The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-23
TUESDAY, JANUARY %, 1900.
PARTY ORGANIZATION.

AT n meeting in New York the other
might OF religious society,". one oil the
speakers said: There is an organiza-
zion In this city that looks after every
young man it can &c. hold Of and puts
him in a place OF influence. l refer TO
Tannmany Hail.
1t is this sort Of political organization
which is a menace to the republic. We
believe in party organization, and we
know that such organization is necessary
to the success of any political party, but
the political machine which is run Tor
spells only is vicious and dangerous.
Everybody knows that Tammany Hall Is
run, not for the purpose of exploiting
Democratic principles and promoting
good government. but for the purpose
OF getting offices and disburs:ng public
funds The Tanmany Society is a bust
ness organization. and it is conducted
on business principles for business, p'lr-
poses. New York is great city. and
the municipal government carries on eS-
tensive business operations. 1t collects
millions of money each year from the
people in the way of taxes, hand this
money Is paid in carrying on the affairs
OF the city. A large number Of men
are employed in the various departments
of city government and these men are
paid out or the general fund. In addi-
tion to this little army of Office holders
arc thousands of others who work in
directly for the city. For example. a
contract has been let to build an under
ground railway, and the contractor Will
soon have ten thousand men at work.
lNI,.mero,ss other contracts of similar
character are let from time to time. and
in most instances those who have the
political null get the job. When such
a contract is let those who stand IN with
the Tammany organization are employed
by the contractor and so it goes.
Again. Tamnlany Hall expends. accord
ing to the admission of Mr. Croker. at
tributes money directly TO the support
Of these who are in need, and SO 1t comes
to pass that from the highest to the
loves. the Tammany Society dispenses
Its benefits. When it captures a young
lawyer and puts him into a position Of
influence, 1t buys him and owns him,
and that young lawyer must obey the
commands of Boss Croker or he will soon
find himself out of a job. There is no
5 thought OF political principle in all this.
TamInany Hall cares nothing for De-
mocracy except so far as the name may
be employed TO promote its interests.
One day MIR. Croker is opposed to Bryan,
and the next day he comes out in support
of Bryan One day he is for expansion
and the next day he is against 1t: and
all because he Is looking for a popular
leader and popular issue. The man
and the measure that promise success
Will always have Mr.. Cookers support.
The Tammany Society would be Re
publican organization II it suited its pur-
pose. and Mr.. Platts organization would
be Democratic organization for the
same reason.
That is the political machine which
this paper fights, and which It will ever
iightt because that sort of political
organization tends TO corrupt and demor-
alize the people. appealing to their sordid
interests rather than 10 their patriotism
Any political organization whose only OBJ
iect is to control the Offices and dispense
patronage Is an organization that IS
unworthy TO live and one which the peo-
ole cannot afford to sustain.
A speaker in New York said the other
day that the people were living under