Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1899. Tammany.

Manawatu Herald, 13 May 1899, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1899. Tammany.

The evils of the rule of Tammany have been revealed both by Mr Stead and also by the Committee set up in New York, sufficient to make every person dread its growth in their midst. What has to be guarded against is the action of persons who strain to obtain their own ends regardless of the compulsion, or unfair persuasion they bring upon others, the success gained in such small matters emboldening them to use such powers in greater matters. The enormous " rings " or " trusts " of America had their origin in small beginnings, first by gaining unscrupulous voters on their side, and then by the aid thus obtained placing compliant aldermen at the Council table. To find such men suitable tor their desires it is certain that they had to be tested.

by the very many methods at the recourse of these schemers. The first point in all the arrangements appears to be the selection of men whose action shall be endorsed by the public representatives, and the machinery placed at the disposal of the public by which their affairs shall be conducted, is thus damaged and diverted from its true purpose. The position forces public representatives to give up all exercise of their own opinions and judgments to do the will of the time-being " Boss." Not one single man commences life with the idea of pursuing such a degraded position as the agent by force, or of bribery, or the hope of bettering himself by following the wishes of his dictator. But unless a public man keeps a very persistent watdi upon his public actions he may find himself swayed to do that which is against his own idea of right, by thinking his action may be pleasing to some one else. Directly a weakness of this sort is shown, an unscrupulous person knows he holds the control of that man, and should it be to his interest to better his condition at the expense of the State, he knows whom he can force to vote for him. The history of the power these Trusts possess makes it of the utmost necessity that the public should take an interest in the possibilities of their growth in this colony, and it would be well if the action, and the reason for such action, on the part of all persons holding public office should be well criticised, so that the first commencement of Tammany tactics can be effaced by such persons being sent back into private life.