The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-16
TAMMANY'S METHOD OF
PICKING ITS CANDIDATES

" IiAT influence does a Tammany Han district leader bring to bear on
w the nomination Of Democratic candidates FOR political office? Has
W the more powerful leader greater influence IND more success in
The picking of candidates tina the leader nt so we'll known? These
are questions which often rerpeN persons lot familiar with the methods o.
the examination.
The names of candidates for omcc are first brought directly to he a,ten-
ton Of the machine or organization itself al" the meetings OF the executive
ommttee The names are handed in by the district leaders. There is 10 set
period OF the year for he presentation of such suggestions. They ma lie
"'Hed a a meeting IN the middle " ne summer Tor ie ecuhN committee
meets in winter n summer nd in all sorts Of wca-rer-or at any other time
a eadere considers favorable. Nor is it necessary that he candidate should be
ame ust pror to election n tern OF the Mayo" in New H"k Cit is fo
years. and it is not infrequcnuy. III case in Tammany Hall hat, candidates are
considered several years before the convention at which the nomination is
made This is called grooming the candidate fr Office"
Each district leader is of course anxious to b sponsor FOR as many uc-
,ss shows political wisdom M foresight on his par, He presents he name
of his candidate to h other district leaders. iIee explains why he believes thu
""n ~" oI. "N ~" '"s
~ ,a0 ,, d" AUX ~ ~, m' D"mo ~r s,ynr .n -" .monsgn M, ns. ON.
Il dNe best fitted for the nomination. This brings about II general discussion
Nothing nay be settled for months Then as often happens, a candidate wo
appeared to have "A fixed place o the slate rejected and q candhat" who had
ben put forward as a dark horse gets the nomination
In selecting candidates fr the more important offices great trouble is
aiken in going over their qualifications. Sometime a subcommittee is ap-
pointed to examine into he history Of he candidate n to determine if pos
hi his strength with N" water or What objection ~" voters might nave to
In This committee may make w or three reports to the e>"cu,N "om
mnteo. Almost always it inquiries int his antcedcns and social and financial
connections as well as ntoh his politics. Al this is for tn" purpose of cnhsht-
"nnE tho LEADER of Tamn"ny Han rs to the form 81 ciWl"usn tina, might /"
made against the candidate.
This is known as "sizhng up the candidate" There ma nave been a few
instances Of the kind, bu, it is seldom no matter how powerful the icade ma.
he that he has beer suc,essfu in forcing On hk associate leaders a wea can
dha,c The leaders themselves generally realize that they mus have good
candidates If they are s"r>i'" The 'Er''"i"E Of Il candidate f'n axes
a number Of years TIE purpose is to pick u the opp'rtunc i'm or The
trough ronsh the pr"''ss %" ranIn S mF o'"n nr,ri"si ,mms",, %, a Ana srre trIo "Vst f
wnhh he had !" control n Fhi, m r'p" Mc"r S""''"'n m, ,% t ns,",s' a an " q"
things arc considered in selecting the candidate,
In making "r a polnieai ticket tn" leaders of T,mnany ima ave "n
'"a' 'T for ' "a"s. ' a%" ac IN "a .'''"s'"'" tn" '"''''' ticket '''F'" OF
man ais'fr' % !. H ""s "~" n" t ON" "'v~'"c t. consider " I'.r'r"''o" Of "a".s
'.dr Repairs IN an candidates having nrr" made ana their avmnaOHA,!
P p"Ss,. ' nc"m ".n' S",ss,e fS% to r ra , ' "t""in "i ,t" ""''' II" rs ' f~'" crescent It" ,a "%" hip
Of Tamm"ny Han the leaders say tina, Charles r. Murphy is n OF "'ocra,c in
ifcing his individual opinion 81 the members,