New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-09
AN INsIDER.

The efforts of the December-to-Sep-
TENDER independent Democrats to ex-
cuse 10 themselves their customary DC
tober and November support Of Tam
many are unusually strained this year.
In 1910 they had for a candidate real
nice man from up the country, one, who
had never been associated with TAM
many, who had indeed taken part In
movement in which some persons
thought they saw hope Of a reorganized
and respectable Democracy. Moreover,
Murphy had never had Governor at
Albany TO boss and they had no past
experience to forbid the thought faith
cred by the wish that he might be
content with local power; so they could
make a rather plausible case for them
selves.
But "once bitten, twice shy is
proverb which they themselves under
stand. Even with another amiable up
slater they could not fail to foresee
repetition of Dix's helplessnesS in the
hands of Murphy and his Legislature.
That would he bad enough But, alas.
their path back TO November regularity
is even more thorny. Now they have
an out-and-Out Tammany member, who
has worked lifetime under Croker and
Murphy and who avOws his belief In
the doctrine: ITO the victOrs belong the
spoils" 1t is hard for the prodigals to
get home for the hoped for distribution
Of the fatted calf But a poor excuse
is better than none. So they suddenly
determine to regard" Mr.. SulZer as
ami-Tammany on the strength Of few
independent actions in Congress and
The personal popularity in his district
which gives him some standing of his
own in Tammany.
But by the same argument they
might regard the Sullivans as anti
rammany Like Ir. Sulzer, Big Tim
is also a Sub-boSs. lie has often detied
Murphy. lie has a clan behind MIN
powerful enough TO make consideration
Of his views necessary. Even a boss
has to reckon with human nature, pla-
order to hold his captains who have a
personal following. Mr.. Sulzer has
personal following sufficient to make
Murphy discreet about insisting on ODE
dience In non-essential matters. He
could not, perhaps, refuse him a renom-
ination for Congress without a fight
which would hurt the organization in
that district. But beyond the confines
Of his own district Mr.. SnlZer would be
merely one of MurphyS lieutenants
He could not dethrone Murphy if he
wanted to. and ne has never shown
the least sign that he wanted TO. Tam
many does not much concern itself
with Washington. The test of sub
serviency is here. And on what matter
vital to Murphy has Mr.. Sulzer ever
shown independence? Not as much
even as Sergeant Cram, who once talked
out boldly about Murphy and the Sen
atorship. And nobody would even In
desperation regard" Mr.. Cram as anti
Tammany.
Mr.. Sulzer is not q mere wooden fig
ure He Ia a man Of strong individual
ity. He has had his views and his fads
and acted on them But from the time
he went to Albany for Croker, support
ed Maynard and his theft, acted as floor
leader and then as Speaker for Hill and
Croker to the present time be has been
a steadfast advocate Of Tammany meth
DDS and Tammany theories Of govern
ment. He may fairly be regarded, in
deed, not as a mere tool Of Tnmmany,
but as himself part Of Tammany, a
personal force In the organization, bone
of its bone and flesh OF its flesh. At
Albany he would not be anti-rammany,
but the spirit and purpose Of Tammany
itself.