The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-05

-. aad these shirty men. one lsadsr rom
each assembly district form the executive
committee Of Tammsny Hall By this
committee eli the internal Affairs oil the
organization are directed, iss candidates
for Offices are selected and the plans Tor
every campaign are matured.
The general committee meets every
month, 500 members constituting
quorum, and In October of each year II
sits ia county convention 10 nominate
candidates for the ensuing election.
There IL also . subcommittee on organi-
ration containing Loo members, which
meets once q month. This committee
taxes charge of the conduct of elections.
Each of the thirty assembly districts Is
divided by law into numerous election
districts or voting precincts, each con-
tanning about 100 voters. Every assembly
district has district COMMITTEES. composed
of the members Of the general CON-
mitfee elected from that district apd
of certain additional members chosen
for the purpose. The district
committee appoints in each Of the election
districts included in that particular assem-
bly, district . captain. This man Is the
local boss He has from ten 20 twenty
five aids. and he is responsible for the vote
OF his election district. There are about
/, 100 election districts in New York, and
consequently there are about LOO cap
tains, or local bosses, each one being re-
sponsible to the assembly district COM
mittee by which he was appointed.
If the Tammany vote in his election
district falls of without due cause. the
captain is forthwith removed and another
appointed in mis- place. TIE captain is
frequently a liquor dealer who has large
clientage Of customers, dependent bum
msrs and parasites whom he controls. He
Is paid for his services: has some money
to distribute and little patronage.
The captain of . district has q personal
acquaintance with all its voters; and on
every man in his district Is going to vote.
He makes his report; and from the
eleven hundred reports Of the election
district captains the Tammany leaders can
predict with accuracy what will be the
vote OF the city.
This statement OF facts sets forth how
thorough and comprehensive is the or
gsnization of Tammany Hall. The gen.
eral committee, 5000 strong. Is perpet-
>ually in service while by means of the
election district captains Tammany keeps
its eye on every individual voter in New
York City.
Tammany knows no race or creed when
IL seeks TO acquire or preserve political
power. Some of its election district cap
tains are Jews. Most of the assembly DIS
trict captains are Irishmen, but there are
almost as many Germans as Irish in the
rank and Gle. Tammany always seeks to
placate or promote men of influence or
capacity as fast as possible.
The social power welded by Tammany
is immense. Every assembly district has
not only its political headquarters but has
a Tammany club house. The average
Tammany voter is justly proud of the fact
that Tammany in lsi2-i4 supported the
war; that in the war of the rebellion it
stood by the government; he admits that
Tweed and his gang were Tammany
leaders but he points out that Tilden and
his associates who overthrow Tweed were
Tammany men, too. and he pretends to be
ready to overthrow his present leaders
and appoint others IL they are proved as
Tweed was to have acquired iil-gotten
gains.
The average Tammany man probably
honestly believes that on the whole Tam
many gives New York good government,
and is patriotic political body.
Henry G. Merwin, keen, accute OBJ
server. a merciless critic and enemy of
Tammany Hall. confesses that the tone
of Delmonico's, Of the Union Club, of the
Merchants Exchange, of the Stockhold-
era Board. IS no higher than the tone of
Tammany Hall. at may be moro refined
but IL is probably less honest" Mr.. Mer-
win points out that the rich upper class of
New YORK is given over to material luxury
and ostentation; it is without high aims,
without sympathy. without civic pride or
feeling. and has a very crude sense of
honor. This rich class Is given over TO
the selfish spending. while the business
class is devoted to the remorselcss getting
of money.
MIR Merwin recites this situation as ex-
planning the loyalty of Tammany man to
Tammany: ''there is very little In New
York TO suggest any higher ideal" Tam
many Hall looks after labor and caters to
Its soclsl wants The leader of the assem-
bly, districts gives his consti tuents q vast
free picnic, chartering a steamer and
barges. providing brass band and per-
haps free lager beer. Tammany thus
stands no, only for politics but for society,
and amusement and fellowship.
The enemies Of Tammany confess that
the city is specifically at least well gov
erned. IL is orderly; the criminal elias.
Is we'll kept under: the fire Departments 10
excellent, the police are efficient: school
teachers are appointed regardless of poll
tics. and the cost of the city government
is not excessive. The tar rate Is SIS per
loo and the valuation 10 low, 10 or so per
cent No frauds are committed upon the
taxpayers outright ~ in the days Of
| Tweed.
Tammany raises immense sums, bat
| raises them by contribution and blackmagl.
not by theft. Mr.. Merwin concludes
nevertheless that government by Tam
I many Hall Is not q government OF the
/ people, by the people or for the peopls. but
is q frightfui despotlsm that is growing
worse every year. The police justices are