The herald., 1894-02-17
A POWER IN TAMMANY HALL.
Judge Patrick Diver Of New
York Talks of Politics.
CranlIs Are Not Successful in Politi-
cal Life or Work.
The Motto of tho suocsssful Politician
Must Be to Make Few Promises
and Keep Them AIi--Poli-
tics in the Metropolis.

The San Francisco Examiner contains
the following about a distinguished
gentleman now in this city:
There is now in San Francisco gen.
tleman from New York city who is, per-
haps, as familiar with the workings OF
that great political organization known
as Tammany Hall as it is possible for
one man to be, and who. moreover, may
lay just claim to that 30 often misused
expression, "a self-msde man." He is
Patrick Diver. police justice, politician
and leader OF the Second assembly dis
trict of New York.
Judge Diver is here to, visit his
brother, see the wonders Of the mid
winter fair and enjoy the fret real vaca-
ton he has allowed himself since he
began his political life, almost a quar-
ter OF century ago. His success ss
politician and his popularity with all
men with whom he comes in contact,
irrespective of party, have made him
striking figure in active life OF the
metropolis; and when it is considered
that he has risen to his present position
OF power from that of q humble news-
boy. this success seems all the more
remarkable. His own words, when ap.
piled to himself, may in a measure ex-
plain his success as politician.
Take care of your friends, of course,
il you can," he says, "but don't make
any promises unless you are sure you
can deliver the goods. And when you
have promised. deliver If it breaks
you"
BEGAN AS A NEwsBoY.
Judge Diver began life as newsboy,
an occupation which he relinq1ished to
become "fy" boy in a print-shop. At
the age OF Is he served an apprentice
chip as tanner and worked steadily at
the trade until 1871. As early as 1852
he was a member of the Tammany hall
central committee. In 1871 he received
his first political job as keeper in the
city prison. From this he has risen
steadily until now he is president OF the
Patrick Diver association, one OF the
strongest adjuncts of Tammany hall in
the city Of New York. The club was
formed in 1886 and now controls 10, 900
votes in the Second assembly district.
"If you want to be successful politi-
cian," he continued, you must watch
every body, and above all watch your
self. II you do not keep close watch
on yourself you will become crank,
and crank never can be successful.
You'll make up your mind that you are
big and the community is little, when
all the time 1t ia just the other way. II
man is not dressed we'll, or you do not
like him personally, you must not
brush him to one side. because II you
don't need him just now you will need
him later on, and then you will be sorry.
You may think nobody notices the
action, but there you are again mis-
taken. II you have brushed man to
one side, you will find that the whole
neighboIhood knows it and resents it as
a sort of personal affront
''rhen you must watch your friends as
closely as you watch yourself. There are
plenty OF cranks and thin-skinned men
in the world, and you must watch them.
If one OF your acquaintance acts little
offish, hurry up and find out what is the
matter. The chances are If you send a
friend to him he will say:
There's nothing the matter with
me. He's the one in fault. He will
shake hands with you one day and the
next he will not notice you when no
meets you in the street.
MUST SQUARE YOURSELF.
NOW when you hear such talk az that
you must square yourself. Maybe you
were worried about something the day
before, and passed this man without
being aware of his presence. If you are
sensible you will 60 to him yourself and
straighten everything out, for by and
by there will be fight in your district,
and you'll need him.
ga successful politician must be
healthy. That means, among other
things, that he mustn't be dissipsted. A
cool head and an even temper are poll
tician's stock in trade. and they don't
go with hard drinking. None of the
successful politicians are what you and
l would call dissipated. but the country
is full OF mon who started out all right,
but allowed whisky to get away with
them"
Judge Diver is of medium height,
his eyes are blue, his face and figure are
both we'll rounded and his mouth is
shaded by heavy brown mustache.
When talking he looks straight at you,
as if he desired to specially impress the
point he is making st other times he
regards contemplatively what would be
the horizon were he out on the plains.
For the past year he has been sitting In
the court OF special sessions in the
Tombs. He has lately been assigned to
the Fifty seventh street police court. his
position there being filed by an associate
during his visit to this coast. He ia
considered bad judge for man who
has had trouble with his wife to come
before. He is also very severe on those
accused OF selling liquor to women and
minors.