The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-11-05
TAMMANY HALL.

stolen millions; of gray boards to the
war era of Fernando Wood; but the
majority OF American citizens are per-
haps uniformed of the fact that IT'S
first leader was Aaron Burr and that
the Hall was founded but a few days
after the inauguration OF George Wash
| ington as President of the United
States Its name was derived from that
/ of Tamanend, an Indian chief. with
whom many white men, including VIII
liam Penn. had friendly relations
1t is a curious commentary upon the
tricks that time plays with creeds, that
'-ammlny was founded as protest
against consolidated Federal power and
as an exemplar OF the rule of the ma
jority. Today 1t stands as not only the
/ threat but as the achievement OF one
man power, as an Imperialism as pre-
else and aggressive as that of Russia,
though acting under democratic forms
It's ambition is to extend its rule from
the CITY of New York to the State OF
New York and thence to washington
/ a feat which, If once accomplished
might rapidly clear the way for an en-
n,re IN name as we'll as in fact- lee
all IT'S founders subscribed to point
tai creed which. in its democratic
unity. would almost have suited the
Tocobins OF the French revolutloA-
Deeni+a its profession of faith. Tam
many Hall developed its real character
istirz early. Aaron Burr its first lead
er vas an imperialist, and his rule, SO
FOR az he chose to exercise 1t, was per
emptory. The real founder or the nan
or the Society as Tammany was tneh
called. was dishonest polltlclah' "
liam Mooney by name, who USED ms
place as keeper of the alnlsnouse,
Inc his own pockets. His stealings
a,-,o,,ntad 70 Is 900. a large sum in that
dey. exclusive of funds which, he SAID
nd been spent in ''trifies for Mrs.
Noonev., The author of a recent WORK
ON Tammany says that this phrase
"trjfles for Mrs. Mooney" was by
vvord i'm New York politics for many
years. ~
The Hall was a center of an1-feu-
sraIist and Democratic politics for the
state as well as the City of New YORK
from 1889 to 1860, but in that time no
lasting Pretorian organization, such as
came afterwards. could be perfeeteu'
Except Aaron Burr. who soon came 10
grief in the West, those VINO trleu u
discipline the Tammany braves found
the task too great for them. The best
noIitical work the Hall did, viewed from
the standpoint of party service ana It's
own future efficiency, was TO take ia"
immigrants when they landed and en-
roll them in the waiting list of the
Democratic party. Thus, In course Oh
time. the terms foreigner" and Demo
craft became anonymous in the
metropolis of the nation and through
out the north generally
Fernando Wood was the first great |
organizer of politics the United states |
had ever seen. Aaron Burr acted IN |
small circle which might, Indeed, nave |
widened but for his leaving New YORK |
notifies TO pursue his imperial phantoms
on the frontier. Martin Van Buren, was
rather a cunning manipulation imam
NAUTICAL disciplinarian. But Fernando |
Wood developed politics as the science
of the organization of voters. In TINS
sphere he had elements of genius ana
when he died there passed to his sue
cessor. William NJ. Tweed. compact,
obedient body of voters over 4OOoo
strong. They were divided and cap
tanned and rewarded and they ooeyeo
orders at the polls and elsewhere with
out thought of questioning the COM
mon leadership.
How Tweed used his power to enrich
himself and his stan Of active poliu-
clans makes a memorable chapter III
American public life His methods
with those Of the present day
were raw and crude, For instance, he or
his agent would let a contract for pub
lie works, worth $250,O0o for, 100000
and the contractor would give back
$3.50 900 less a reasonable commission, to
the Tweed ring, the members of which
divided the spoil. In short time
Tweed became a multi-millionaire, but
he could not cover up the glazing evil
dence of his crimes. He and his -asso-
ciates were hurled into prison and none
Of them save Genet ever tried TO re-
gain political standing. Stripped of his
Tweed died in Jail.
For two years after this collapse
Tammany made no sign, and the pub
lie thought it had been crushed But
it was alive and recovering. Soon there
emerged from the disheartened rabble
of the Hall a sturdy, square-faced
Irishman known as Honest John"
Kelly. He became the leader and tried.
by getting reformers to take decorative
positions in Tammany, to give his
predatory horde a good standing Fol-
q wonder he succeeded. By 1S76-four
or five years after the Tweed exposure
Kelly had New York politics organic
ed again and succeeded in giving
Samuel ]. Tilden a local majority for
President of the United States. He was
careful not TO steal too much; he only
left 100000 as his personal fortune;
but ne and his got enough money
outside the salary list to maintain
luxury and keep the push" in good
humor.
Two years after Kelly died, Richard
Croker, Tammany's greatest leader.
took control. He was the graduate of
a rough street gang; he had been in
dicted for murder but not convicted
of the crime; his physical prowess. no
less than his executive mind, made him
a leader of the mob. Scarcely had he
taken charge of Tammany than two
basic facts were evident-one that he
would bring the organization to the