He was ,re-elected, and in 1910 William J. Gaynor was elected by Tammany. While Mr. Gaynor was markedly independent, yet Tam many held its grip on most of New York's political activities. In 1913 the fusion candi date, John Purroy Mitchell, beat the Tammany forces, and there was a partial return to Re publican rule. However, notwithstanding Mitchell's acknowledged ability and popularity, Tammany beat him in 1917, with an almost un known candidate, John F. Hylan. Tammany maintains in Manhattan probably the strongest and best organized political machine -in the world. While there are Democratic organiza tions and leaders in the outlying boroughs, they are known to be subservient to Tammany, and the assembly districts all have Tammany leaders—the very name of Democratic organi zation is lost. Permanent headquarters and leaders exist in each of the 23 assembly dis tricts and subordinates handle the details like a great army. They are in business all the year around and every day in the year, aiming to maintain their hold in all the political offices and all the expenditure of public moneys that they possibly can. The fact that they have been able to place many judges on the bench as well as to control most of the executive of fices has at times been the subject of great scandal. Yet membership in the organization
includes very many men of high character and patriotism, and their influence at times is apparent.
Tammany for many years has catered to and largely held the votes of the poorer classes — charity has been dispensed widely from the district offices; bureaus are maintained to give work to those who can be depended upon to vote with the organization; excursions, parties and dances are given freely; those who have a bad habit of getting into jail for small offenses are systematically bailed. Notwithstanding that, members and followers have been charged time and again with catering to vice, even dis cussing it and trafficking in it; with dishonesty and wastefulness of public funds; with placing and keeping incompetents in office, and the en tire list of political mistakes, weaknesses and crimes, yet after every exposure and temporary reform, the same old Tammany comes back to power and dominates the politics of the world's largest city. Consult Breen, 'Thirty Years of New York Politics> (1899); Lewis, 'Richard Croker' (1901) • Riordon, 'Plunkett of Tam many Hall) (1405); Forrest, J. W., 'Tam many's Treason' (Albany 1913).