The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-01

Il go Record learns that Rich
ard Croker's recent exhibi-
tion of zeal as a purifier of New
YOrks morals was not wholly unset
fish, The Records information is that
Croker is planning, by means of the
anti-vice movement. to pay off some
scores of failure and omission run up
on election day by former benefciaries
of Tammany interest and protection.
He had contracted to turn New York
to Bryan in exchange for federal pa
tronage. To carry out this contract
he needed 100000 Democratic plurality
below the Harlem. He got 10000. The
men who failed to do what he expected
them to do are now marked for disci-
pinc.
The Tamnlany organization consists
of Is district leaders, one for each as
sembly district, and 1913 precinct cap
tains. one for each voting precinct.
These, meeting together as a general
committee, and looking to one head,
now Richard Croker. constitute Tam
many. In each election precinct, in
workers, or over $4,000 in all, who are
assigned to look after certain num-
ber of voters and held respOsiblc; and
back of the workers are the precinct
clubs, ranging in membership from so
to 500 voters each, all enrolled men,
hers of Tammany Hail. and every man
personally subject to Croker's orders
day or night. The name of every
householder and every voter on Man
haitian island is known to the pre-
cinct captains and the latter are sup
posed to know just what strings to
pull in order to raise or lower a ma
jority to order. The precinct captain,
to use the graphic language Of Mr..
William Il. Curtis
| For value received gives the benefit of his infiu.
| ence and protection. lie is the friend, adviser
| and confident of every family in the precinct.
| II boy is arrested for breaking a window; il
the father the son falls into the hands of the
police; if there is trouble about anything the
| family Immediately appeals to the Tammany cap.
| tain for advice. The latter finds somebody to
| furnish bail, hunts up witnesses, effects com.
promise with the complainant or sees the judge,
who is usually loyal Tlmmany man, and the
| bond of membership is strong Masonry.
If anybody is sick tie distSict captain sees that
he is we'll placed in the hospital. If member
OF the family is sent to the house of correction
on Blackwells Island he gets visitors passes and
| finally pardon If one Of the daughters has
| been educated at the Normal academy he finds
her place as teacher in the public schools. He
gets work for the widows Of Tammany politicians
| and finds employment for the children. He is in
| close communication with every contractor and
| finds jobs with them for the unemployed. He dis.
| tributes the charity fund, for Tammany spends
| a large amount for the relief of the poor every
| winter. He keeps good terms with tina
| clergy; he attends weddings and funerals; he
gives ball in the winter and an excursion in the
| summer with beer and sandwiches and brass
| band, and thus keeps his hands upon every family
| in his precinct, and they reward him on election
day by voting as he instrncts thrm..
1t was by means Of a canvass taken
by this perfect machine the Friday
prior to election that Croker learned
his jig was up. This advance poll
came within $500 votes of being abso-
lutely correct out of total of 100000
Croker also learned Just where the
treachery was and who had committed
it. His method of revenge Is certainly
unique. He visits his displeasure upon
the assembly district leader in whose
bailiwick the detection was located
This district leader is the human res
ervoir into whose pockets flow the va
rious trickling streams of systematized
blackmail that are relied upon to sup
ply the wherewithal for practical poll
tics. To put the screws q. revenge on
n SllSpected lieutenant II 1, univ nec-
essary for Croker to threaten an in
vestlgation. The threat is usually
| enough.