The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-16
THE TaMMaNY PRIMARIES.
Observations on the Value OF Patronage In
fractional Contests,

There we're $50, 900 registered voters in New
York county in the Presidential election OF
1895, the largest registration before or since.
At the primary election Of the two political
parties In New York county on Aug. 2s last
a., 600 votes were cast. exactly one in five Of
the total number eligible to participate in a
primary contest. In other words. out Of every
five qualified voters four took no part In the
primaries and one did. the political division Of
the actual participants being Republican, 22.OOO
and Democratic. 1900. The number Of votes
cast NJ the Republican primaries would no
doubt have been larger but for the fact that
in thirty Of the thirty-fve Assembly districts
there were no contests. and no special reasons.
therefore. for a large attendance OF Repub-
lican electors at the polls. On the Tammany
side there were contests in -four districts. two
Of them very animated, and as q result Of these
contests a disproportionately large vote was
called forth.
So soon "a the corrected returns Of the Tam
many primaries made their appearance poll
ticians In various parts Of town began figuring
upon the probable effect Of the primaries on the
Tammany Hall organization in respect TO the
fight Of this year In the Ninth district the
contest between ex-Police. Commissioner Shee-
han and Councilman Goodwin was 50 close a
plurality for Goodwin Of 98. votes In a total Of
5000 that the contest has been regarded as n
virtual draw and certain to be renewed next
year. There have been three primary contests
In this district. in September. 1890. March,
1900. and August, 1900. In the frat. The Sheehan
faction won by a small majority. Of 30 in a vote
of 2 500. The next contest was decided In favor
Of the Goodwin party by about the same ma
iority, and the recognition Of Mr.. Goodwin
a. leader. which this pr,marv carried in Tam
many Hall. secured to the Goodwin party nm
amount Of patronage which II was freely pre-
diCted would deprive the Sheehan men Of many
Of their followers by undermining their sources
Of political strength. The returns Of the recent
urinary election show, politicians think, that
the support Of the central organization Of Tam
many in matters Of patronage j. not OF much
acC" unit in he Smith 1istr" ct, and that the Shen-
han men will keen on fighting until the Goodwin
they quit.
seventh Assembly district ~neiehboring, II
not neighborly, one on the West Side, will not,
politicians think, make . UGH serious difference;
Fast River ridge Commissioner BOYLE and
former Alderman Keahon we're political and
personal associates for a number of years and
their present severance Of friendly relations IS
not the first which has occurred between them
Unlike Mr., Sheahan. defeated in the August
primaries. Mr.. BOYLE retains n place which loss
Of district Leadership does not lmperil, and
unlike MIR. Goodwin. the victor Of the recent
primary IN the Ninth, Mr.. Keahon. who WAS
successful IN the Seventh, holds no onice.
IN the Third district where there was a lively
fight last year, there was none this year and IN
the Thirteenth the opponents of the leadership
Of Mr.. Douling did not rally strength enough
70 be formidable. In the Thirty-frSt district,
netwe'u the HOpper and W"lde factions. Mr..
Hopper had an easy victory this year. and in
The BrnnN There were no serious contests III
either the Thirty-fourth or the Thir,y-fiith
district.
The practical effect, in. a political way. Of
the recent Tammany Hall primaries will be,
politicians think, to stimulate fractional dis
seusions in ~Tammany. since the l~eleSsne~s
Of patronage - a determining factor In a Gen-
uina fractional nght has been demonstrated.
The Republican organization had a few
fght- on hand In the August primaries, but
none o enduring account.