The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-05-23

Eacn QlStf1cC, moreover, has q leader
self-constituted or recognized by tacil
consent, and these leaders are the
real managers of Tammany, and re.
sponsible to it for affairs in their re.
spective districts.
I John Kelly is not, as is generally
supposed, the nominal chief of Tam
many; he is merely the actual chief,
and is numbered among the thirteen
subordinate Sachems.
| The present grand Sachem is Chas.
Fl. Hasmell, now in his eighty-third
year-a famous civil engineer, who
fifty years ago. was chief engineer of
the United States navy under Jack
son. He is still very vigorous, pre-
sides with dignity, and looks marvel
ously like an old Indian strayed from
his native wigwam.
The most difficult Office in Tam
many is that of Wiskinskie, soroe-
times irreverently called "Whisky-
skin. John d. Newman holds the
Office, and has held it for quarter of
a century. to the terror of financial
delinquents and dead-beats. His
duties include the collection of politi-
cal assessments, as we'll as dues and
other regular tributes, and when be
shoulders his tomahawk and strikes
the trail of member who is in ar
rears there is sure to be fun, except
for the fugitive. AS he gets for his
own trouble 10 per cent of all he COL
lects, he has rather a fat thing, and
swears with an awful Mohawk oath
that be will never give it up until he
is taken to the happy hunting grounds
Wiskinskie Newman, cousin of the
Rev. John p, is Familiarity called ''Old
Ten Per Cent" He lives in hand
some brown stone castle mp the ave-
nue., and is worth 5000, 900.
John Kelly is looked upon by his
followers with a respect and admira-
ton akin to reverence; and doubt
if such feeling could be inspired in so
many men by anything short or ster-
ling qualities.
In appearance John Kelly is not
unlike Gen. Grant. Like Grant he
has a square face, square chin,
square, broad head, square shoulders,
and lie crops close his hair and beard
like Grant, and turns gray like Grant,
and he speaks in q low voice like
Grant hear that Grant and Kelly
have been mistaken for one another
upon the street.
What most surprises the average |
caller who has taken his misconcep-
ton from Puck or Mast is the discov-
cry that he is in the presence of q |
man OF refinement and culture. Kelly
is not roaring lrishman by any
means. In fact, be doesn't happen
to be an Irishman at all, but was
born in this city while Andrew Jack
son was President He has the
prominent jaw that belongs to obsti-
nate and overmastering men, and an
combaftive head Sammy
Tilden has been his red rag, 10 these
many years; now that the hero of
Cipher Ally is out of the way am
afraid Kelly will lack for excitement
/. Kellys parents were poor. He
drlfted about the city and learned to
put up his hands" in the matter of
boxing; he went to the public school.
learned the trade of grate-setter,
aud made good deal of money in
legitimate business. When Tweed
was ut the elimination of his criminal
career. Kelly was travelling in Europe,
where he spent a year or two and
French and German, with
bis wife as teacher; and he came
home in time to find an honest leader
He completed the rout OF
he ring and wheeled Tammany Hall
INTO line with the reform element. In
1916 he became comptroller, and re-
iuced the city's debt for the first time
N its history. From 1860 to 1876
he debt of this city steadily increased
ill il bad reached the enormous sum
If s112,0O0,000 Kelly increased
'evenues and reduced expenses, and
turing bis four years term be actual
) diminished the debt of the city no
ess than $12, 100000.
His lecture on the Catholic mis-
ions has brought in 100000 to
charities. He is frank, straight
Onward, downright speaker, and bis
.arnestness always interests his au-
Hence.
The first Office John Kelly held was
hat OF alderman, and be was elected
IS 'reformer." Then he beat the
notorious Mike Walsh for Congress,
ervlng one term. Then served two
erfns as sheriff. He is worth at least
million dollars, and receives morei
pplications for private charity than
ny other New Yorker. A good deal
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