The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-07-02

Slep luACu LUZ lue ielOiul OI lam.
many hall.
How does Murphy compare with
Richard Croker as leader is ques-
ton that is frequently asked. The
treatment of Devery by the two men
affords an opportunity for contrast.
Croker, after he began going to Eng
land, depended entirely upon deputies
and subordinates for information con-
corning the organization. He had no
first hand knowledge Of it's affairs and
he spent but little time at Tammany
hall, preferring the luxury of the Dem
ocratic club in Fifth avenue.
Men suddenly came into power who
had no political experience or influence
and who did not control a vote save,
perhaps, their own. They found out
the weaknesses of the leader and play
ed upon them. The consequence was
that the information Croker received
was not always accurate.
When he came back for the cam
paign of 1901 the Devery issue was al
ready burning one. The whole city
was aroused over the disclosures con-
cerning the Red Light district.
The conservative leaders of Tam
many saw that this issue would be
fatal to the organization unless some
unequivocal step was taken to show
that the organization did not condone
the evils disclosed. They felt that
nothing less than the decapitation of
Devery would satisfy the people.
Murphy was one of them. AS a dis
trict leader. he had steadfastly op
posed gambling houses, disorderly re
sorts and other sources of graft. More
than one corrupt police captain was
moved from the Gas House district up
on the demand of Mfr. Murphy. HI
drove the wiretappers out and would
tolerate no skin games in the terri
tory where his word was law.
At first Croker seemed disposed t,
yield to the demand for Devery's head
Those who got at him upon his ar
rival from Europe had all but con
vinced him that this step was impera
! lively necessary.
Then the men on the other side 20
in their work. Croker began to wah
BILE. Finally he became convinced tina
!. Devery, instead of being as black q
he was painted, was Il splendid officia
; and a much maligned man, one VIII
, had been made designedly the victim
of a senseless public clamor. He eve
went so far as to propose that hug
J posters be stuck up ON elevated raj
way stations and other conspicuou
places bearing the message:
, "Devery is the best Police Chief Ne,
York ever had"
J 1t was no easy task to argue Croke
out Of this notion. He believed tha
: that simple statement first uttered b
Mayor Van Wyck, would make thor
} sands Of votes for the Tammany ticke
, When Murphy tackled Devery h
| was by no means supreme in Tan
many hall. The organization was the
under the government of regency {
. three-NIurphy himself, McMahon an
Haffen of The Bronx.
Devery jeered at them. In derisio
he said that Murphy was a sport, NJ,
l NIahon Il two-spot and Haffen a jok
2 Later he called Murphy pinhead an
e defied him.
But the present leader of Tamman
hall was not moved either by ridicul
or abuse. The executive committe
finally came around to his views an
read Devery out of the organization
This was the real beginning of til
2 new Tammany hall. The election {
e Mayor Mcclellan was the copin
l | stone.
His appointments, backed up b
Murphy, pushed the gamblers, tt
racetrack touts and the notorious graf
ers to the wall. No one got a jo
: whose record was tainted. The Ii
was screwed down and the whole az
. ministration has been sitting on it eve
since.
tI The opposition to Tammany hall hs