The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-18

n never was. A little ulSreSSlOu
from the purpose of this article. just at
the outset, will be useful in getting
straight the popular conception OF THIS
far-famed organization.
The Society of Tammany, or Column
bian Order, was formed in 1883,
was the result of a popular movement
in New York which sought to counter
act the so-called aristocratic Society
of the Cincinnati. 1t was antl-federal-
list in it's character. Its founder was
William Mooney, an upholsterer, OF IT.
ish descent, out born in America. The
society took Its name from a noted
chief of the Delaware tribe of Indians,
who had been canonized by the SOL
diers of the revolution as the American
patron saint. The first meeting of the
society was held on May IL, 1889, and
1t was incorporated in 1906. The So
ciety is now, as it always has been, a
charitable and social organization. 1t
is governed by a grand sachem, who is
assisted by thirteen sachems, suggest
ed by the thirteen original states of
the union.
The general committee, which con-
stitutes the political organization of the
Tammany society, is permitted to oc-
cupy the latter's rooms in it's building
on Fourteenth street, but is really in no
other way associated with it. 1T is in
this general committee that all the
political evils, real and imaginary, of
the recent past, but already historic,
have been Matched and nurtured. 1t
is in this committee that the Purroy-
Sheehan feud has at last reached a
crisis and promises to wreck that once
all-powerful political body.
Henry D. Purroy is county clerk. He
is ambitious to reach the position in
the general committee once occupied
by the great Croker-all powerful he
was therefor it is only by the aid OF
the authority and influence of such a
position that he can hope for anything
in the future politically. John G.. Shee-
han occupies this coveted position now
AS the organization has not been a.
all successful since Sheehan was placed
at, the head, Purroy has conceived the
idea that it would not be difficult tc
overthrow him and step into his shoes
So he has been intriguing and working
for a long time to this end. Open war.
fare was declared the other day wher
Purroy and his followers rejected the
plans of the executive committee fol
the primaries in the Thirty-fourth ant
T%hirty-fifth assembly districts.
The hostility between Purroy ant
Sheehan has been growing for a veal
and a half. 1t began to take tangible
form soon after the Chicago conven
ton. Purroy went to the convention
as a Sound money" man, but hi
switched over to the silver men ant
was one of the ardent supporters o
Bryan after the convention. When h.
returned from Chicago he did not wal
for Tammany to declare itself, but triet
to take the local compaign out of tn,
hands of Sheehan by organizing tn,
Bryan and Sewall Central association
He sent broadcast marked copies of pa
pers containing copies of his speeches
especially to Bryan. He confidently ex
pected that Bryan would be elected
and he wanted to make sure that tn
control of patronage in this ~vicinit.
would be placed in his hands.
Failing in this direction, Purroy a
his followers took steps which led up t.
the formal withdrawal from Tammany
They claimed that Sheehan invaded
the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-ifth dis
tricts with schemes to destroy tn,
principle of home rule. These dis
tricts are loyal to Purroy and are con
trolled by him. Sheehan, Purroy says
caused the defeat of the regular demo
cratic nominees for the assembly il
these districts and fomented opposi