The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-03-21
TURNED D0NEGAN OUT.
Tammany's Famous Wiskinkie Finally
Removed from Office.

From the New York Evening sun.
There is published to-day in the CITY
Record an announcement that will set
many old-time Tammany men guessing
when their turn to go is coming. Daniel
VI. DOnegan has been discharged from
the office Of Assistant Inspector OF Gas
Meters in the Department OF Public Build
ings, Lighting and Supplies The removal
Of Donesan was d shock 10 many old
time Tammany men who are holding Of
flee under the present administration.
They accept it as a warning THAI they
must keep the favor Of Croker or lose
their places.
poncgan mas held Office in this city for
more than twenty-five years, and for
twenty years o. thar time he was one of
the best known men in Tammany Hall
he was the Wiskinkie, or collector, Of
Tammany, the man who called on office
holders 10 collect or 10 per cent of their
salaries that they were expected 10 con-
tribute 10 the organization. He was also
the man in advance of the snow when
the braves went 10 state or national con-
Ventions. DOnegan made arrangements
Tor rooms. looked after the baggage OF
the big leaders, gathered in strasslcrs.
posted tram schedules, distributed tickets
OF admission and made himself useful il
u thousand ways.
As a collector Of campaign contributions
D"nesan Was famous ana successful. de
h1d method that was al MS own. When
an UflCe-nOICer was behind In MS nav
mrutS 10 the organization DOueEan would
cali on him. The MIskinkie would enter
the loom With his coat buJtOncc and his
. coat collar turned Up. BURT Cold dawn
he would say, as he gave "a good imIta-
ton Oi = sh,ycr II the place-hOidur did
not pay up III once, DUuegan would
sh!Vtr again ard say. Cod day-aHd it.
going 10 be- cO.ueri'
inns second warning was usually eff
/ feVtiFe, and when the assessment WIS
Z PAID, Doneg&u would az once thaw Ol.r
ana insist that The weather was very
I il.--
/ During his years Of service as Wiskin-
I kie, DULegan collected millions of dollars
I for Bdmmauy which he turned over la
Richard croker. he was never SUSPECTED
OF holding OCT even = dollar. and he cuuli
/ not be induced 10 tell the amount OF his
/ collections nor how much any one mar
paid. For a long line Eonegan acted ~
/ "a budyglJrd ler croker and carried many
/ important messages :Or the leader Dur
I ing all the JlIHr that he acted as collect u
Tor Iamman! ar ne.d some minor office
/ and drew o salary from the city. Bone
E gan d lCylal and gDOd-uaTlr-l FFe saws
j Ec has q speaking acquaintance with more
( people Than any other man IN the United
: taxes. ana lHv t'AliA - probably true,
/ and Ei- Ions experience in politics mas
made him something % a PHILOSOPHER
D0nesAn IL a great aGmlrer OF former
Mayor GtToy he was clerk in one oi
( the county courts some twenty five wears
uS0. when Gilfoy VAS APPOINTED 10 ]
/ C.cTksBip in she Sam- court OF rneiI
. Srst dag Ia the oelrc together Doneea
once said: "Gliroy had very little 10 sav
Z but before the end o. the day knew mai
; DE Was the master and I the man. ~
some day he would 20 ~ higher while
] would remain = clerk. When We u.rrei
said Good luck 10 y9u. Tom I bon- n
see you Mayor one day And / dIdf'