USA > New York > History of the state of New York, political and governmental, Vol. V > Part 27
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Dr. Duffield's stirring eloquence was followed by the adoption of resolutions pledging patriotic support to
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the President and to the government. They were trans- mitted to President Wilson and evoked a very feeling expression of gratitude and appreciation from him that is among the most treasured things in the Wigwam.
The ulcerous growth of ideas inimical to the declared purposes of the Society of Tammany or Columbian Order, and subversive of our system of government, ex- cited a great deal of discussion in the meetings of the Society all through the days of the late war and during the period after its close. It was early determined that the institution was bound to do and say everything within its power to combat and counteract the insidious agitation against the Constitution and against law and order. At the meeting of December 1, 1919, a resolu- tion was adopted calling for the appointment of a com- mittee to consider what could be done by the Society to the best advantage in the matter. This committee re- ported to the February meeting, and its report was adopted, as follows :
"Whereas, A dangerous and destructive element has been endeavor- ing to gain a foothold in our country, has been planning to delude our people with emissaries of false promise, and has been attempting to create in our land of freedom, of plenty, and of opportunity the condi- tions of horror and havoc which exist in Russia, and are there perhaps explicable as reactions against ages of autocracy, repression, and op- pression, but here are exotic and only possible as the results of fraud and deception, or of enemy foreign force; and
"Whereas, The Columbian Order or Society of Tammany is com- mitted by its constitution and constrained by its record of nearly one hundred and fifty years to active and energetic efforts for the preser- vation of our form of government, and is pledged to fidelity to the Constitution of the United States, under which we find protection and security for our civil and religious rights ; and
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"Whereas, The sturdy common sense and sound public conscience of the American people can be relied upon to stand firm against the most insidious propaganda of destruction aimed at the fabric of our government and based on the advocacy of murder, arson, and pillage; therefore be it
"Resolved, That the Columbian Order or Society of Tammany hereby renews its declaration of uncompromising opposition to any and every propaganda or activity aiming at, or tending to, the subversion of our system of government or the destruction of our institutions of law and order; and be it further
"Resolved, That a public meeting be called of the citizens of New York, irrespective of party or nationality, in the Great Wigwam, 145 East Fourteenth Street, or some other suitable place, for Sunday, February 22, the anniversary of the birthday of the Father of the Country, to create, arouse, and avow sentiments of patriotism, and that the county committees of the Republican and Democratic organi- zations, and all political county committees favorable thereto, be in- vited and urged to unite with and assist the Columbian Order in making this demonstration effective and impressive; and be it further
"Resolved, That the officers and members of all other patriotic societies and organizations and individuals be and they are hereby in- vited and urged to join with this Society in this meeting, and in this movement as a whole, to the end that all the forces in opposition to an avowed attack upon government, society, religion, and morality may be united to more effective work; and be it further
"Resolved, That a campaign of education through the medium of circulated printed matter, addresses in public schools, halls, club-rooms, etc., be instituted and conducted by this Society and all other societies and persons who may be pleased to join with us, to enlighten the mis- guided and misled who may have been won or who are in danger of being won away from their patriotic allegiance to our glorious coun- try, to teach anew to its people the lesson that the forefathers taught, that 'Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,' to counsel the careless and unthinking that those who would undermine and destroy our free institutions, whether they be native or naturalized in nominal citizen-
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ship, or are confessedly foreigners, are really alike all aliens in heart and mind and thought ; and be it further
"Resolved, That the spiritual leaders and revered teachers in the pulpits of all sects and denominations be respectfully requested to take their stand with the other forces ranged on the side of law and order, of decency, of righteousness, and of security, and against rapine and blood-letting, and that proclamations, posters, and advertising mediums be employed for proclaiming and promulgating the truth on these vital subjects."
The meeting authorized under these resolutions was held in Cooper Union and proved to be one of the most notable public demonstrations ever made, even in that hall with its great record of historic gatherings. Sachem Wauhope Lynn called the meeting to order, and turned it over to Grand Sachem John R. Voorhis as the pre- siding officer. Thomas R. Marshall, Vice-President of the United States, was the principal orator, and his ad- dress was most stirring in its patriotic fervor and con- vincing in its logic as applied to the fallacies of the agi- tators against our government of the people.
Ogden L. Mills, Jr., formerly a Republican member of the State Senate, made as great a hit as the Vice-Pres- ident. He presented a scholarly and conclusive array of figures showing the great wealth of our country and the remarkable and general distribution of that wealth among home and farm-owners, savings bank and build- ing loan depositors, and owners of business and manu- facturing outfits, Liberty bonds, and all sorts of securi- ties. Though weighted with statistical information Senator Mills's address was so skillfully handled that he held the absorbed interest of the audience to the last word and the last figure.
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Alfred E. Smith, Governor of New York, himself a member and a sachem of the Tammany Society, fol- lowed with an address on the same lines of argument, that the record of the country and its people, the marvel- lous prosperity that they shared, the participation in its office-holding responsibilities and emoluments by rich and poor alike, proved that equality of opportunity and absence of oppression were its distinguishing features. He deduced the assurance that the structure based on such solid foundation was secure against attacks which could only be based on deception and misrepresenta- tion.
The other speakers, of scarcely less interest than those who had gone before, were Very Rev. John J. Dunn, chancellor of the R. C. diocese of New York, Bishop James H. Darlington, of a diocese in Pennsylvania of the Protestant Episcopal Church, Rev. Dr. Joseph Sil- verman, Rabbi of Temple Manu-El, City of New York, and Colonel Henry M. Bankhead, of headquarters, de- partment of the East, United States Army, representing General Robert Lee Bullard, in command.
Robert L. Luce read the following resolutions, which he had drawn up for the committee, and they were en- thusiastically adopted by the meeting :
"Whereas, The menace to civilization which was turned against us by the enemy in the World War is still being directed to efforts to destroy our form of government and to supplant law and order with force and violence, and is now, as then, the product of alien influences ; and
"Whereas, The supporters of civilization rallied to its defense all the nations of the earth which recognized the truth and vitality of the principles of civil liberty enunciated in the Declaration of Inde-
THOMAS F. FOLEY
Thomas F. Foley, political leader; born in Brooklyn, N. Y., February 3, 1852; attended common schools until fourteen years of age when he went to work to support his family consisting of a younger brother, sister and mother. He was elected a councilman for lower New York, elected an alderman for sec- ond assembly district; elected sheriff of New York county in 1907; made a leader of Tammany Hall in 1902 and since re- mained in such capacity.
LEWIS NIXON
Lewis Nixon, shipbuilder and Tammany leader; born at Leesburg, Va., April 7, 1861; graduated at U. S. naval academy 1882 and sent to the Royal naval college at Greenwich, Eng., by the navy department; designed three battleships in 1890 and built 100 vessels in six years; appointed by Mayor VanWyck as president of the East River Bridge commission 1891; succeeded Richard Croker as leader of Tammany Hall in November, 1901, and resigned in May, 1902; chairman of the finance committee of the democratic congressional campaign committee, 1902; dele- gate to democratic national conventions in 1900, 1904, 1908; ap- pointed by President Taft as a delegate to the Pan-American conference.
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TIMOTHY DANIEL SULLIVAN
Timothy Daniel Sullivan, political leader; born in New York City January 6, 1863; educated in the public schools ; engaged in the real estate and theatrical business; elected to the state assembly in 1886 and served until 1893; member of the state senate, 1894-1902; elected to congress and served from March 4, 1903 until July 27, 1908, when he resigned; reelected to the state senate in 1908 and served until 1913; killed by a train in New York City October 24, 1913.
THOMAS F. SMITH
Thomas F. Smith, secretary; born in New York City; edu- cated at Manhattan college and received the degree of LL.B. from the New York law school; clerk of the city court of New York, 1897-1917; secretary of the democratic county committee for 25 years; secretary of the Tammany Society for 22 years; delegate to the constitutional convention of 1915; delegate to the democratic national conventions of 1916 and 1920; elected to congress April 12, 1917 to fill the unexpired term of Michael Conrey, deceased; re-elected and served from March 4, 1919 to March 3, 1921; public administrator New York City, 1921 ---
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pendence, and for the preservation of which our Union was formed and our Constitution was framed ; and
"Whereas, Those attacks are made openly, and the enemies of our government are daily conducting a system of proselyting to gain ad- herents to the cause of violence and disorder ; therefore be it
"Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that immediate steps be taken to counteract the efforts of the advocates of violence and dis- order by a comprehensive system of public instruction in American patriotism and American institutions and history.
"Resolved, That the chairman of this meeting appoint a committee composed of the members from the various patriotic organizations par- ticipating in this meeting to coordinate, conduct, and direct the system of instruction in American patriotism, institutions, and history.
"Resolved, That this committee extend a cordial invitation to all other loyal patriotic organizations desiring to assist in this work of Americanization to join us in this cause of patriotic education.
"Resolved, That this committee be empowered to arrange for the organization of such schools as it may deem proper and necessary to effect the objects of this meeting; to prepare a course of instruction; engage and discharge the persons to conduct such schools; to secure the use of such school-houses, clubs and club-houses, halls, and other suit- able places for holding such schools of instruction ; and to arrange for the attendance of such persons as may require instruction or are will- ing to receive instruction in the principles of civil liberty and our American institutions."
As of to-day, the Society of Tammany or Columbian Order is a secret organization with a sign, a grip, and a password, whose membership is cemented by a solemn obligation and whose ritual, initiation, and other cere- monies are not made public. The obligation bears no resemblance to the bloody and terrible oaths used by some organizations. It is inspired by no vengeful or dire purpose. Its every word and sentiment support and encourage patriotism and loyalty instead of making
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them subordinate, as is the case with the socialism and sovietism which are as foreign to this land as are the Mafia and the Tongs. The mystic forms and ceremonies that were necessary for the protection of the brothers in the earlier days, and doubtless were of value in recruit- ing interest in the movement, are now of only historic concern and only treasured as a link connecting with a glorious past. This must not be understood as involving any weakening in the force of the obligation as it applies to the support of our form of government, to fidelity to the Constitution of the United States, and to devotion to the principles of law and order. Nor does it imply any defection from the standards represented by the slogan, "Freedom is our Rock."
Taking the Society and the political organization to- gether, it is a matter of constant marvel to those who look at it from the outside to note the spirit of loyalty to the institution that inspires the rank and file. And the earnestness and sincerity of the officers furnish an ex- ample to the devoted of whatever cause. For an ex- emplification of this fact we can draw much of informa- tion as to the body and spirit of Tammany from an ad- dress by Thomas F. Smith, member of Congress, the long-time secretary of Tammany. Representative Smith was asked to talk about Tammany before an audience on an occasion that was half political and half social. Newspaper men from abroad in the land were among those present. The impression made by the Tammany spokesman was so great that his remarks were reported and sent out all over the country. Many thousands of readers must have had their preconceived
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notions of Tammany very materially modified, as Mr. Smith spoke as one having authority and his utterances had the force of irrefutable fact. Some portions of the address have so much of the loyal spirit above referred to, and all of it presents so much of information, that it may well be quoted from liberally for the present writ- er's purpose of conveying an understanding of the insti- tution, its aims, its spirit, and the character of its organi- zation. No better use could possibly be made of the same space to show what Tammany is, what Tammany does, and what Tammany thinks.
Mr. Smith began by recalling Mayor Gaynor's ad- vice to be careful about believing all you read in the newspapers, and said :
"Most of our New York citizens usually follow Mayor Gaynor's advice when reading some of the pre- posterous tales told now and then about Tammany. The time-proven facts are that while it is the best abused political organization in the world, that while slander has been hissing at it during all the long years of its existence, that while its foes have come and gone, old Tammany still lives and flourishes in all its pristine strength and glory. The simple truth is that Tammany has always relied upon the wisdom, good sense, and fair- ness of the people to judge between the true and the sham. This is the reason why no fusion Mayor was ever known to succeed himself, while Tammany admin- istrations have so often succeeded each other. In other words, when deception and vilification win the day and the so-called reformers are favored with the adminis- tration of city affairs, the people soon think of the lesson
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taught by the well-known epitaph upon the churchyard tombstone:
" 'I was well, I wanted to be better. I took physic, and here I am.'
"The time-honored Society has stood the test of one hundred and thirty years despite all the abuse, the scoffs, and the calumny that partisan rancor could inspire. It needs no defense. Its glorious history speaks for itself. It stands to-day the strongest political organization on earth. Of all such institutions it alone has fought the fight and kept the faith undiscouraged and undismayed whether in sunshine or in storm, with patronage and without patronage, in victory and in defeat.
"Tammany is the home in the metropolis of the Democracy of the brave and dauntless kind. Its slogan is, 'Fight for the Democratic ticket, the whole Demo- cratic ticket, and nothing but the Democratic ticket.' Its partisan foes never tire of calling it a corrupt politi- cal machine run by politicians and ruled by a 'boss.' They speak the truth and they compliment the organi- zation by calling it a machine, but their further char- acterization is an outcropping of envy, hatred, and malice. An effective political organization in a Demo- cratic community should be and must be a good ma- chine, for the working of its different parts is absolutely essential to the performing of its duty and its function of promoting Democratic success. A machine is usually one of the most wonderful products of the human brain. His invention and utilization of machines is a more dis- tinctive sign of the difference between man and the lower animals than any other that can be cited in morals
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or in physics. No machine-no political machine-was ever invented that in discipline, regularity, patriotism, and service to the people has surpassed the Tammany one. Certain it is that we have had none in our city that has excelled it in helping to give the people wise, honest, and economical administration of the city government. Of course it is necessary to have men to run the ma- chine, and in many cases they are men who seem to be- come fascinated with the work and in a manner become parts of the machine and sink their personalities in its workings. They are known as the workers, the district captains, and the leaders. They do the work because they like it and because they believe that there is only one loyal, militant democracy in their section, and that it is represented by time-honored Tammany.
"Now as to the development of the leader. There are those who believe or pretend to believe that the dis- trict leader springs up overnight and takes his leader- ship by force. As a matter of fact, the law regulates his selection and he is chosen directly by the enrolled Democrats of his district. As a general rule he has lived in the district most all his life. His neighbors know him and respect his character. He must be intelligent, energetic, courageous, patient, tolerant, kind, and sym- pathetic. He must have a heart, and it must always be in the right place. It is really the heart that counts more than the head or anything else, and holds him safe in the affections of his people. He must be intensely human. He need not be a student of the classics, but he must be of human nature. He must have an infinite supply of patience and a ready sympathy. He must be
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at the beck and call of his constituents all hours of the day and night. As a dispenser of charity he is usually a wonder. Sermons are preached about the poor and their woeful condition, and sometimes there are those who make quite a fuss and flutter about the necessity for relief. That seems to satisfy their consciences. In the meantime, and while the talk is going on, it is commonly found that the Tammany leader has quietly gone about the work of caring for the needy and distressed. It was of such that it was written :
" "There are those who come when black Sorrow's your guest,
To weep with you over your dead,-
Friends who seem in the midst of your heartache's unrest
To know just what ought to be said.
But the prince of them all, when grim trouble stalks by
And your heart can do nothing but bleed, Is the fellow who comes when there's no one else nigh
And whispers: "How much do you need?" '
"The Tammany leaders are chosen by the Demo- cratic electors of their districts once a year. The law provides that each party must elect a district committee annually. There are twenty-three Assembly districts in New York county, and therefore twenty-three district committees. All these committees together, nearly twelve thousand members, constitute the Democratic county committee, and this political product of the laws governing the people's representation for the Demo- cratic party in New York county is the Tammany Hall of to-day.
"The law further directs that within ten days after their election these committees must meet in their re-
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spective districts and organize by electing officers. Ex- ecutive members or leaders, men and women, are among the officers so elected to manage the affairs of the organi- zation in each district and to represent it in the councils of the party in Fourteenth Street. There the executive members so chosen sit as the executive committee of the Democratic county committee, and this is the body which elects the leader of the general organization, the man who is known colloquially as the 'boss' and who thus becomes automatically the target for abuse and vilification from those who oppose him in other fac- tions of his own party or in other parties. You will see, though, that the leader of the organization, and the dis- trict leaders as well, directly represent the voters and cannot hold their positions any longer than the voters in their party wish them to.
"Tammany has been particularly fortunate in having had, with few exceptions, able and upright leaders. Mr. Kelly, Mr. Croker, and Mr. Murphy are alike in hav- ing come up from the ranks to the head of the organiza- tion. Mr. Murphy, though called to the general com- mand eighteen years ago, has never relinquished his dis- trict leadership.
"When the district leaders select the head of the or- ganization they usually choose a man because of his political foresight, his integrity, sagacity, honesty, tenac- ity of purpose, firmness, uprightness, and prudence. In- deed, he must have all of these qualities in a generous degree to last any length of time. He must be impervi- ous to unjust assaults on his character, deaf to calumny and the grossest kind of misrepresentation. Otherwise
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he will develop heart trouble and go to an early grave. He must also be reasonably reticent and not easily tempted to answer every ridiculous charge. His chief satisfaction must be in being head of the oldest, the strongest, and the best Democratic organization in the land-an organization that has been serving the people for over a century,-and in the realization that the ma- jority of the great electorate of his city still have con- fidence in its integrity and efficiency. Mr. Murphy has held the leadership much longer than any of his prede- cessors.
"Politics is an interesting and absorbing science. Its pursuit takes brains, ability, and training of no mean order. The politician is the man trained in the school of politics. He is usually a man born with a genius for the game. He is not necessarily or always an office- holder. He must, however, recognize the fact that politics is but the necessary instrument to effect govern- ment by the people, that it is a requisite means to an end. The people who believe in and support Tammany rec- ognize, in this same way, that there is a necessity for a compact and efficient organization that is able to ad- vance and apply the principles they believe in and con- sider for the best interests of the community. They have the conviction, which they have so often effectively voiced at the polls, that an organization like Tammany is the inevitable outgrowth of government adminis- tered as a republic. They believe that the management of a majestic city like ours is a tremendous and serious problem, one which should only be committed to a re-
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sponsible and efficient organization which the people can find and hold responsible.
"History shows that in all ages and in all climes it has been the fate of successful leaders and successful parties to be maligned and most atrociously misrepre- sented. The better and more successful the leader and the organization, the more bitter and the more virulent the attacks. Success is ever the target. Judging from this standpoint it must be admitted that Tammany has achieved some monumental successes. Fortunately it is also true that abuse and accusations levelled against leaders and organizations must be backed up with proof if they are to serve any purpose beyond that of furnish- ing an ephemeral sensation of the hustings. Thirty years of virulent partisan attacks on the Tammany leader of his time, with the appellation of 'boss' relied upon to strengthen and flavor the slanderous messes, have marked and marred the campaigns for city offices. Sometimes the voters have been deluded and these tac- tics have succeeded. But the elected officials have never followed up their campaign charges with any proof or found themselves able to carry out their preëlection promises and threats to convict Tammany men and send them to prison. And so Tammany survives and so Tammany comes back.
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