New York has suffered under Tammany misrule for many years. Spasmodic efforts have been made to throw off the burden, and there was, indeed, some partial success in 1893 when the "reform movement" carried Strong in as mayor. But that made no serious inroads into Tammany's authority, Tammany's strength and success have depended upon its well-nigh perfect Richard Croker—is recognised as chief, and his sway is absolute. Under him are his lieutenants, commonly known as district chiefs, and each controls his section of the city, subdividing its territory, as may be necessary. Tammany puts politics on a business basis. The ward or district leader knows how many votes his party may expect from his district, and he knows upon whom to depend for them. For votes he will offer reward in the shape of public office or the hope of it; he will intimidate, if that seems more effective; by ostentatious generosity to the poor, in the shape of picnic or a little provision, he will appeal to their gratitude where that will best work. There are now 45,000 places in the city's employ, filled by Tammany men and every man is supposed to be able to influence ¥otes besides his own. The success of Fusion against a foe so well entrenched as this is remarkable, indeed. Reward comes to the district leader, in the holding of important city office, the hidden sharing in contracts for city work is the premium which vice pays for its existence. New York knows a regular scale of prices, for which illegal resorts are allowed to do business under police protection. Poolrooms, police games, gambling places, di orderly houses, saloons where liquor is sold at all hours of all days, flourish unmolested. And every month, a representa tive of the police, captain of the district, makes his round among them like a landlord's agent collecting rent. And part of this may go to the district leader.
The conditions that now exist did not spring up at once full grown. They have been developing ever since 1886. when Richard Croker succeeded to the leadership of Tammany. But now the people of New York have found them intolerable.
Yet the contest of two years hence, when a city administration must again be elected, may prove even more important than this. Tammany will fight with the energy of desperation then. One such defeat such as it has just had it may survive; another defeat two years from now would sound its death knell.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.