Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-30
TAMMANY ALERT
AS FIGHT. BEGINS
First Big Gathering in Clean
up Campaign Finds Tiger for
Show of Law Enforcement.
BY LEMUEL F. PARTON.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, March 3O-New York
police heads have assigned special de-
tails to tonight's meeting of protest
against civic corruption, with emphatic
instruction to protect the speakers and
audience against heckling or disturbance
The meeting will be the first large
public gathering in a cleanup" CAM
paign which already has moved out into
the stream of national politics and
which, according to informed observers,
is scheduled to carry through to the
mayoralty campaign of 1888. Tammany
is meeting the opening onslaught not by
calling out the Gas House gang, as in
the old days, but by a scrupulous en-
forcement of every outward Semblance
OF law and order.
1t is down in the Sub-basement of or
ganization politics and in sharp repri-
sails against both Democratic and Re-
publican factions that Tammanys most
energetic fighting is being done now.
In its own defensive cleanup, foreStall-
ing the legislative investigation ordained
by a Republican Legislature, it has
moved first against an Al Smith ap-
pointee in causing the arrest of Rollin
G. Bastress, inspector Of the Bureau Oh
Buildings. on the charge Of having &C.
copied a bride of $1,000.
It has gestured menacingly against
George u. Harvey. Republican preSi-
dent of the Borough of Queens, and IT
has promised arrests and indictments
in the department of markets, stated
by AL Smith clanSmen and other adner-
ents of the new Tanmany."
Tammany, which doesn't Intend 70
support Smith for President, has not
decided on the stand toward Gov. Roose-
welt. 1t was jolted by Roosevelt's ap-
pcintment of Judge Seabury to investi-
gate the district attorneys office, and
awaits word from John F. Curry, leader
of the Hall, before determining its at
titude toward the Governor.
Tsmmany intends to show, before the
anti-corruption drive goes much further,
that the few minor peccadilloes of the
present administration are chargeable
to such renegades as new Tammanyites
and such sworn foes ss Republicans,
and to legacieS of past administrations
This is Tammany's white book as the
guns begin to roar, according to the
lowered asides which one gets from a
closely regimented and disciplined or
ganization front.
There is, furthermore, an extreme
sensitiveness on the part of the Tiger
10 the lamDaSIlIlB WHICH 1dIllHld1ly ~
getting throughout the country as re-
suit of the New York scandals. It had
been feeling its way to a rapprochment
with the alien South, and it happens
that the denunciation of Democratic
shortcomings in New York has been
particularly virulent in the South.
1t may safely be said that the ma
tional political outlook has been ex-
ceedingly scrambled by graft and crime
headlines which have been waited
across the country from the metropo-
lis. The rank and file of the organi-
zstion is clinging to the idea that it
may still catch step with Gov. Roose-
welt and move with him toward Wash
1ngton.
Today's announcement that not only
the Board of Standards and Appeals
but the Department of Markets would
be shaken up by Mayor Walker on his
return already has started buzzing
among New Yorks 10000 city job
holders. There have been threats
among those under fire that they also
have some tales to tell If they are
pressed too hard.
If things go on the way they are
now, it looks as If every hollow tree
and rat hole around here might be
tenanted before long
copyright, 1919