Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-11-06
HOW TAMMANY HAS RULED CITY OF
NEW YORK---COLBY BARES RECORD.

The New York Post furnishes the
following very interesting and in
structive history OF the Tammany or
J ganization from speeches made in the
recent campaign by Bainbridge Col
by:
] -- LTammany's Early Record.
"Tammany Hall is a very old mis-
| take Alas for this city and its tax
! burdened people. very costly mis-
| take, and to our shame, an oft-repeat-
| ed mistake. The strength of Tam
many Hall has been described as the
| cohesive power of public plumber
| Friendly students of American insti-
buttons. like James Bryce and ostro-
| gorski, who have only the scholar
| concern for accuracy and truth. nave
referred to it as a reproach of our
| civilization. 1t has been denounced in
the national conventions of the DEM
! ocratic party as a libel of Democracy.
| and yet, true as these oharaeteriZa-
| tons are. l will not attempt to sway
your Judgment by their use and repe-
/ tition.
| Let us pause for a moment anu
| consider briefly the facts. the admitted
i facts, faClS OF idCtS IiV'NNf
undenied, and indelible.
There is a common impression that
] the early years of Tammany's history
were not altogether discredita hle-that
the stealing of city money on large
scale was not begun until Tweed IN
/ the early seventies became the ram
many boss. This is far from the
truth.
.rhe founder of the Tammany So
| cietv. William Mooney, was removed
from his office as superintendent OF
| the city Almsheuse by the Common
Council in 1893, on the report OF a
committee of investigation when as
eertajned that Mooney. in addition 10
i his salary. had taken money ana sup
niles from the city. Even earlier tnah
i this BENJAMIN Romano, Grano Sa-
i chem of the Society, was remover
| from, the office of City Controller for
i frauaulently obtaining valuable lana
!, the heart of the city without pay
i ING for il. The names OF the lam
many Saehems involved in the scan
i ANS If that early day are forgotten
mt the form of the irregularities iof
j which they forfeited their offices Is
familiar.
ATaIe of knavery and M'sdo'ns'
"Ahraham Stage. Grand Saehem'
land SAMUEL L. Page. prominent III
i rr.nmany councils, were found TO pe
/ ,t,o,y,.rs. Jonas Hunbert was
| s..',,.aa 10 have extorted a third OF the
/ fa.s collected by a city inspector UNI
dor threat of having the latter reliioN
"a from office. John Bingham, ae
Zines Sachem. and noted politician
of the day. used his position DIS on :,
/ Alderman to induce the city ~
bis brother -in-law land, which ia.ei ne
indneed the city to buy pack at
INSTANT prices. These names inquire
~ - hurst Of seandalous disclosures
tho carly years of the society
,l;s,ar,, The record is found IN 'Ie
.,s,,,as of the Common Council, Noi-
lumes Is. Is. and ~. ,,.;,,o
..roa yoi,,minous for CONSECUTIVE
.troont &c the tale of knaverS am.
a,sssaino but. as you srun Your niger
- .ha naees of Tammany MS
a,,erv few years the even cur
- seandal is broken BY q wave
of tidal proportions. fof e,..,ss IF
lin 1877, Ruggles Huopara'
the County. and at one tiihe o. ather
,bseonded from the city. ana sno
i sachem. John l.. Broome' "as CO..
i ca from the Office of CITY S. -,
Having neglected to take the yheoe91 e
i security from Hubbard. JohH =
~ one time Grand Sachem' anu :"
mower in the organization.o.N Was
o,.ea from his Office of surveyor o.
the Port. by. President Mohroe'
i corruption
passing over relatively minor scan
i 3a,s. we come to the chapter IN ram
many.s history which may be caiieo
i The charter scandals, namely, the
grant Of charters for wildcat banks
and other corporations, through the
i shameless use of brides. the resultant
i imitation and debasement of the peo-
i nIe,s money. and consequent loss ana
Hardship.
The Common Council was hotbed
of corruption. Innumerable small JOBS
i were constantly being put through,
Iand occasionally stumbling into pup
lie notice. The great fire of 1882
which DESTROYED $40, 000, 900 of property,
i was due to the refusal of corrupt Al
Il dermen to give the city a proper water
supply. a refusal that was designed
i TO protect an existing monopoly.
"A little later, another Tammany
Iehieftain, Samuel Swartout, was drag
i eed into the light. He had been APP
i pointed Collector of the Port by Pres
ident jackson. In 1888 it was discov-
cred that for eight years he had been
Systematically robbing the Govern
ment, through the manipulation OF
i custom house receipts, and that the
total of his thefts amounted to sl,-
900. 900. He fed to Europe. but MS
name gave currency to phrase COM
Imon at that time. namely, to SWar'-
Iout.' 1t sienified to embezzle or TO oe-
i fault. The defalcation of William III.
Price, at one time District Attorney
land a lesser figure in Tammany Han,
amounting to $4,000, seems to nave
made but little impression at the
time.
And so the story runs until tne
j comparatively recent times usnereo
in by the rise of Fernando Wood "
fabsolute authority as boss OF TAM
. many Hall, in the years just preceo-