The Alaska daily empire., 1917-10-03

most fJrceful personality that has been con nected with the political life of New York City He began by winning away the strong of the Coun- ty Democracy one time. Among the first was William R. Grace who in statement said ha had become disgusted with trying to independ- ent municipal administration in New York when May CT because oil the municipal efficiency in the city was in Tan,many This statement followed visible effects of Crokers reformation of Tammany. Croker had made a rule that corruption the misuse of public funds on the part of Tammany city official would mean his instant dismissal from the organization The weakened County Democracy and Tammany joined forces 1884 and nominated Grace for Mayor ana he elected similar combination nominat- ed Abram & Hewitt, wealthy lawyer and brother in-aw of Edward Cooper in 1886. Hewitt lad been started on a political by Tden, and for years he had been a prominent Democratic leader in Congress- Henry George whose Progress and Pow erty' and other had stirred to restlessness great element of the laboring population was nom mated by labor party. Tammanys strength has always largely from the working men. Theodore Roosevelt, who a member of the Legislature had been bitterly assailing the unholy alliance between Tammany the fast disintergrating County Democ- racy thought he his chance, sought and gv- en the Republican Mayoraty nomination In many respects the most exciting municipal campaign New York ever witnessed followed Hewitt elected by than 6O00O plurality and Roosevelt ran third in the The County Democracy dsap- peared forever, and Roosevelt went to Dakota, dsap- pointed nigh despair but still under the watchful eye of destiny. At the next election Tammany went back to Boss Kellys friend, Hugh Grant who had been defeated for Mayor and clamored for vindica- tion and he served terms. Croker made peace with Gov Hill and for years he not only dominated New York City, but became the controlling factor in the Democratic party of the State.
 But new time has Long Croker aged and broken in health, quit the leadership of Tammany and to make certain against being drafted into service again went back to ancestral Ireland where he has lived the quiet life of retired country gentleman.
 Murphy-the "Unspeakable Murphy" said Hearst from a half thousand rostrum-became Tammany leader forcefulness second only to that of Croker in New York political history was weakened in effec tiveness by an ambition to become National leader He fought reform wherever he found it. He joined with Smith of New Jersey to fight the reform Gov ernor of that State. He attempted to be one of the controlling factors of the Baltimore convention. and vention, and then threw all the weight of his in fluence and the strength of the great New York delegation into protracted battle to prevent the nom ination of Wilson. Bryan denounced him from the convention platform Wilson was nominated elected and refused to recognize Murphy's right to control New York patronage The feud has continued, and is continuing In 1913 Murphy lost control of New York City. Then came the fight with Suizer. loday conditions are much the same they when the Democrats of the Nation recognized Tden and Cleveland as New York leaders. short time ago stetson and Mitchell and other independent New York Democrats again called into existence Coun- ty Democracy and it's purpose is to fight Murphy for control of the regular Democratic organization as Thompson and the others fought John Kelly
 The final outcome of the contest will be watched with interest.