The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-03-04

OF School Trustees In the Eighteenth ward,
whero he still lives. The President was tho
Hon. EDWARD COOPER, and to their par
ticipation In the unpaid tasks Of their ro-
spective places is due the friendship which
has eutlasted q period Of twenty years.
In 1871 SAMUEL ]. TILpEN determined to
take upon himself the task Of purifying Tam
many Hall from corruption and regenerat-
Ing tie New York Democracy. The forco
and spirit Of his example drew Into his zeal
Gus following q number Of young Democratic,
and MAURICE j. POWER was one OF those en-
listed early In tho cause. Following Mr..
TILDEN's sagacious lead, he entered Tam
many Hall, when JOHN KELLY became Its
leader, and took charge Of the organization
In the sixteenth Assembly district. He re-
manned in Tammany until the breach be-
twocn Mr.. TTLpBN and Mr.. KELLY occurred
In 1875. and the next year he wns one OF the
most active Now York Democrats In the st.
Louis Convention which placed Mr.. T1LDEN
In nomination for President OF tho United
States. In the great municipal fight OF 1877,
Judge POWER was with the ant-Tammany
Democrats, and In 1878 he assumed the
management OF the Mayoralty canvass Of
EDWARD COOPER, then running against
AUGUSTUS SoHELL, the Tammany candidate.
The fight was = hard one, but MIR. COOPER
was elected by a majority OF ten thousand.
and one OF his earliest Official acts was to ap
point Mr.. PowER Police Judge for the term
OF ten years. In 1880 the County Democracy
was formed, and Judge Power was one
OF its founders. He continued active
In its affairs until 1884. when he was
f-n~-l To- An,pu, iOritv nY
the New York delegation for CLEvR-
LAND, and advocated the nomination In
New York Of a stralght-out County Democ-
racy ticket, with WILLIAM r. GRACE at Its
head for Mayor. The last year OF GrAcB's
term was one OF tribulation aud disaster for
| the County Democracy. ANDREW j. WHITE
was defeated for Sheriff. and he carried
, down with him the whole County ticket.
HUBERT @. THOMPSON died in disappoint-
ment and grief. JOIN KEENAN, became q
fugitive to Canada, and the district leaders
were scattered. some by indictment, some by
disability or detection. 1t was at this
crisis Of affairs that tho HENRY GEORGE
movement took its rise, threatening for o
time to disrupt the whole Democracy OF tho
city. Judge POWER was called to the
leadership, and 1t was not long afterward
that ABRAM S. HEWITT was put In nonlna-
ton for Mayor. and that a United Democ-
racy found itself face to face with the
great Labor detection. Judge Power as
sumed the personal management Of tho
HEWITT canvass, and 30 skilful and resolute
was he In its charge that against consid-
cradle odds the Democrats won the great
victory OF that year.
Prior to tho election of last November,
Judge POWER. perceiving with clear and pa
triotic vision that q continued Labor defec-
ton would imperiI the Democratic majority
In the State OF New York. WAS found advocat-
ing, with The SUN. the nomination OF JAMES
F1TZaERALD for District Attorney. a nomina-
ton which, 1t WINS well known, would roha-
billtato the party In the affections OF
the Industrial voters. 1t was at this time
that the pretentious N1CoLL movement
reached it's greatest Dimensions. and many
of the Democratic leaders, mistaking its su-
perlcial quality, were inclined to yield their
convictions. But Judge Power took a
resoluts and courageous position. III
you nominate N1ooLL," he said, you
shut the door In the face OF the return
ing Labor voters. You put a premium
Ou party UICdCkSiy v OAoiC oie Ahono
important q newspaper boss whose capacity
for harm this year reaches only to a District
Attorneyshlp. but may next year threaten
things much more important"
This clear-headed, far-sceing, sensible
view did not commend itself to all the Dem
ocratic leaders; but so Jealous and SO In
trepid was Judge POWER in holding to it
that, despite malediction and abuse, his
c~ounssls finally prevailed. and Col. FELLOWS
was nominated on a sterling Democratic
platform. The wisdom OF this course soon
made itself manifest. NIoo1.L went over to
the Republicans. while Mr.. FITZGERALD.
fully jusufying the favor shown him,
jumped heartily into the fight for
FELLows. The Tammany organization.
which had wavered somewhat before the
nomination, stood true as steel when its Con-
vention had spoken, and In the wsll-man-
aged and vigorous fight which followed, the
Democrats won their splendid victory, elect
Ing their candidates almost without excep-
ton, and disposing at one blow of the Labor
movement from without and the danger Of
JUDAs-like treachery from within. It Is not
strange. therefore. that the Democrats Of
New York, and moro especially the member
OF the County Democracy organization,
should 80 recently IA last week renew and
confirm their confidence In Judge PowEB
as q chieftain who carries with him the pres.
tge of victory.
Long identified with our city politics as a
Democrat, RICHAnD CROKER has held nu'
mcrou. elective posts OF trust, and Ia much
better known to the voters Of New York thar
Is Judge POWER. For twenty years no has
been a leader In the Tammany organization
Of the Eighteenth Assembly district, whici
extends from Twenty-sixth to Forty-seconc
street and from Lexington avenue to the
East River. 1t is Mr., CROKER's distinc
ton that during twenty years, In all tn.
tribulations which Tammany Hall has
gone through. he has been stanch anc
steadfast 70 Its interests. He first came az
lively into politics In the year 1859. when HI
was chosen to represent his district In tn,
Board Of Aldermen. He was elected as
Democrat and almost without opposition