128 Machine Politics 



licans, of the County Democracy,* and of Tammany 

 Hall, that of the last being perhaps the most perfect, 

 viewed from a machine standpoint. Although with 

 wide differences in detail, all these bodies are organ- 

 ized upon much the same general plan; and one 

 description may be taken in the rough, as applying 

 to all. There is a large central committee, com- 

 posed of numerous delegates from the different as- 

 sembly districts, which decides upon the various 

 questions affecting the party as a whole in the 

 county and city; and then there are the various 

 organizations in the assembly districts themselves, 

 which are the real sources of strength, and with 

 which alone it is necessary to deal. There are dif- 

 ferent rules for the admission to the various dis- 

 trict primaries and caucuses of the voters belonging 

 to the respective parties; but in almost every case 

 the real work is done and the real power held by 

 a small knot of men, who in turn pay a greater or 

 less degree of fealty to a single boss. 



The mere work to be done on election day and 

 in preparing for it forms no slight task. There is 

 an association in each assembly or election district, 

 with its president, secretary, treasurer, executive 

 committee, etc.; these call the primaries and cau- 

 cuses, arrange the lists of the delegates to the 

 various nominating conventions, raise funds for 

 campaign purposes, and hold themselves in commu- 

 nication with their central party organizations. At 



* Since succeeded every year or two by some other anti- 

 Tammany Democratic organization or organizations. 



