The Hawaiian gazette., 1890-05-13

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of the gross qualities of its histori-
cal predecessor.
The facts published in the Post
show that Tammany is the same
organization of disreputable politi-
clans. office holders and office
seekers, liquor sellers, gamblers,
pickpockets, fraudulent contrac-
tors, loafers, bummers, and even
murderers, that it was when Tweed
was conducting his gigantic swind-
ling operations during the war.
The operations for swindling have
not proved so superb during the
last few years as they were during
Tweed's time, but if New York had
got the Worlds Fair they might
well have become so, and as it is
some of Tammanys faithful work
ers have risen from the humble
employment Ike that of street
car conductor to the proud position
of Independent millionaires.
The Post furnishes brief but au-
thentic and certainly pithy blogra-
phies of the twenty-eight members
of the executive committee of Tam
many, an organization which at
present CONTROLS the offices and
governs the city of New York.
These twerty-eight men are al
professional politicians and aspir-
ants for political favors. The classi-
fication of them furnished by the
Post is as follows. Some of course
fall into more than one category:
Favored city contractors ,, nominal
lawyers ,, lawyer l, former carpen
ter l, former navy yard caulker l,
former plasterer l, former conduc-
tors 3. former office holders s, office
holders II. members of the Tweed
Gang 6, former ''toughs" 4, former
pugilists 3, sons of liquor dealers ?,
former liquor dealers 3, liquor deal
ers 4, gambling house or adive"
keepers >, professional gamblers 4,
indicted for bribery L, indicted for
felonious assault l, tried for murder
and acquitted l, convicted murderer |
l, professional politicians %.
Almost all come from the lowest
strata of the population, a large
percentage are of foreign birth or
extraction. The vast majority are
totally uneducated, and perhaps not
more than four or five can speak or
write English with any correctness.
Some even who hold important
posts of responsibility and trust are
notorious rutfians. The Deputy
Commissioner of Public Works is
partner In the liquor business with
'Red" Leary, a notorious burglar,
whose wife "Kate" was an expert
pickpocket. Red" Leary, Kate and
Barney" the Deputy, all lived to-
gether in the same house, so that
ieweler with premises adjoining felt
to put additional iron
grating on his windows and doors.
With regard to another, John
Scanned, we cite the following ex-
-raordinary passage:
His prominence in Tammany
Hall politics is due to the friend
ship of Dick " Croker and " Ed "
stokes, which be secured under
peculiar circumstances. The three
men were all confined in the Tombs
It the same time-1974- :
waiting trial for murder. Croker
vas innocent of the crime imputed
o him, but Scanned and Stokes
we're both guilty. The last named S
vas the slayer of "Jim" Fisk, and t
vas at one time under sentence of
Ieath for his crime. The friend
hip contracted under these extra
ordinary circumstances has welded
more or less powerful influence
Tammany Hall ever since.
The Mayor Hugh Grant or !
Hughey' as he is Familiarity
.nown, is the son of LIQUOR
esler, the ward of a pawnbroker,
nd no better than his associates
Tammany. He cannot speak or
rite gramm&tically, yet he repre-
ented New York at the late Wash.
lgton Centennial, and if the great
xpOsition were to be held in that
ity doubtless he, or another of his
tamp would have presided in !