Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-10-30
WHAT rs THE TAMMANY SOCIETY9

In May, 1913, society was organized
and christened "St. Tammany Society, or In.
dependent Order Of Liberty" the existence Of
which was announced as "being an American
society to consist of natives born who fill
Offices, and adopted Americans who are eligi-
BILE to posts Of warrior and hunter" The
lists of officers and members published at
that date gives no name of prominence, most
of them being small tradesmen and manu-
facturers. 1t is supposed the original intent
of the society was to counteract the aristocrat.
ic tendencies of the Society of Cincinnati, OF
which Washington was the head. This feat;
ure attracted to the society Aaron Burr, who
was the first man of any note who connected
himself with it. True it is, that the society
warmly espoused his cause and opposed Mr..
Hamilton. 1t was not long before the socie-
ty, started by shoemakers and carpenters, at
tracted some attention and called into it J.. y.
Hoffman, then an eminent lawyer, and he
was Immediately followed by such men as
G. G. Golden, the Swartouts, Ben. Romaine,
Judah Hammond and others, who were, or
soon became, magnates in the Republican,
subsequently the Democratic) party. In
the second year of its age it changed its
name by dropping "Sons Of Liberty" and
awhile afterward the "St." disappeared, and
at last the society received its legal baptism
and was incorporated in 1905 as "The Tam
many Society, or, Columbian Order" which
is its name to-day. In order to be unmis-
takably American, the society was divided
into tribes representing the original thirteen
States. and each having the name Of an ami.
NAL. New York was the Eagle; New
Hampshire, the Otter; Rhode Island, the
Beaver, etc. It does not appear that the go
ciety was started ELS party organization, but
in those early days party spirit ran high and
the men who made the society could not keep
out of politics. In 1900, Jefferson and Burr
were candidates for the presidency, but the
year before the Federalists had carried New
York. Under the lead Of Tammany, Burr
carried the city of New York in 1900, which
produced tie in the electoral college between
the two aspirants. In this election Tammany
commenced its tricks to cheat the people at
elections, which have been improved in time.
In New York there was then property
qualification for voters, and only real estate
owners could vote. In this election money
was furnished by the society to buy houses,
and one had no less than seventy-fve owners,
another had thirty nine. and 80 on. Among
the young men who were thus made voters,
and afterwards became famous, were Govern.
or Tompkins and w.. P. Van Ness, Thomas
Swartout, Edward Ferris and John D.
Broome. On the 9th of September, 1877,
the society nominated General jackson for
the presidency and ardently supported him.
In the CITY of New York, Tammany Society
has for many years had control. The first
common council elected after the society was
formed had two of the tribe as members.
This continued until 1924, and from that
time until 1885 the society had completely
the upper hand in all charter elections. In
1885, 1886, 1887 and up to 1914, Tammany
was generally defeated. Up to 1856 the
society has had about its share Of official
spois. It was under Fernando Wood, in
1859, that Tammany undertook to control
party machinery by declaring that all con-
ventions of the party must be held in Tam
many Hall, which resulted in split in the
society, Wood running one and and Gunther
the other wing. The sorriest experience OF
the society was with Tweed, who captured
the party machinery, and how he managed
it every one knows. The society has retained
its power from the fact that it has been man
aged with the most consummate ability. 1t
is controlled by board of thirteen sachems
who have been men of great ability, and are
not responsible for anything but results
CHICAGO Netus.