The New York herald., 1922-12-24

growth? A man who in the face OF
bitter attacks by press and pulpit and
uplift forces has risen year after year
until the end of his decade finds him
in control of State and city. Is it
some mysterious secret or some un-
canny sense of political sagacity?
Those questions have been asked
many times and asked of Mr.. Murphy.
He has smiled and never tried to an
swer. Perhaps he does not know him
self. But to the political observer 1t
would seem that the answer was not
far to seek. 1t isn't any great mys-
terry. All there is to it is this: Muir
ply plays politics every hour of the
day. every day of the week and every
week of the year. Not brilliant, he has
a good memory for detail and a good
sense of organizing. He knows his
men from one end OF the State 10 the
other; knows their strength and their
weaknesses. His loyalty to his aids
inspires remarkable loyalty from them.
He knows the little men. He plays
them hard.
A man in the Fifth was in trouble.
He went to Murphy and the boss fixed
1t and then disciplined the offender
a widow was having a hard job max
ing two ends meet. Murphy took
charge of her case. Her troubles were
smoothed out.
Those are the little things the boss
is doing day after day. That is what
Taminany means to the rank and filc
The newspapers record that Murphy
was at the Tammany Wigwag on a
certain day and saw a few of the big
leaders. There is no mention of the
dozen little fcllows-the Toms and
Mikes and Henrys who need "A little
help. Maybe It's rent; maybe the cost
of the funeral is too heavy: maybe
the family can't afford the doctor for
Annie.
None of those little troubles is too
trifiing for the boss. lie hears them
and he never passes one. There are
thousands of them, literally thousands
of just such little waves of good feel
ing and gratitude which Murphy has
started from the Hall and which in
the backwash mean votes.
That part Is not all a play with the
boss. either. Whatever may be said
Of him by friend or foe, 1t is fact that
he is intensely human. II doesn't ex-
press itself I'm mixing up with the boys
and frolicking. He is by nature al
ways reticent and retiring. But when
the human need enters, when one OF
tho TaInmany flock needs protection,
tho boss Is the gentlest and most
generous OF dictators.
The opposition to Murphy inside and
outside the organization spent most of
the time for ten years shouting: "Mur-
ply must gol" IL was a semi-annual
crusade. He kept along his way, get
ting "A little stronger here and there,
bolstering this and that spot
Now at the end OF twenty years he
has the city government under his
control He has carried New York by
tho biggest plurality ever recorded.
lie has elected Tammany's favorite
son. Alfred Il. Smith, as Governor by
the biggest plurality ever recorded in
-he state. lie has elected a United
States Senator. lie has a State Legis-
lature. n Board of Estimate, a Board
of Aldermen. county governments and
IN organization which Is like adamant
Thomas g. Platt never equaled this
political performance when he was
dictator of the Republican machine in
this state. The best David d. Mill
could do was run the state; he could
never win the city. Tweed never APP
proachod the great power held by
Murphy. Croker was almost a plker
compared with the present Tammany
boss. Outside of a few men in national
politics like Hanna no one man In this
country has possessed political power
like Murphy's when not In Office.