Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-10-10
The South and Tammany

People Of the eastern states are often at a loss 20
understand the antipathy toward the New York Tam
many organization expressed by political speakers VINO
are endeayoring to lead the Solid South into the re-
publican fold. Throughout the East Tammany is gem
orally recognized as one OF the most efficient, capabiy
managed, as well as the oldest political organization
in existence, and many Of the large metropolitan CEN
ters envy New York her Tammany Hall and the etli-
cient city and state governments which are the direc'
result Of such organization.
Tammany makes no pretense Of being a perfect or
ranization. There have been periods in the history OF
Tammany Hall over which the present membership Is
quite willing to draw a curtain; but the Tammany OF
the present day is TO more like the Tammany OF BOSS
Tweed than is the present corrupt Ware machine oil
Philadelphia similar to the organization Of William
Penn.
Southern democrats are largely responsible for the
existing antipathy toward the New York organization.
In the interparty battles Tammany has been made
the DOGGY for the edification Of southern democrats
The fact that Tammany proved a valued friend Of the
South during the days Of the South's greatest trial
the period Of rcconstruction-has been lost sight or
The South has overlooked the services rendered the
cause of the Socth by Samuel Tilden, grand sachem Of
T~ammany. elected by the democrats and defeated by
the Vaccinations Of those who were anything put
friends of the South. They have overlooked the aidex-
tended Grover Cleveland and Woodrow Wilson by Tam
many. through whose influence the state of New York
has gained the enviable reputation Of being the clean
est, best governed state on the Atlantic seaboard. The
opposition believes the South will still give evidence
of fear and t%repidation whenever the name OF Tam
many is mentioned, but the average Southern voter is
too familiar with the Tammany record Of recent years
TO be dismayed By the old DOGGY" used 50 effectively
in former campaigns.
No organization, especially one intended for poiti-
cal purposes, could exist for over a century without
displaying some dark blots on its record. The fact that
Tammany Is fundamentally a democratic institution IS
the only explanation for its survival after the days Of
BOSS" Tweed. In fact, the vitality Of this century,
old organization is such that it has successfully with
stood defeat after defeat, and has always emerged
ready to enter the next campaign with renewed
strength and power.
From the DAYS az Honest John" Kelly. who sue
eeeded BOSS" Tweed in 1872, Tammany has thrived and
exnanded its influence. The election of Tilden and
Seymour that year to the offices OF grand sachems Of
Tammany Hall gave Kelly the lieutenants necessary
for notification Of the organization. Ttlden was
elected governor Of New York in 1874. When Tilden
became the democratic standard bearer in 1876. Tam
many Hall was a unit in supporting him, and 1t was the
tremendous popular vote given Tilden that acted as a
warning 70 the republican leaders % halt their perse-
cuticn Of the South and extend mercy where no mercy
had heretofore been shown.
No one can deny that Tammany has many lmper-
fections; that in many respects it is lacking in the
highest ideals. But where is there a political organi-
cation that meets every ideal Of the American public?
Certainly, the Ware machine Of Philadelphia. the Mel
lon ring Of Pittsburgh or Thompson's gunner of Chi
caeo cannot be classed as the ideals. In comparison
with those organizations the Tammany Of the present
day Is spotlessly pure; and yet there are political lead
ers who ars advising the Southern voters 70 cast aside
the organization that befs ended the South when the
South needed a friend and cast their lot with those
organizations parading under the G. Q. ?. banner.