted for the purpose. His admir able, impartial, and courageous administration won tributes to his integrity and ability from the press and the people irrespective of party. On the second day of the democratic state con vention at Syracuse, September 22, 1882, on the third ballot, by a vote of 211 out of 382, Grover