TAMMANY, 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 pa tron saint of America. The grand sach em and 13 sachems were intended to typ ify the President and the governors of the 13 original States.
The society was at first a social organ ization, but about 1800 the majority of its members were in sympathy with Aar on Burr, and the society entered politics under his standard. From the first the qualities that have always been most prominent in it prevailed, thorough or ganization and a thorough canvass. 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 pol itics. Tweed was its "boss" in the days of his success, and his overthrow dealt it a severe 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 the appointment of Lewis Nixon as chairman of the finance committee, the office in which the control of the organ ization resides. In 1903 Charles F. Mur phy became leader, a position held to date. Tammany elected George B. Mc Clellan and the entire ticket. Mr. McClellan was re-elected. In 1910 W. J. Gaynor was Tammany's successful can didate for mayor. John P. Mitchel won on a fusion ticket in 1913, but was de feated by the Tammany nominee, John F. Hylan, in 1917.
Tammany's organization and tradi tions 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.