The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-03
The New Tammany ana Its Leader.
The radical changes that, have been

i
The New Tamniany ana Its Leader.
The radical changes that. have been
made in the organization OF .Tammany
Hall since RICHARD CROKER announced
his retirement from political life reached
remarkable stage last Friday when
the new rules, drafted by CHARLES f.
MURPHY and Endorsed by n powerful
majority of the Executive Committee.
were adopted by the General Committee
without dissenting vote. In substance,
these rules put Tamnany formally under
the control Of one man to an extent never
before known.
Officially RicfIARD't'RoKER was merely
the chairman of a sub-committee OF the
Executive Committee. Now Mr.. MUIR
PLY is made officially the leader of the
organization by formal vote of the TX
ccutive Committee into whose hands the
General Committee has put the power
to reject any member whose personality
may seem to it offensive. The treasurer,
a Murphy man, is unhampered by
Finance Committee, and he is not re-
qured to make any report.
Probably no political organization
has ever been ceptralzed to such an
extent as this. Even the nlerest shadow
Of" district rule is thing of the past
in Tammanv. One-man power may
have been acknowledged in practice
heretofore, but now for the first time il
-; written into the Tammany regula-
;ions. ..,,.s.- t...- .-.-s ...,
OF course. an this involves a great
personal triumph for Mr., MURPHY. 1t
proves that his confide nee in his ability
10 bear the full! responsibility of per-
sonal control of Tammany is absolute.
and he has gone TO work quietly to secure
the power and to make ready to WELD
it. If he had been less confident of
himself he would have done very diff
ferently. He would have acquired the
power without openly setting aside the
old nominal division of responsibility.
Such n man gives promise of becoming
political leader of very great conse-
.Quence in the city of New York, factor
in public affairs of whom the most serious
account must be taken.
Another significant fact is Mr.. MUIR
PHYS selection of JAMES }, MARTIN for
important Office in Tammany after that
politician had put himself on record as
opposed to the leaders wishes. This
looks as/if he meant to secure harmony
by ignoring the possibility of discord
and conflicting interests. 1t also sug-
gests that Mr. MURPHY has matured
policy of management WHICH he is con-
lident will tc"nccepted cordially by all
hands in the organization and win secure
for him the loyal cooperation OF every
subordinate leader.
His plan is. evidently. to- strengthen
the organization by attaching them
all to his leadership, whether they have
been friends fees 30 that Tammany
may be enabled to enter on the coming
municipal campaign with solid ranks.
To what extent the Croker influence
remains in the organization does not
appear, and it may never be deterinin-
able by outsidersx -If CROKER should
return TO New. York and attempt to
take up tho management of Tammany
again. MURPHY is now in d position
to make a strong fight against him; yet
it may be that MURPHY is proceeding
in accordanpe with the wishesSf CRoKEn.
and that the old leader simply desires
to keep in the background, convinced
that under MURPHY the Democratic
elements forced out Of Tammany dur
ing the period of his own leadership,
for the furtherance of his personal ends
and ideas, will be brought together again
in its fold under the new leader, 10. the
great advantage of the organization.
PROFESSIONALLY the moral influence of
the friends of GRANT and GILROY is de-
sirable and ait.5nns rbe.assufned that it
is on the side of MURPHY. ). ~, -
Under its new leadership Tammany
would seem to be in better shape to nuke
n campaign next autumn than it has been
at any time since it lost control of the
city government. - ,...- .-... r.. 49,.