Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-06
Paved Pathway With Saloons
To Tammany Tigers Lair

that made him the hero OF the district
and practically boosted him into posi-
ton of political leadership. He had Kept
up his playing and other athletic work,
had installed a gymnasium for the Syl-
Wan club at his own expense, had put
Switchboard in his saloon and had or
ganized a rowing club. In every line OF
sport he continued to excel. but he had
taken only a passing interest in rowing
as his business was beginning to occupy
too much of his time.
Berney Biglin was the Republican lead
er OF the Twentieth assembly district,
where Chester A. Arthur was just be-
ginning the political career that ended in
the white house.
Biglin and three OF his brothers were the
leaders of a Harlem boat club. and the
four Biglins boosted that they could out
row any other four men in the city.
Could Row a Boat.
Murphy had four oarsmen in his club
who were fast and he challenged the Big
lin four The contest was set for Sun
day afternoon on the East river. over a
course running from One Hundredth
street to One Hundred and Twenty-ninth
street. Besides a big stake there was a
tremendous amount Of money waged on
the race. Practically the entire eighteenth
district went up to the Red house at the
foot of East One Hundredth and Fourth
street that Sunday afternoon and bet the
Biglin adherents to a standstill.
The stroke oar of the Murphy team was
a man known as "Tecumseh'' who was
employed at the Roach shipyard Just be-
fore the time. for the race "Tecumseh
was taken Ill. The Biglins wanted to row
over the course alone and claim the race
on a forfeit.
When the crowd from the eighteenth
district heard what was in the air there
was a roar that shook Harlem. Claims
were made that "1ecumseh'' had been
drugged. Fights were starting in the
crowo. The outlook was serious. 1t was
almost a certainty that there would be
riot.
lust when the prospect was blacklist
Charley Murphy stepped down to the
river bank He took off his hat and coat
anu collar and handed them to a friend.
At sight of him the eighteenth district
crowd uttered screams of joy. They had
confidence in him and forthwith they be-
gan to bet again, taking all the Biglin
money that they could rake and scrape
together.
Loved Public's Cheers.
Murphy took his place in the stroke oar
seat and his four won two heats out OF
three. The people from the eighteenth
district cheered until they were hoarse.
They picked him UP and carried him
around on their shoulders and on Mon
day afternoon Charley Murphy was well
launched on the sea OF politics.
Maurice Power was the leader Of the
county Democracy in the eighteenth dis
trict Francis B. Spinola was the Tam
many leader. One of his lieutenants was
Edward Hagan. who was Murphy's closest
friend. Murphy and Hagan allied them
selves with the Tammany organization to
which Murphy turned over his Sylvan
Social cub.
Hagan on the strength of winning a
hard fight for the assembly gathered
power In the district. He was reelected
and in 1888 announced to Spinela that he
wanted a third term. Spinola refused to
let him nave the nomination. e
BY this time Murphy had started anoth-
er saloon, far different place from the
humble little "Charleys" in Nineteenth
street. 1t was at the corner of Twenty
third street and Avenue A, and the Law
ishness of it's appointments made the
east side stare in that part of the city. ]
In this saloon Silent Charley made his
headquarters. and to the saloon went Ha-
gan for advice. He explained the situa"
ton to Murphy and asked what he should
do
Murphy thought for half an hour be-
fore he replied. He stood with his elbow
on the bar, HIS eyes apparently staring in
to vacancy. Then he said:
kun Inuepenoent.
Run Independent"
And Hagan did run independent. Pow
er and Spinola combined against him, and
he beat them both. His campaign was
managed by Silent Charley Murphy and
in the conduct of 1t, he proved himself a
master in the game of district politics.
Hagan did all the talking and spent all
the money. Murphy did all the planning
and told where money was to be spent.
How much money 40 you want?" he
would say to Hagan.
And Hagan. who had no idea Of the val
ue of money would ask for sums that
would stagger Murphy in the old days
when he was on the front platform of a
Blue Line car.
He showed his power again in 1854,
when Spinola was nominated for the state
senate In the district made up OF the
eighteenth, twentieth and twenty-second
assembly districts. 1t was put up to Muir
phys political judgment whether to fight
Spinola or indorse him. Murphy said he
had voted once against Tammany tick
ct when Hagan ran independent, and he
would never vote against Tammany again.
He Endorsed Spinola and Spinola was cleo
ted. ~.
Hagan was virtually leader OF the dis
trict when Henry George precipitated him
self into the campaign of 1886, but he was
the type OF leader that does not last in
Tammany Hall. Impulsive, generous, a
heavy drinker, a man who would bet on
any proposition under the sun, he went
through the district like a tornado when
he got to work. Back of him was the
crafty Murphy, abstemious, a thinker, a
hoarder of money, a man of the type of
Croker before Croker became garrulous.
In passing it may be remarked that the
careers of the two men-Croker and
Murphy-are -strikingly similar, save that
Cookers younger days were rougher
than those Of the present leader Of Tam
many Hall.
The outlook was extremely black for
Tammany Hall in 1886 In the eighteenth
district the laboring vote seemed to have
Topped to Henry George. 1t was a stu
alton for a resourceful politician to face
and conquer, and silent Charley" faced
1t witt: his cold gray eyes and figured out
a way to conquer it.
The fight conferred in the eighteenth and
contiguous districts around the nomina-
ton for congress. Spinola got the Tam
many nomination. His opponent was AL
len Thorndike Rice. from the silk stock
ing Fifth avenue neighborhood. Mr.. Rice
had the republican nomination, and being
himself a politician Of no mean ability,
on the eve of the election he secured the
Endorsement of the Henry George par
ty.
Was Own AdVirer.
Hagan skippd around the district
spending money like a prince. Murphy
sat alone and conferred with himself Not