The sun., 1895-05-28
Defections from Tammany.


ture at Albany, there have been noted defec.
tions from the Tammany Hall organization
in several districts Some Tammany dis.
trict leaders, judicious and experienced men,
have accepted, in friendly part, these losses
as inevitable under the existing conditions
Of city politics; others less judicious and
less experienced have updertnken to mis-
lead their followers by denying that there
have been any defections from Temmany,
though manifestly such defectons have
been numerous. They show, in this, few of
the qualifications of leaders. md thus they
establish an opportune reason for their
retirement to the ranks. under the new
apportionment to be made in June.
With the loss of it's patronage, and the
Impairment, in consequence, of its power o
reward its followers and to requite the eff
forts or labors Of its friends, any political
organization, Democratic or Republican,
necessarily suffers from detection. Camp
followers are attracted to the generous
larder; they flock to the ranks Of the victors
in the advance, not to the vanquished in the
line Of retreat. There is nothing strange in
this. While the recent Legislature was in
session the factional divergences between
Republicans gave promise of ut least some
| mitigation Of the severe terms imposed by
the Republicans at Albany upon the Demo
Gratis of New York as part penalty for their
defeat in November This hope proved to
be unfounded, and the Democrats of New
York city, still steadfastly loyal to the
ancient standard of Tammany, have since
then taken matter-of-fact view of the local
situation. What they find is this:
fThara iS a
in office until Jan. 1, 1898 Before July l,
he has the power under the law to remove
summarly and arbitrarily every Tammany
Democrat still at the head of public de-
partment in this town. After July 1, the
men selected by Mayor STRONG for the
vacancies he has created hold office for three.
four, and six years, as the case may be.
After July l, the Mayor. except for cause,
and after trial, has no further power of re-
moval OF the executive heads of depart
ments. Should Mr.. STRONG resign, or run
for Vice-President or die or infract any
of the provisions of the Penal Code.
or take a place in MCKINLEY's cabinet.
the Mayors successor will have no power of
removal The law only gives that right to
Mayor elected by the people, The new
Commissioners and Judges whom the Mayor
will appoint prior to July will be in Office
during the rest of his term. There is a Re-
publican Governor, LEVI PARSONS MORTON,
and Republican Lieutenant Governor
CHARLES u. SAXTON. The local munjciDol
administration cannot be overturned except !
by the act of the next Legislature, and it
must have twO-thirds Democratic major |
ity in both branches to override the opposi-
tion ofthe Governor, straightout and un-
deviating Republican partisan born in the |
rock-bound State of Vermont.
The next Legislature is to be chosen under
new apportionment devised by the Repub- |
llcans to keep them in power in Albany for |
twenty years. The promise of two-thrds !
Democratic majority in both branches at
the first election under it, and with the |
CLEVELAND Administration in Office in
Washington at the same time, is quite
too chimerical
Under these conditions. rs established by
the Republicans, and with Republican
Board OF Aldermen in Office for three years
in the City Hall, local statesmen desirous of
serving the city and appearing upon its
weekly or monthly pay rolls, statesmen not
imbued with higher instinct of patriotism
or a nobler impulse of civic pride, are iusti
fled in despairing, for a year or two at least,
OF the power of Tammany to comply with
their expectations. What more natural
than that such individuals should, in CON
siderable numbers, forsake the Wigwam, AS
their prototypes did in other days to follow
WOOD or THOMPSON?
That is what some of them are doing. and
VIII probably continue to do until the CON
ditlons change. The most serious defec-
tlons from Tammany, thus far, have hyenin
the Thirteenth Assembly district
1t may be that the absence in Eurapc Mt
the present time of the three representative
leaders of Tanmauy, RICHARD CROKER.
HUGH j. GRANT, and County Clerk prE-
ROY, is having an uufavorable effect upon
the Tammany organization in some dis
tricts, but the presence here of all three
would not materially alter the situatio ms
Messrs. CROKER, GRANT, and I'U.noY
clearly understand.
While the prospects OF those within the
political fellowship of Tammany, vino are
looking for jobs or appointments. are not
Very bright at present, the position OF those
Democrats who adhere to 1ummany be-
cause of their belief in the principles of
Democracy, of which it is ut all times the
courageous and consistent champion, is
sound. The blunders and errors Of the re-
ormers in Office have strengthened Tam
many, while, at the same time, disproving
many OF the eXtrayagant and hysterical
'ttacks levelled against it by its ad-
'erS"mes year ago Popular disap-
with the present ad,nnistra-
ion is general, and there is every pres
mt indication that at the November
ontest for County Clerk ana Register, both T,
lices now held by Tammany Hall Demo s