Tammany Society

Tammany Society, a Democratic political organisation of New York City, derives its name from an Indian chief who is said to have signed the treaty with Penn, and round whom many fanciful legends afterwards gathered. Washington's Pennsylvania troops chose him as their patron saint in place of St George; and on his 'day,' May 12, 1789, the society—although at first as the Columbian Order, to rival the Cincinnati (q.v.)—was founded under a grand sachem and twelve subordinate chiefs of tribes. The organisation soon became a party 'machine,' and by its aid Aaron Burr was raised to the vice-presidency. In 1805 the Tammany Society was formally chartered, its professed objects charity and the extension of the franchise. Its first hall was built in 1811; by 1822 the society had grown too large, and the management and practically all the power were transferred to a general committee of three delegates from each ward. Tammany took a leading part in city politics from the first, and flourished steadily; its new hall was built in 1867-68. Meanwhile the number of the general committee had risen to over 1400, delegates ultimately being sent from each district and precinct; and finally a central 'committee on organisation' was chosen from this unwieldy body, whose chairman was 'boss' of the hall. The most notorious of these 'bosses' was William M. Tweed, whose gigantic frauds, and those of the 'ring' of which he was the chief, were finally exposed in 1871; Tweed was convicted, and died in gaol while suits were pending against him for the recovery by the city of $6,000,000. This catastrophe crippled the power of Tammany, but its influence was by no means killed, though it is unquestionably used entirely for the pecuniary benefit of its leaders. In 1895 an investigation by the Lexow Committee showed extraordinary corruption in the police and municipal government, due to Tammany, which, notwithstanding, carried the municipal elections. In 1899 the State Legislature interfered and appointed another committee. The corruption discovered in the police and other departments was worse than ever.