Arizona republican., 1904-06-28
One of the Secrets of Tammany's
 Power,

Tammany Hall is the most powerful local organization in the world. Why this is so has been discussed time and again. Superficial observer CTS have jumped at the conclusion that corruption is the secret. It has been as- sumed that a saturnaIia of graft under Tammany government furnishes such an enormous campaign fund that the organization is generally invincible. Nonsense. There is no more ccrrup- ton in New York than in other large cities; probably not as much as In most. And in many respects the Amer ican metropolis has tho best city gov ernment to be found In the Unite States. There is official blackmail lev jed against illegal business, of course; but that is not peculiar to Tammany. and it does not explain Tammany's hold on the people. And the leaders of the organization acquire wealth through operations in high finance" They have the inside track when great corporations have large contracts 10 let. But 1t would be impossible for any political party or organization to re- tain control merely through dishonest methods. Tammany polls two hundred thousand votes and the voters Tn the mass are as honest es the average cit tzen anywhere.
 Then what Is the secret Of Tam many's peculiar strength with the pee pie? A local incident related by the New York papers the other day throws a flood of light on the question
 Borough President Littleton of Brooklyn received a telephone message from a woman, a stranger to him. "I'in Mrs. Ruebcn, and live on Degraw street between Van Brunt and CoIurn- bla streets" said she. My baby is i'll with convulsions and the doctors say he cannot live unless he gets rest and quiet. He was getting better, but ev- cry time a wagon rattles through the street he has a new convulsion and the doctor says he will surely die. want to ask you to close this street The men folks say only the rich or the peo- pie with a political pull can get a street closed but I thought, I would appeal direct to you"
 A moment later the borough presi- dent directed the commissioner of pub- lie werk: Commissioner, close De- graw street between Van Brunt and Columbia streets. Don't let even q push cart through. Close it, and close it quickly" Turning to another off, cial he said: And you Herferman, telephone to the police and have two men from the Amity Street station put on either end of the block 10 hold back wagons till our men get there. Don't let any disturbing noise be made on that street" Temporary fences were at once thrown across the street and big signs marked, Closed for repairs" were hung on the posts. The child's life was saved.
 And that is how Tammany strength ems its hold on the people New York and Brooklyn. The great majority of DCOI DGuplG uOll want CllCe. put they do need protection and assistance in various ways, and they never appeal to the Tammany officials in vain The real business of a district leader Is not so much to find offices for his followers as 10 find employment for the men when they are out of work-jobs iu stores If they are clerks; jobs at any work that offers If they are laborers- and especially to look out for the cCm- fort of their families. If poor family Is behind with the rent and the land- lord threatens an eviction, it is the district leader to whom appeal is made And the degree Of success which at tends his efforts in behalf of his peo- pie measures his success as a political leader
 There probably is no other city Tn the country where tine simple request of woman like Mrs. Rueben could cause a street to be closed for the sake of a sick child. When senator Hanna lay sick