Tammany

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

SOCIETY OF, or CO- LUMBIAN ORDER, formed in New York City in 1789, as a counterweight to the so-called "aristocratic" Society of the Cincinnati; deriving its name from a noted friendly Delaware chief named Tammany, who had been canonized by the soldiers of the Revolution as the patron saint of America. The grand sachem and 13 sachems were intended to typify the President and the governors of the 13 original States. The society was at first a social organization, but about 1800 the majority of its members were in sympathy with Aaron Burr, and the society entered politics under his standard. From the first the qualities that have always been most prominent in it prevailed, thorough orcanvass. a thorough ganization and Tammany was for a short time allied with DeWitt Clinton, but they separated and Tammany came to be recognized as the regular Democratic faction. It had thus gained a position in New York politics. Tweed was its "boss" in the days of his success, and his overthrow dealt it a severe blow, blow, though it has always recovered its position. He was followed by John Kelly; he in turn by Richard Croker, who directed the society's course in national and state campaigns till 1902. In January, 1902, Croker brought about as the appointment of Lewis Nixon chairman of the finance committee, the office in which the control of the organization resides. In 1903 Charles F. Murphy became leader, a position held to date. Tammany elected George B. Mc- Mr. Clellan and the entire ticket. McClellan was re-elected. In 1910 W. J. Gaynor was Tammany's successful candidate for mayor. John P. Mitchel won on a fusion ticket in 1913, but was defeated by the Tammany nominee, John F. Hylan, in 1917. Tammany's organization and traditions both tend to make it subject to the control of a small clique, and its large following in a state which is always doubtful gives it an influence in national politics otherwise out of proportion to its numerical strength.