Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-06

NEW 1O1NfNt sept. Ill aAAAAAoAS AeAAA
has a new leader. His name is Charles
Francis Murphy. He is of the people and
rose from an humble position to the lead
ership Of the greatest political organiza-
ton in any city in the country
At the age of IA he was boy appren-
tice in Roach's ship yards. At IL he organ
lied the Sylvan club, sociai-poiticai
organization, and was the best ball play
er. wrestler swimmer and boxer on the
entire east side Of the city. At 10 he was
driving a pair of horses attached to
'Blue Line" car. At p he was keeping
saloon in East Nineteenth street At y
he began to take an active part In poll
tics. At 25 he opened anot..er saloon ana
assisted Eddie Hagan beat the combi-
nation of Maurice Powers and Francis b.
Spinola for assembly. At rs he carried the
district for the same Spinola. At q he
opened another saloon. At Is he expanded
and directed the campaign which defeated
Allan Thorndike Rice for congress. At ~
he became the deputy Tammany leader of
his district. At 81 he opened another sa-
loon. At "a he became the Tammany leader
of the eighteenth district At So he open
ed another saloon. At 80 he became dock
commissioner and gave away all his sa-
looms. At the age of A he became leader
of Tammany hall, chosen by the Sullivan
Croker faction by\a vote OF q to 3. He
steps into the shoes lett on this side OF
the water by Richard Croker and discard
ed by Lewis Nixon. and became boss of
Tammany hall"
From Bottom TO Top.
One of the triumvirs who for a space
ruled Tammany, and designated by big
Chief Devery as Sport" Charles F.
Murphy, has made himself felt in the
councils of his organization. Like Richard
Croker, he fought hts way up to the top
from the bottom. Beginning as boy in
a ship yard and later as a street car driv-
er, NE is today the head of, perhaps. the
most powerful political organization in the
whole country.
Charles Francis Murphy is one of
family Of eight. His father was Dennis
Murphy, an Irishman of sturdy build and
stern determination, who died the other
day at the age of IS, proud of the fact
that he had not been idle day in his
long life,
The eldest of the Murphy family was
Dennis, who became policeman. He is
dead. Charles, was the second son. born
in 1858. The third child was Katherine,
who came in time to be known from one
end of the eighteenth district to the other
as Aunt Kate" She had all the political
sagacity of her brother, and was an i'm
portant factor in his success up to the
day of her death. The fourth Murphy
child was William, known as Genial
Billy" and the most popular man in the
eighteenth district until death called him
away. Following him came Margaret,
who is now the wife Of Police Sergeant
Patrick Cray. John j. Murphy, formerly
a councilman, now the keeper of saloon
at Twenty-third street and First avenue,
and Thomas Murphy, who is dead, COM
pleted the family
All the children were born in the eigh-
teenth assembly district, and in that dis
trict the Murphy family lived. and father
mother and four Murphy children died.
Dennis Murphy was a poor man, but he
sent his children to school until they had
acquired the rudiments of an education,
at least. But as the boys gained strength
enough they were sent to work.
Charley" Murphy went to work in
Roach's ship yard, at Ninth street and
the East river. He was a powerful boy
physically, and it was his ambition to be-
come first-class ship, caullxer. The Roach
yard was the training school in those
days for, many a boy who became famous
later on in the east side politics.
The work in the ship yard was hard
but young Murphy thrived upon it. He
acquired muscles Of steel and lungs like
bellows and became quick as a cat on his
feet. He worked with rough boys and
had to fight his way. In two years he was
the acknowledged bosspof the boys in the
ship yard. egg
He got to the boy leadership Of the ship
yard as he got to the top of Tammany
hall, by fighting. One by one he whipped
the boys who worked with him, and when
there were no more to whip he beat them
swimming and rowing and running foot
races.
When he was II years old he organized
the Sylvan Social club. the nucleus Of
the Tammany hall organization of the dis
trict as it now stands. The members of
the Sylvan club were boys from Is to 20
years of age, and as an organizer
Charles F. Murphy was made the leader.
Was Baseball Player.
out Of the Sylvan club membership
Murphy organized a baseball club called
the Senators. He was catcher and cap
tain. the best player on the team, An
other member of the team was Edward
Hagan. afterward a Tammany leader OF
the eighteenth district, who passed the
leadership to Murphy when he died.
Murphy was a remarkable ball player.
Under his leadership his team beat the
best amateur teams in the section. Crowds
OF 5000 to 10000 gathered on the big lot on
Sunday afternoons to see the Senators
play. The games were generally for 800
a side. and It was seldom that the Sena-
tors lost.
During the centennial year, 1876, Muir
ply took his team on tour Of the state,
playing the prominent clubs in a score
OF Clues. Inc trophies Won On the TRIP
are on exhibition to this day in the Sen
ate saloon, at Twentieth street and Sec
ond avenue. Among them is loving cup,
presented to Murphy personally by the
Syracuse club.
The street car lines Of the city were
part of the Tammany machine in those
days. District leaders bestirred them
selves to their constituents places, driv-
ers and conductors, and 1t came to pass
that Charles F. Murphy, through political
influence. got a job on the front platform
of Blue line car, running from Twenty
third street ferry down Avenue A, across
Eighteenth street, down Broadwad and
across Fourteenth street to the Hoboken
ferry.
Was a Good Listener.
IT was about that time that Murphy
came known as Silent Charley. When
other men talked he listened intently.
He is still Silent Charley" for that
matter, retaining one OF his early chief
characteristics to this day. He illustra-
ted this when he was asked about his cleo
ton to the leadership.
ct won't do much talking" he said.
THE vote speaks for itself. 1 will be at
Tammany hall every day, and spend the
hours between and o'clock in the af-
ternoon at work. There is plenty of work
TO be done, and the less talking the bet
ter"
In lo79 Charley" Murphy rented a lit
@--NHx do