The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-07-05
The Tammany Factor.
From The Ne,p York Times

From tie Ne,c York Times.
Some of the Democratic leaders outside of
this State appear to attach much more impor-
lance to Tamman' VS. hostility to Gov. Cleveland
than it deserves. The hostility of that trou-
blesome faction is worth more to candidate
than its support, as has been heretofore de-
monstrated. The weight of John Kelly and
his followers as factor to national politics
ought by this time to be more accurately es-
timated The field of kelly's political ambi-
ton is in the municipal administration of this
city, where there is more to be made by his
peculiar methods than he can hope to gain
elsewhere. He can calculate upon very little
plumber in national affairs in any case, for
there he counts for little. Consequently he
cares comparatively little about it, though he
is eager to throw what weight he can against
any effort at reform. Such votes as he con-
trolls he is ready at any time and against any
candidate to trade off for whatever advantage
he may secure in the city. He is as likely to
prove false to one candidate as another if
there is anything to be made by it. Conse
quently his opposition before the convention
should be regarded as of small Importance.
1t is sometimes assumed that Kelly absolutely
controls 10000 votes in this city, but he can
muster anything like that number only by an
actual bolt, with separate ticket to carry it
TO- W ncu lc bpsClubi uiUloCil
1879 against Robinson, he got 43, 600 votes in
this city. But by secret trades and underhand
treachery he can take away from the regular
ticket not more than 10000 or 1900 votes.
This year he will have no ground for n bolt.
He has not even grievance in the State, and
his personal organ declares that he will sup
port the candidate, whoever he may be. But
if he is disposed to do otherwise his power to
divert votes from the ticket will be small.
The value of his favor in advance of the
nomination has been already shown in two
campaigns. His hostility to Tilden in 1876
was far more pronounced and positive than
his hostility to Cleveland now. He tried to
convince the public that the New York dele
CATION was largely opposed to the reform Gov
ernor and was untiring in his efforts to per-
suade the convention at st. Louis that he
could not carry the State. He got up a cir
cular signed by far more formidable list of
prominent Democrats than he can get on his
side now, protesting against the nomination
of Tllden on that very ground. Among the
signers were such men as Augustus Schell,
August Belmont, George f. Comstock, S. s.
Cox, Sanford 4. Church, Allen c. Beach,
Amasa J. Parker, Roger A. Pryor, John L.
Hoffman, Erastus Brooks, Erastus Corning,
j. V. l.. Pruyn, Sidney Webster, and many
others of almost equal prominence. In spite
III ILLS IDTilluuult SuOW vi OppOSiliOu III NtW
York and all the efforts of Kelly, TildeH was
nominated on his reform record in this State.
He carried the State of New York by more
than 81, 600 and the city by nearly $4,000.
He also carried New Jersey, Connecticut,
Indiana, and practically all the doubtful
Northern States. Had the South been as
solid as it has been ever since he would have
been elected, with nearly 20 Electoral votes
to spare.
In 1880 Kelly was equally hot against Til
den. and when he was Withdrawn from the
field he shook hands with the anti Tammany
leader in support of Hancock: But Hancock
failed to carry the State with his help. Even
in the city he received IL, 000'votes less than
Tilden had received, and in the State he fell
q, 900 bclaY Garfield, and yet in 1876 the Re-
publicans were united and satisfied with theip
ticket, however some of them may have felt
about it later on. Now the situation is alto
gether different from that of eight years ago.
The independent vote has developed enor-
mously in that time, and large portion of
the Republican party is utterly disguised with
the action of its convention. The changes
for man like Cleveland are far greater than
were those of Tilden in 1876, and the HOSTILE
~ of Tammany and its sorehead sympathy
ers is not only less pronounced but of far less
practical importance. There is in these facts
u lesson for the convention which is to meet
at Chicago on the 9Th fully. What it wants
is not to nominate a candidate pleasing to
John Kelly and Tammany Hall, but a candi-
date who can bring to his support the power
full reform sentiment and get the votes of in
dependents and disaffected Republicans.
This element will far outweigh any adverse
power that Tammany can WELD, and such
candidate will carry in addition to solid
South all the Northern States that Tilden had,
with the possible addition of New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Ohio and Wisconsin.