The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-11-06
I ammany Uses Relief Funds
to Build Political Machine
Letters Show How
Favoritism Is Basis
for Relief
NEW YORK. = Proof that
Tammany Mayor O'Brien, who
is now running under the slo-


is now running under the slo-
gan, Support Unemployment Relief;
Vote for O'Brien," used the meager
funds Of the Home Relief Bureau to
reward political supporters, has been
obtained by the Daily Worker.
In letter sent to the supervisor
of the 18th st. Relief Bureau asking
for aid for Joseph Di Marco this
significant sentence is found: This
is the man In whom Senator Wagner
is interested" Judging from the
notations on the letter the wheels OF
the Home Relief Bureau moved with
terrific speed to give the bearer re-
lief.
Another letter written by Thomas
Dorsey of the 14th Assembly District
on the official stationery of the
Board of Aldermen to the same Re-
lief Bureau states that Martin Byrnes
'shas been a member of our organiza-
ton (Tammany-Ed.) for the past
five years. He voted In the last cleo
tions and we know him to be Of good
character and a credit to the COM
munity he lives In"
Byrnes was given immediate relief.
Investigation Of this case by the
Daily Worker revealed that Brynes
was constantly drunk. He lived, to-
gether with three other companions,
at BIT e. list st. up until recently,
when he moved away. But not until
he had smashed all the windows and
doors Of the apartment after
drunken fight with his friends, ac-
cording to the janitress, Mrs.
Psarik. This is the credit to the
community" who receives swift re-
lief while workers who don't vote
right" are compelled to wait from
one month to two months before
their applications are passed on.
The supervisor, for example, OF
the 81st st. and York Ave. Bureau,
Bernard Pagan, is the son of one
of the most influential Democrats in
the state, who is the head Of the
New York State Parole Commission.
His son was appointed by Tammany
to the soft Job Of supervisor as a
political reward and to make sure
Tammany voters get theirs first.
Pagan, ST., has brother in-law
by the name of Highlander. AS soon
as this Mr.. Highlander failed the
Civil Service examinations for the
job of custodian of the Parole Beard,
Tammany Immediately utilized him
by placing him in charge Of all re-
| lief on Staten Island Highlander was
sure to appreciate this recognition OF
his capacity by the Democratic Party.
A delicatessen .storekeeper back in
January wanted to obtain permission
from the Home Relief to cash gro
Gerry vouchers. Realizing that he had
no groceries or vegetables which the
law specifies he must have before
he can cash the vouchen, Mr.. Gus
tave Schmidt of ATS Second Ave.
went to the Tannlany City Clerk of
New York, Michael j. Cruise, and
had little chat with him.
What passed between them is not
known, but the result was that on
Jan. "a Bernard Pagan duly received
a letter on city stationery from
Cruise stating that Schmidt had
lived in his district for 25 years and
that Fagan's kind endeavors in his
behalf will be greatly appreciated"
The investigator investigated" this
store which sells only canned food
and some cold meats, came back with
the right report, and this store was
permitted to cash grocery vouchers.
Such letters were not only sent IN
by Tammany leaders but also by Re-
publican leaders in the districts where
both parties were working hand in
hand in Fusion. This is the way in
which political machine keeps alive
and functioning.
Graft and political favors are the
lifeblood of all the capitalist parties
! seeking control in the city.