Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-23
is CENT PER WEEK.
' w. pAnKsDALn. PROPRIETOR.
Tammany Hall.

The principal mover In the orgahiHa-
ton was one William Mooney, an
upholsterer, of New York City. The
object of the association then was OF
a benevolent character, and did not
smack of anything political. In 1910
4 charter was granted to the assocla-
ton by the legislature of the Stale,
and it was regarded as benevolent
order. It was named in honor OF a
noted Delaware Indian chief, and the
official construction of the organiza-
ton was after the Indian fashion. 1t
had its grand sachems, its braves and
its warriors. They would have what
is called now an outing once year,
and all would attend who belonged
to the order. 1t was nothing more
than social picnic, and after dinner
some one would speak just to enter
tain the gathering and to extol the
virtues of st. Tammany. The order
grew and fiourished financially, I'M
til 1t was a power in the Empire
State. 1t did not take hand in poll
tics until the days of Aaron Burr. 1t
sided with Burr against Hamilton,
and took an active part in the Burr
Hamilton duel. 1t has been said that
ID was instrumental in destroying
two men at one stroke, but in dlf-
ferent way. Hamilton was killed ana
Burr was ruined by committing the
deed. The organization since that
time has been an important, nay,
powerful factor in politics OF not
only New York, but OF the nation. 1t
antagonized Hamilton, Clinton and
Cleveland, three men who had pretty
much the same ideas of government.
Tweed did more, perhaps, than
any man in putting Tammany
on its present strong footing.
He labored until he had the
organization just like he wanted
it and then worked the organization
for all there was in it to his own ben.
eft. Tweed was robber, but he was
n genius and knew a good thing
when he saw il. The organization
was worked down to such fine point
that one man virtually held the votes
of the society in his hand. The vot-
ing strength of Tammany now is
said to be one hundred and twenty
thousand. Richard Croker holds
that number of votes in his hand to-
day and can throw them where he
pleases. New York is the pivotal
State. That the society Yields a
powerful influence iE politics can
not be disputed. BY reverting to
history it may be readily seen what
change it can throw over the result
of an election. In 1879 Lucius Rob
inson was nominated by the Demo
Gratis for governor. Tammany did
not like him. They went ahead and
bolted the action of the convention
and ran John Kelly, thereby defeat
ing Robinson. Tammany oppose
Hancock for the Presidency and h'
was defeated. The same men an
tagonized Cleveland in his first race
for the Presidency and came near de
feating him then. They are charged
Ivy some as being responsible TO
Cleveand's defeat al the hands o
Harrison in his second race. AT an!
rate III. J. Grant, Tammany's candi
date for mayor, was elected aE'
Cleveland was defeated. This mad
many good Democrats believe tina
Cleveland had been knitted and tina
Tammany did it. The common eX
preston that 'Tammany will no
have the audacity TO try the sam
scheme again is too silly to b
cOuntenanced. Tammany vii
knife any man that antagC
nizes her and the sooner this
understood the better There is Ii
doubt that Richard Croker, the pre-,
ent grand sachem of this society
holds the election or defeat of tn
Democratic nominee in his hands
AS stated at the outset Tammany ha
about 10000 votes TO place some
where. Some fat Offices must b
forthcoming to get these votes. Tn
New York custom house i wha
Tammany wants and that is wha
she will get or defeat somebody
You ask how can one man hold sue
power? LIS this way: The execr
tive committee of the society is con
posed of one member from each {
the voting districts in the city. TIL
grand sachem issues his orders To tn
committee and each man must brin
NJ his end of the line. Should an
man kick over the traces off goes h
head and a good one is promptly pr
in his place. AS rule the membe
of the society are from the lowe
classes and it is a very easy matte
TO lead them to the ballot boxes an
make them vote straight. FOreigt
ers who come into the great city he,
urallysw some one to take charg
of them and show them how
make good Americans. Tamman
b,ljs ont hpr hands IN Such and IN,