The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-02
SHEEHAN SAYS HE'S LOYAL.
HE ANSWERS "DoUBT AND DIsTRUST"
AFFIDAVIT MADE BIZ MMIHON.

| AFFIDAVIT MADE BIZ HhIHOR.
Says He Didn't sulk or skulh when Tam
| many waa Down and Intimates That It
| Was tho Other Fellows who Ran Under
| Fire-Always Faithful to tho WiEwam.
John C. sheohan filed yesterday In the Su-
preme Court his answer to the charges OF dis
| loyalty to the Tammany organization which
were made by Daniel F. Mcmahon In his am
| davit in opposition to Mr.. Sheehan's applica-
ton for an order to compel the nomination Of
| sheehan candidates for election officers In the
Ninth Assembly district. Mr. Mcmahon. as
Chairman Of the Tammany Executive Com
mittee. filed the list handed In by Councilman
Goodwin. Mr.. Sheehan's opponent for leader
ship in the Ninth. alleging in court after
ward that there was in his mind feeling
OF doubt and dlstrust in respect to Mr..
Sheehan's political loyalty and fidelity. and
gave this as the reason for turning down Mr.
Sheehan's nominees. Mr.. Sheehan swears
that he. as a lifelong Democrat and a faith
full, loyal member OF Tammany Hall. and as an
of1icer OF the Democratic party organization.
ia now lawfully resisting the arrogance and
the assumption" OF Mcmahon and his nsso-
ciates.
Mr.. Sheehan sets forth that his loyalty to the
Democratic party and his fidelity to Tammany
Hall are matters OF public knowledge. and that
he desires formally to reiterate and to de-
clare anew his belief In the principles OF the
Democratic party and his devotion to Tam
many Hall. and to pledge himself ever to loyal
and faithful service In their behalf and for
their best interests" Mr.. Sheehan continues
that he has been identified with Tam
many for thirteen years. that for ton
years he has been a member OF its
Executive Committee. and that for the years
1895 1896 and 1897 ne was the general
II h.
prior to the time when he became officially
connected with the Ninth district organization.
the district was strongly Republican. and that
during all the time of his leadership the dis
trict has given a majority for the Democratic
ticket. and in every instance but one It has
elected the Democratic candidate for Assem-
bly,. Then Mr.. Sheehan continues:
I'm 1894. persistent attack having been
made upon the Democratic party in the county
Of Now York. and especially upon Tammany
nected with tho administration OF municipal
affairs; popular. prejudices were aroused to the
g Hail. Of A sG Of the e$
LeXow investigation. tho popular mind was
Influenced against Tammany, and the Demo-
GF GTR Rsry Re GE nnd GGanS q d sSw
trously defeated, Dismay pervaded Tammany.
prosperity disappeared in that period OF adver-
slty. Many who arc ever constant lost hope
and despared of seeing regeneration Of the
years. TWAS confidently asserted by the sup
porters OF the Strong administrative. and it
many another campaign would have to DO
waged before Tammany, could again elect her
candidates And yet, despite all that hope
lessness and those adverse conditions Tam
many many Hall rallied from the shoek and went
he foe OF the IN b shm over
generally unexpected Tammany victory story OF Of
W. ma To an tha "a
leader Of the Tammany Hall organization dur
ing all OF that year; but he asks any. who now
upon his party loyalty, and his organization
ndellty; to remember that after that election
dark. he did not suIk or Skull but ' Sopeiuy
willingly. loyalty accented the sheartened
organizations leadership and earnestly un-
ddertook the responsibility OF encouraging the
despondent. OF interesting the Indifferent. of
advising and acting with the .steadfast and Of
arousing and rayng all true Tammapy Demo
depHfeGt th disay9ws atrisGtng to himself the
had been deasd O, th e 'n 6s
first year Of his general leadership. he rroba-
Ply would L, have been accused Of incompetence.
s sraGit % nj :" His2yay that i no
to success. credit for loyalty at least may he
granted 70 him. who when Tammany's Tor
tunes tune! ebp. does not run away. but stays to
" In 1896 in the Presidential campaign. de-
ponent c9ptinued as leader at large OF Tam;
many Hal, and as such he AYERS that he labored
most loyalty: The fact that New York county
gs; gave the od Democratic Presidential electoral
mated by some Democrats or conceded by the
Republicans IL some proof OF the fact that de-
In 1897 came the campaign to 't determIne
whether Tammany should have the honor OF
inamguratinG the government Of Greater New
York. The political elements that had defeated
Tammany IN 1894 sought most vigorously
again again to defeat ths Democratic party, Our
could prevent Iammany from winning The first
Greater New York election they could prob
1t was critical situation for Tammany Dcmoc-
raGy: Degonent was stu the recognized leader
at large Of the organization. He toresaw. with
spirited He endeavored in every way to do
his duty as general mnnaRerof the Democratic
day: determined that, il. it were possible, The
a triumph for Tammany Hall. And it was a
Tamnany triumph. Deponent will not re-
leadership we're adopted to win that Victory rvs
for he makes no claim except the claim that he
hs Gny his bdnt bit he ask tnnt the fact Of
campaign Of isa7 and the fact y Of ans
success su that year shall be weighed together as
ssyI9efa %SSG'2 Hail. f. the Democratic party
the leadership Of the Ninth district in 1893 he
worked Icy Loyalty for the organization. and that
the ulsIrlct gave a much larger majority for
Augustus Van Wick for Governor than II gave
n 1897 for Mayor, or had ever given for a
Democratic candidate for Governor. Mr.
Sheehan alleges that had proportionate Demo
cratic gains been made in other districts New
York would now have n Democratic Governor
=, The affidavit ends with the declaration that
Mr. Sheehans purposes generally and in this
proceeding are solely to resist the attempts
OF a few persons to invade the Ninth Assembly
District Democratic organization for selfish
ends and In manner neither lawful nor cal
cuated to subServe the best interests OF the
Democratic party or Of Tammany Hall"