The Helena independent., 1894-11-12
THE TAMMANY TIGER
A New York Correspondent Who
Thinks Sir Bsngal's Claws
Are Clipped.
Gossip OF the Contest for tho Boss
ship Made Vacant by
Croker
Liquor Dealers Said to Have Deserted tho
OFKAnlEatloH-Life without Patron-
aEo IL Hard.

Now York, Nov. 1l.--A special cor
respondent OF the Chicago Inter Ocean
recently sent that paper the following
story, from a republican standpoint:
Everything IN the Tammany wlgwam
is In a chaotic state and 1t will be
montha before anything definite can be
done looking TO the restoration of the
badly whipped tiger. Now that the
first shock OF defeat has passed away
the democratic politicians of this city
are beginning 10 talk about schemes OF
reorganization. Prominent among these
new plans perhaps that OF Senator Hill
Is Of the greatest moment. The de-
feated Tammany gubernatorial candl-
date is said to be preparing a plan In
which he proposes that all the elements
come together, and the leaders OF each
faction have an equal voice with all
the other leaders in shaping the policy
OF the united organization. In other
words. Hlll would like to see the new
boss OF Tammany sitting in council
with Ex-Sherlnr o'Brlen, Judge steckler.
and William II. Grace. Here would be
big four which Hill believes could
keep this city safely democratic. The
great trouble with such scheme would
be the utter inability OF the rival lead
ers TO agree. A red rag waved in front
OF a bull has n mild effect compared
with the towering passion stirred up
I'm the breasts OF o'Brien and Steckler
hAF
toned. II New York Is to have n big
four the name Tammany must be
dropped.
The question OF the leadership of
Tammany Hall must be settled before
any definite plan OF reorganization can
be decided upon. Ever since Croker re-
signed there has been trouble over the
succession. Gilroy thirsted for power.
but he did not care to be considered the
dictator OF Tammany until after his
term as mayor had expired. But I'm a
quiet sort OF way the mayor went about
fixing up slate for the election. His
Idea was that Tammany should nomi-
nate man acceptable TO the anti-Tam-
| many elements in the party. With
such a man he believed that the dem
ocrats would win. -
In the midst OF his scheming the
| discovery was made that Grant had
pledged a majority or the district lead
ers to Nathan Straus. 1t was known
that Grant hankered after the joys OF
! Tammany dictatorship, but 1t was not
thought that he would show his hand
| so soon.
When Gllroy found that he had been
| circumvented by Grant he retired with
as good grace as he could command.
| Straus declined the nomination and
Grant was Obliged to step into the
breach. His defeat, II may easily be
imagined. has not caused the mayor u
great deal OF heart-burning.
The followers OF Gilroy believe that
Grants overwhelming defeat has killed
him off as a possible leader of Tammany
Hail. But Grant does not look at the
matter in that light. As is the case
with Hill, Grant wishes to pose as a
martyr. and thus early his friends are
booming him as Croker's successor.
How the dispute will be settled no
one knows, but there are those in the
organization who say that both Gil
roy and Grant have been rebuked by
the people and that in the reorganiza-
ton of Tammany Hall II will be neces-
sary TO pick up new men all through
the ORGANIZATIONS ramifications. What
ever Is decided upon, II Is certain that
many OF the men who have been prom
inent in the wlgwam for years win be
driven into retirement
designations from the general COM
mlttee OF the various districts Will be
handed In by the score In n few weeks.
The liquor dealers have practically de-
cided to cut loose from ,Tammany.
Many OF them have openly avowed
their determination TO join the repub-
| lican party. They argue that as the
city II bound TO have new charter
this winter they wish TO have some
thing To say about II. And all they
want Is the assurance that they will
be protected In the lawful conduct of
their business. They say they Will
gladly obey the laws IL no favuritism
Ia shown. They insist, however, that
they be protected from blackmail.
Among veteran politicians the defec-
tion of Ithe retail liquor dealers is
viewed as indicating the hopelessness
OF any attempt to revive TammanN.
They have been the mninstay OF the
organization. With their ranks di-
yidcd the bedraggled tiger will be
worse off than ever.
There ls another feature OF the pres
ent situation that is much discussed.
While the bulk OF the city patronage
will remain Ia the hands Of TammRny
men, unless a general removal bill Is
passed. some of the leaders fenr that
a few OF the men i'm office viii desert
the organization I'm the hope of retain
ing their plnces, Developments In that
direction will be watched with Interest
during the next two or three months
No one knows better than Tammany
leader how hard II Is 10 build up oI
rebuild an organization without pat
ronaFc II a power OF removal bin u
passed many Tnmmnny men In minor
plnccs are protected by the civil ser
Vice. hut they may be very wary of
taking an active part I'm partisan oI
factional politics during the next thre,
years.
In the days of Tnmmany success ai
the polls, n leader whose district failed
10 come up To- expectations on election
day was called on 10 explain. II he wal
unable To give good reason for fail.
ure 10 carry his district. the chances
were that he would be retired from the
leadership. TO retire leaders this yeai
for failure 60 save their districts would
mean almost clean sweep, hut n mum.
bcr will have To- 20 and few will
probably retire OF their own choice.
Nutic, to Keep or
Minneapolis. Nov. IA special tc