The New York herald., 1879-08-02
THE ANTI-TAMMANY VIEW

COUNTY CLERK THOMPSON EXPRESSES THE
.sENTtM ENTs OF GOVERNOR ROBINSON s
FRIENDS KELLY AN AUToCRAT, AND
NOT DEMOCRAT.
The Kelly bombshell cast by tho acknowledged
leader of Tammany Hall into the already disturbed
and excited political canvass produced marked
effect. County Clerk H. o. THOMPSON singled
out by Mr.. Kelly for a special blow. and HERALD
reporter yesterday sought the portly official in the
little snuggery dignifed by the name of Office.
Putting and blowing, Mr.. Thompson good naturedly
welcomed the writer and admitted his willingness
to answer questions for the HERALD. In response
to query as to his having read the HERALps report
of Mr.. Kelly's conversation he laughed and sad
wel, of I've read it, Here it is in my scrap
book. 1 regard it as choice contribution to the
comic literature of the day"
"How long have you been a democrat?'
always"
Sand in accord with Mr.. Kelly ana Tammany?"
"why, certainly. was member of the Young
Mems Democratic Club in 1871. of Tammany Hall
in 1874. and of the General Committee in Kelly's
district in 1875. 1876 and 1877. 1 left in October
1877, with Edward Cooper. James DAILY and Senator
Moore We left together before the Convention met,
so that we needn't be bound by its action.
"Were you active in the anti-Tammany organize
ton of 1S77?'
ALL KELLY's FAULT.
"Yes. John Kelly opposed to Tilden. while
many OF the best democrats favored him. The anti
Tiiden feeling of Mr. Kelly the origin of all the
subsequent trouble. John Morrissey thought
to be tit exponent of the dissatisfaction felt with
Kelly far back 1876, and he nominated for
the Senate He made the fight and won it,"
"Wel, what then?'
"Kelly made up his mind to extermnate the
friends of Mr.. Tilden. and we banded together tor
lf-protection. In that fight I had charge of the
Ei.rlta Ka1 WI 1lstr wa Aea IN
in It,"
power IN the Board OF Pubic works to in1are Tam
That's nonsense. did use my influence in the
department and out of it, but never coerced any
| whatever. l consider myself better democrat
than John Kelly. He's an autocrat and everybody
Kelly there would be a united democracy here
to-day. Prominent leaders in his own organiza-
tion think as DO but they are & afraid . to come
They're not exactly prepared to bolt from his
authority but they don't like it, He is selfish and
vain. and on his reputation as an honest man has
built up idea that he's the one honest man who
can manage party. The democratic party is not
owned by John Kelly"
DEMOCRATS WON'T BOLT.
"But in case Robinson is nominated, will not the
democrats stand by Mr.. Kellys pledgeT
'No, they won't do any such thing. Mr.. Kelly,
you will find, cannot control Tammany henchmen.
He isn't able to change 1000 votes. Democrats re-
attempt to bully the State OF New York. Democrats
won't stand it,.
Just the in st. Louis. He made grand
parade of his power, and vowed he would never sup
port Tilden Tilden was nominated. and then Mr..
Kelly jumped on the platform and promised to work
and vote for him. In other words. he took water
and backed down. That's what he'll do again or be
utterly ruined"
"will Mr.. Cooper attend the Conventiong"
81 can't say. His friends WILL but whether he will
think it wise for the Mayor to go don't know"
"Are they Robinson men?"
"They are, to 2 man.
"And Tilden menY
'Not necessarily. The Tildcn fight isn't here just
yet Robinson is on the tapis just now. Tilden
keep"
'Are there many republicans in the anti -Tammany
mot one. Tney are all good democrats-not q
KELLY NOT A DEMOCRAT.
"why do you say Mr.. Kelly is not democrat?"
because he is not He's an autocrat See how he
has acted in the matter of appointments by the dem
ocratic Mayor. lie arranged so that all the republi-
confirmed, but none of the democrats.
Then he went to Albany and tried deal with Gen
eral Arthur, by which the appointing power wis to
be vested in commission In other words. he and
Arthur would control the offices, and. OF course.
the Republicans would have their share. Then,
again. see how his gerrymandering in the
laying out of districts has injured the party.
/ regard his threat to bolt indication
Of his bullying nature. He will sacrifice anything
to crafty personal motives. He showed it against
Tiiden then against Hackett and now against Rob-
inson. Tilden beat him. Hackett beat him. and Rob-
inson will do the same"
''Wha do you believe Mr. Kelly will do II Governor
Robinson is renominated2
"He will either ia into line. as is his history.
bo utterly killed as a leader.
"will Governor Robinson be renominated?"
"He will"
"WhyY
because he is the only democrat before the people
who carry the State of New York next fail.
"If Mr.. Kelly aud his delegates leave the Convon-
ton and come home as lie says they will, would the
fact of hIs controlling the machinery OF the organ
ization initiate against Robinson?
mot AT aIl. We have better organizttio than
his. II is IN thorough working order and admirably
disciplined"
"And you do not fear his nauencep"
hp can n IN ct
control nominations. but he cannot control voters
as against regular nominees"