By Earnest Jackson and Larry Clinton, Sausalito Historical Society
Historian Earnest Jackson profiled a number of early town characters in the Sausalito News. Here’s part one of a two-part exposé of one of the most notorious ones:
The human side of Sausalito has always been full of interest. There was Adolph Silver who called himself the “Poobah" of Sausalito. I must say something about him. Adolph gave his name to Silver's Island up near Manzanita. I have been told that this island belonged to an old Portuguese whaler who let Adolph squat on the island and occupy a cabin that was there. The first time I had ever heard of Adolph Silver, was under these circumstances. Shad Beasley and I had been hunting ducks at the north end of Richardson Bay. We were sailing down towards Strawberry Point on the opposite side and had just gone about abreast of “Swede’s chicken ranch” at the brick yard site.
Shots Across Bow
We heard some yelling, but paid no attention. Then two shots were fired across our bow. I will never forget the persuasion of those shots. We at once went ashore to find out what it was all about.
When “Old Swede" calmed down enough to talk English, this is what we learned: As our skiff had come from the direction of the island, and looked just about like Silver’s skiff he had mistaken us for Silver. Now this was the cause of the excitement: The night before Silver had called on the Swede, who was in bed, and while Silver sat and talked to him, a great commotion was heard in the chicken house. The Swede wanted to get up, but each time he started to rise Silver pushed him back, and soon after left. Next morning all the Swede's chickens were gone.
Becomes Sausalito Boss
I don’t think any one in Sausalito had ever heard of Silver at this time. He was just an itinerant squatter in an abandoned island shack. Within four or five years, Silver became the wealthy boss of Sausalito, and within a few years more faded from the picture as poverty-stricken as he had entered it. It was about then that the pool rooms arrived in Sausalito [literally, rooms where betting pools were organized to wager on East Coast horse races].
Almost mysteriously and quite suddenly Silver became their guiding politician. He called himself the “Poobah" of the Town. He became Mayor of the Town.
He attended to the machinery of securing votes necessary to keep the gamblers in control of the Board of Town Trustees. He was a very shrewd man.
Foolproof Voting Fraud
Votes had to be bought and paid for. Silver discovered that this paying for votes in advance was not always satisfactory. He found that at times he paid for votes that were not cast for his man. Silver was shrewd and he devised this plan: Let us imagine that it was about election time and that three Board members were to be elected. Assume that John Jones had a vote to sell. He was seen and instructed to vote for Silver’s two candidates and for the third candidate to write on his ballot, his identifying name, “Henry Clay.”
Bill Smith was also seen. He also was instructed to vote for the Boss’ two candidates, but for the third candidate he was to write in the name “Florence Nightingale.” A little book was kept by Mr. Silver and after the name of each bought voter was noted the particular fictitious character whose name written on a ballot proved that the voter had delivered the goods. Enough such votes were secured to carry the election.
Perfectly Legitimate
There was nothing illegal about this. For, while the law provides that no distinguishing marks can be made on any ballot, it provides also that any voter may write in the name of any candidate he may desire.
Each fictitious name was good for $2 or more, to be paid to the faithful after the election. There may be honor among thieves, but Silver was not taking any chances, unless there was a ballot with the name of Martin Van Buren written in John Blank could not get his money. This was a pretty slick plan and that apparently worked to perfection.
