TAMMANY HALL

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 16, 20 January 1928, Page 8

TAMMANY HALL

A FAMOUS SOCIETY CONTROL OF NEW YORK THE BUILDING SOLD (From "The Post's" Representative.) NEW YORK, 2Sth December. Tammany Hall, the dingy, Indiancrowned building in Fourteenth street, has been sold for £150,000 in order to move uptown. The Tammany Society, or Columbian Order, was founded in New York City in May, 1759, by William Mooney, two weeks after tho Government of the United States was established. Mooney was £. soldier of the Revolutionary War, and he started the organisation as a "fraternity of patriots, solemnly consecrated to the independence, the popular liberty, and the Federal Union of tho country." The original members were those who, before the war, had been members of the "Sons of Liberty" and "Sons of St. Tammany," two societies organised to promote the cause of independence. The organisation was by tribes, one for each of the thirteen States. The nomenclature was selected from Indian words and phrases, the name of Tammany being adapted from that of an Indian chief whom tradition credited with great wisdom and with respect for white people. The members were called "braves," the place of meeting the "wigwam," and the States were named Eagle, Panther, Deer, etc. The head officer of each tribe was a "Sachem," and the head of the national organisation the "Grand Sachem." The honorary title of "Very Grand Sachem" was conferred on Washington and his successors for a time, but was abolished at the close of Jackson's administration. ' PEACE WITH THE CREEKS. In the first years of the country's history the Government tried, but failed repeatedly, to conclude a treaty of peace with the warlike Creek Indians. The Tammany Society undertook the task of reconciliation, and1 brought the chief and twenty-eight of his warriors to New York for a banquet in August, 1790. Then the members of Tammany, dressed in full Indian costume, escorted the Creeks to a conference with President Washington. The result was the signing of a treaty the next day. The New York Historical Society, the Academy of Design, and many other odueational institutions, were founded or fostered by Tammany. On 13th April, 1808, the society marched in a body to Wallabout Bay and laid tho foundation stones of a mausoleum, where they later deposited the bones of 11,600 revolutionary patriots. In the War of Secessiou, the Grand Sachem of Tammany, William* Kennedy, led a regiment composed of members who were equipped by the organisation. It would be difficult to record, in a brief review like this, even, a small part of the interesting and worthy exploits of this society during its early history. Tammany soon came to have a political significance. For many years it led practically a twofold existence— patriotic and political—with the leadership of both elements in the same hands. Tammany Hall, the home of the society, was eventually leased to the political element of its membership, with the privilege also of using the society's name. For a time there was a nominal connection between the two wings, but for nearly fifty years Tammany has been recognised as a political machine, wielding vast power, perfect in its organisation, and determined to control the government of the city and State of New York. NOTORIOUS SCANDALS. Many scandals darkened Tammany's history. The most notable occurred in 1871, when Tammany Hall was under the leadership of William M. Tweed, whose name is on the corner stone of

the building just sold. Par-reaching bribery and corruption were charged against the organisation, and Tweed was eventually sent to prison. About twenty-five years later, under the leadership of Eichard Crokcr, the power of Tammany spread, until its influence was felt in, national affairs. However, its effort to dominate national politics has never been successful. Such notoriety surrounded the last years of Crokcr'a reign that he preferred a residence in Great Britain rather than continue in the turmoil of New York politics. . His successor in the leadership was Charles F. Murphy, under whom Tammany was both victor and vanquished in election contests. Only twice since Choker's day has New York had an anti-Tammany Mayor. The present Tammany Hall existed —may continue to exist —because of its influence over the hordes of people in the East Side and across the river in Brooklyn, a part of Greater New York. Tammany holds the fealty of this great mass of voters by reason of its paternal care of their interests.