New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-26
BOSTON'S DISGUST.
PECULIAR TRAITS OF MR.. SIMMONS.

EARLY HISTORY OF MR.. siMMoNs-HIs TALENTS
AND SUCCESS IN MANAGING WARD POLITICS
BuTTER's RIGHr-HAND MAN-0AUsEs AND FNTENT
OF BosroN's EXCITEMENT OVER sINMoNSs NoMI-
NATION
rRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRTBUNE.l
BosroN Feb. 23.-The excitement about the Col
ectorship of the Port of Boston, which has pervaded
politics and stirred society here for the last week is
increasinC rather than abatng. No movement that
Gen Butler has ever made has created equal local
commotion in Boston As a surprise here its success
WAS perfect Everybody was put Oh false scent but
a few who were in tho secret 1t is not probable that
even the present Collector knew what was prepar
ing for him till a day or two before the blow fell
He had been ready to resign for two three months
provided he could receive satisfactory foreign mis-
SION but no one Offering at present, and he had
expected TO hold out till June certainly. Ii was de-
torminod to begin the next Butler campaign for the
GovernOrshp earlier than that, aud it was decided
that the first step in this should be change in the
Office of Collector. Collector Russell had been a sup
porter of Butler, but he is gentleman who
likes to stand well with the better sentiment of
Boston also. The two positions seriously conflict
one with the other. The Collector contrived TO
come nearer 10 reconcng them than any other poll
tcian in the State could have done. The merchants
forgave him so far as not to ask his dismissal
W.
hating and laggard. at times, however The Col
lector failed to sanction of his more unscrupu-
Ions policv last year. Though the nominal support
of the Custom house was accorded him, he received
far less aid and comfort from il than from the offices
of the United States Marshal and the Internal Rev
enue Department The really plucky, enterpnsng'
and aggressive man. who SCRUBBED at no schemes
and hestated at no effort in last years campaign,
was the Supervisor of Internal Revenue. He showed
spirit after Buffers own heart and developed re-
sources that placed him far higher in the esteem OF
the Essex chietan than the timid and halt-hearted
Collector This induced the resolution to place him
IN the Collectors position.
hR. SIMMONS AS A RISING MAN
Mr. Simmons is the snartest specimen of the new
type of politician, such Grant affects and Butler
believes in that the State can show. He is about
SO years old Born at the North End of Boston, and
with limited opportunities of education, he was. 10
years ago clerk in a dry goods store of Hanover
st. locality where the sharper kind of this trading
ia done. lie studied law in his leisure hours; but
politics about this time opened more promising
and more congenial field for him. He left the
store with $3.50 rs tho sum total of his worldly
goods. lie took the position of Internal Revenue
Detector and after he had held it for four or five
years he worth 100000 in good stocks and secu-
rites. Here was talent eiieCtually demonstrated
Nor talent alone; with il had come fame as well
fame that was very local in its spread, but still
fame most individually. Simmons had become a
character al the North End of Boston Everybody in
politics there knew him. From Congressman down
to Ward Assessor he was sought and consulted His
moneyed operations were by means confined
10 the Internal Revenue Department. He made
nearly all the arrang and did most OF the dis
bursting that attended the election on the theaer OF
operation in which he had chosen to figure 1t was
preliminary to all running for office on his side
that the candidate should first see Simmons. He
had become new and very positive factor in all
political problems 10 be worked out. The Demo
Gratis dreaded and the Republicans relied upon him,
with about equal sincerity. lie brought the former
party TO give up the most doubtful Congressional
district in the State in despair. While the Repub-
licans had a candidate in the IVth District with
money. and had Simmons to use it. they said it was
SIMPLY folly for them TO keepup a fight. He knew
just where the weak spot in their ranks was and he
pitiieSsy went through them. Their voters van
ished hy scores and hundreds, and went over TO
swell the majorities of the opposition. His hand
was reached out to control all the machinery of elec
ton. Even their own organization was not safe
from IT, One year the Democratic candidate for
Alderman il the strongest Democratic ward in the
city found the regular ticket printed with his
left Of and that of his Republican competitor in it's
place The Democrats made WY faces, but there
was no help for it, There were 800 OF 400 liquor
sellers at the North End against whom warrants
were issued or easily could be- Simmons got con-
troll Of tacse warrants, and held the terror of their
execution over the heads Of those at whom they
were directed, with the assurance that they could
buy exemption if themselves and their customers
voted right Tile fairly established reign of terror
over the Democratic party.
BUTLERs ALTER Ego.
Of course such man was not likely to escape the
notice OF a statesman of Gen. Buffers procivlties.
He early attached Mr.. Simmons to his fortunes.
The latter did not need much urging. He was CRAWL
tated as one may say, into the position. The meth
DDS of the two were entirely coDgenia there was
such an exquisite agreement in their ideas and their
aspirations that it next to impossible that they
. should be kept apart. SimmOns'S politics are But
ler's by instinct. Hehad learned ButleriSm without
a master He nevertheless did homage to the mas
Ter when the master appeared. Butler had not
learned TO appreciate him in his first campaign for
Butler has not a 1.-THE of Smmons's political shrewd
ness and sagacity. He knew him better last year
He made bin his adutant and chief adviser in the
campaign on which he then entered against the bet
ter portion of the community. Simmons went into
the work with all his wonted energy. He not only
faithfully followed inStruct:Ons-he bettered upon
them. He assumed the responsibility of controlling
the city in Buffers interest after his own ideas and
by his own methods. year earlier be had got
himself into position for this work by being
elected Chairman of its Ward and City Com
lnittees. His plan was TO take the eau
cuses by storm by a surprise movement and to elect
all the delegates fortnight earlier than usual while
a large proportion of the anti-Butler people were
absent on their Summer vacation. Collector Russell
heard OF it, and said it would never that such
tactics might have worked well enough in few
North End wards bur people would not tolerate their