New-York tribune., 1906-11-10
REORGANIZING TAMMANY.

After an election the seceders always "reor-
ganize" their party. We have in mind. of course,
! chiefly the Democratic party, as it has gone
! through this experience more extensively and
more frequently than the Republican party.
Just now the seceders, on the prestige Of having
contributed TO the victory OF the Republicans,
are going to reorganiZe the Democracy.
! Murphy is again fighting for his life as boss.
! 1t is only six weeks ago that he won q not
able victory over his opponents but in these
troublous times a man is expected TO demon
strate his capacity as a leader as often as an
energetic opposition may demand. The boss Of
September may find himself deposed in Decem-
Der. 1t will be interesting TO see the Democrats
who didn't vote the Democratic ticket depose
from authority the Democrats who did. In
older days the man who had deliberately sinned
against regularity stepped up to the pie counter
with humility. Arrogance to-day is his char
terlstic tone and he demands that the faithful
servant behind the counter shall show the hu-
mility. We are not regretting the departure of
the past; we merely find the present ente--
tanning antithesis. Politics is a gay business.
II is the fashion TO say that a public
officer, because he is behOden for his election
10 voters of both parties. an undivided
duty 10 the community. Yet Mayor Mcclellan
was elected largely by Republican votes and
now. according TO the newspapers, he finds 1t his
taken economy TO save Tammany." 1t is par
ticularly mistaken economy for a Mayor who
owes his election to non-partisan votes TO use his
office TO that end 1t is not any better Of the
patronage of the Mayors office to employ II in
making war upon Murphy than in keeping at
peace with Murphy. The Tammany boss is an
offence 10 the decent people of this town, but
SO long the people OF this town permit Muir
ply to keep his obnoxious Importance the of
ha Thai- ball
feel profoundly beholden to the Mayor for doing
a work which is the voters work, and doing it
IN the way IN which Mr.. Mcclellan proposes
to do IT.
The first step which the Mayor has taken tow
ard saving Tammany is to offer high office to
Maurice Featherson. Now, Mr.. Featherson is
reported to be the Mcclellan candidate to sue
ceed Murphy as boss OF Tammany. Mr.. Feath-
ersOns refusal of the commissionership shows
him TO have a higher sense of official propriety
than the Mayor has 1t is not bit more fitting
that Murphy's successor should hold Office In the
city government than that Murphy should The
pure and elevated aim Of saving Tammany
should find loftier methods than Tammany's
own.
We are permitted TO get a glimpse of the new
and sublimated Tammany with the Control of
which the recent deserters propose to reward
! themselves according TO the merits of their de-
sertiOn. Mr.. Featherson is to be leader, and he
is described as having all the virtues of Croker
If he becomes leader with the Mayors aid he
should therefore make some notable contribu-
tons to the cause of good government. No re-
form Of Tamnany Hall would be complete which
should leave out the Sullivans. The Bowery
Webster gave the Mayor last September profit
able induction into his famous system of beating
that wheel OF fortune called politics. He would
naturally be Mayor McClellan's mentor and tho
| chief prop of saved Tammany. Then thers
are some leaders with Jobs who may lose thera II
they remain true TO Murphy, and some without
| jobs who may be taken care OF If they desert
Murphy. Jerome, tOo-we almost forgot Jerome,
but he is important asset Of any reform
| movement. He is 10 be the reformed Tam
many's candidate for President We take il that
when Murphy moves out OF his present job he
will leave his famous striped suit behind him
Tammany will need Il