The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-27


only natural that these questions
should be asked by many people. in
spired as they are by the spectacle Of
the most powerful municipal o~rganiza-
ton OF the century entrusted with the
solution Of a problem such as has not
been presented in the United States
during the l22 years OF existence.
While ostenslbly Mayor Van wyck
Is a representative Of Tammany in this
matter. II il borne in upon the minds
NJ most people that the real counsellor.
the man who above all others will ac-
tually dictate the policy to be pursued.
is Richard Croker. SO IL was that
when. the other day. | asked Mr.. Crok-
or the questions that begin this article.
| realized that his voice was the voice
OF Tammany Hall.
We all have our Ideals" said Mr..
Croker. But. after all. when they are
formed we w the big problem to
consider of how to attain them. Peo-
pie say Tammany ought to accom-
plish everything. II Tammany had it's
way IL would. II II has its way II will.
Tammany feels that in it's course. its
methods. in the results il achieves. IL
Will furnish an example for democratic
organization all over the country.
Understand me. I do not mean to
say that Tammany sets itself up as an
example, but i say we realize that
democrats everywhere are watching US
to see whether or no We can accom-
plish what they think we ought to.
There never was a better chance to
show the highest form of municipal
government than i'm this Greater New
York. and we shall show 1t. provided
we are unhampered. But as IL stands
this whole great city Is like a Monster
machine that has received all sorts of
additions and alleged improvements,
and has been turned over to an engi-
neer with orders to run II and see how
IL would work.
I'VE don't want any borough presi-
dents. We don't want any double
headed thing like the aldermen and
council. or upper house. Give us a
good board OF aldermen and we would
run the city in n way that would give
the people first-class government. low
taxes and a general administration for
the public good. These so-called re-
formers say that all these things are
checks on us. and that II we were not
watched on every side we would steal
everything there was in sight. Now.
] submit IL to you II an honest man
who is constantly treated like a thief
becomes the more honest because of Il.
There never was such an instrument
created as the charter of Greater New
York. OF course. there are some good
things In II. There Is good In every
thing. But the mass of badness in this
charter Is 80 tremendous that IL over
shadows everything else. We would
like to make Greater New York a mod
81 for the world. We will II we can.
but every time an Improvement Is con-
templated, we run up against some
charter provision.
II tell that the only salvation for
New York Is to be a separate state.
Just so long as we have "a lot OF our
trymen from up the state making laws
for us, amending our charters. and
hedging us in this way and that. good
government is impossible. Any admin
istration can do some one thing that
is good and wave II in the faces of the
people and say. look here. see how
great we are. But when IL comes down
to practical. municipal business meth
DDS. the affairs OF his Greater New
York can never be conducted properly
while we. the citizens. have to do al we
are told by the n element Of the
state Legislature.
rs this business? Is this common
sense? Is this fair treatment for the
people OF a great municipality? Look
at the Legislature at Albany. Only a
few days ago we went up there with a
number OF bills for things that were
absolute necessities for Greater New
York. n what did they do to us?
Turned us down every one. And. mind
you, the request for those bills was
backed by the signatures OF every one
Of the 60 representatives of this city in
the legislature. In the face of that they
turned us down. Can you hoid Tam
many Hall. can you hold any political
organization. responsible for the evils
that result from that kin OF fraternal-
ism? / guess not.
"Tammany's n idea Is to do the
Il hAat IL aa ~ a.aN -. -.
administration will be one of expert
ment. We don't expect to make any
showing at the end OF the first year. /
doubt very much IL we make any fair
showing of what we propose before the
end OF the second year. Every day we
charter. and the worst OF IL IL that all
these Instructions are against the
interests OF this government. II is
Tammany's idea to make a government
Of the people. for the people. and by
the people. and the leaders of Tam
many thoroughly understand that all
men don think alike n that often
they must put aside their own views
for those OF other people.
IF you were in public Office, though,
and you found that I'm your instruc-
lions were two or three things that
would cheat the people that put you in
Office out OF their Just rights and bene-
nus NOa hpulh htl lCNA I'M 11iI III
out those instructions without a re-
monstrance. or without saying what
you thought about them. Thai Is just
the position OF Tammany Hall and the
Greater New York charter, and The
municipal government.
IF Tammany could do as IL desired.
We would have a city government here
that would be "a model for the whole
world. We would give every citizen his
full rights. we would maintain the dec
trine OF personal liberty in the right
spirit and not hedge il around with
a mass OF nonsensical restrictions. Peo-
pie come 10 me all the while and say.
What is the attitude of Tammany
toward the city government 1 don't
understand them at all. I don't see
why they ask such questions. Tam
many only wants what every good
citizen wants-the very best city row.
rnmen possible