The sun., 1917-06-18
MOVE TO CRUSH
TAMMANY HALL
City Democracy Secretly Or.
ganfzed by Polk, StetsOn.
COudcrt and Others.

Suddenly and unexpectedly strong
Democratic organization has been born
to strike n crushing and IL possible per-
manent blow at Tammany Hall. With
out a whisper Of it's coming reaching the
braves In Fourteenth street, the leading
Democrats of the city during the past
four months have quietly organized and
perfected their war plans. and now an
nounce with signif mt absence of sugar
coated words that their intention Is to
eliminate Tammany influence from Dem
ocratic politics in this city.
The City Democracy IL the name of
the new organization. The names of
Frank l.. Polk. Counsellor to the State
Department Francis Lynde Stetson, for
mer law partner Of Grover Cleveland
Gordon Auchincloss. son-in-law of Col.
T. NJ. House: Frederic r. Coudert, a
lawyer of international prominence, and
141 other names of men who have fought
for Independent democracy in this city
Indicate that the new group OF men Is
influenced IL not actually guided by the
Administration in casting out and re-
pudiating Tammany Hall.
In pithy statement issued yesterday
from the new organizations headQuar-
ters at 80 East Forty-second street. or-
cupying the offices formerly tenanted by
the National Democratic Campaign Com
mittee. these men strike out straight
from the shoulder and declare that Tam
many Hall has been n disgrace to Dem
ocratic politics In this city, that II car
res no weight in national politics. and
that in short Tammany's days of useful
ness in the Democratic ranks are hence
forth numbered.
selfish COtcric in Control.
I'VE are all Democrats loyal to Dem
ocratic principles and to the splendid
leadership of President Wilson," says
the statement, but we feel that our
party in this city can never exercise its
proper influence or enjoy the respect of
Democrats through the country so long
as it is dominated locally by the selfish
coterie now in control. This is the first
thing any true Democrat will tell you.
"No Democrat who wants to see the
interests Of his party advanced in the
state and in the nation or who Is de-
srous of having the right kind OF ad-
ministration In our city can follow
Tammany leadership without apology.
''Tammany Hall administrations in
New York have done more injury to the
Democratic party in the nation and in
lilt sptdlt lllttl any otiltI
They have worked lasting injury to the
good reputation of our city. Because of
this record Democrats never have had
any respect for Tammany Hall. and in
consequence the Democratic party in
New York city has had absolutely no
weight in national party councils. Every
Democrat in and out OF Tammany Hall
knows the bitter truth of this fact.
I'm local city administrations every
commands has been execrated for bad
government by the people on election
day and every Mayor who has stood on
his own feet and tried to give the city
good government has been thrown over
board by Tammany Hall.
at Is time to put an end to the reign
of such an organization, and fortunately
the prospects for doing so were never g.
promising as Just now. Tammany'G
stock in trade is its claim to regularity.
yet II has never hesitated to sacrifice
Democratic candidates when II suited
its purposes to do so.
Failure of support Cited.
ut is notorious that it failed to give
proper support to President Wilson and
20 Justice Seabury last fall. and the
brutal manner in which the Brooklyn
WlnE Ol hlllltu Ine regular
Democratic candidate for District A.
torney In that county shows in per-
fectly clear way the lengths to which
the present so-called Democratic organi-
cation will go when any Democrats
candidate dares to oppose its will in the
primaries.
James T. O'Neill was nominated by
the voters at the primaries OF 1916 for
District Attorney in Kings county
against the candidate put forward by the
county organization. which thercupon
expended its chief energy in furnishing
O'Nell for having appealed directly TO
the voters of his party.
'1n single election district. which
contained 21S enrolled Democrats and
thirty-seven enrolled Rebublicans. O'Neill
received only twenty-one votes and his
Republican opponent 27s votes Every
one knows that result of this kind car
only be achieved by the deliberate work
OF the party organization to knife i.s
own candidate.
Lastly. in spite Of the great progress
made throughout our country In securing