II 



ADMINISTERING THE NEW YORK 

 POLICE FORCE* 



IN New York, in the fall of 1894, Tammany Hall 

 was overthrown by a coalition composed partly 

 of the regular Republicans, partly of anti-Tam- 

 many Democrats, and partly of Independents. Un- 

 der the latter head must be included a great many 

 men who in national politics habitually act with 

 one or the other of the two great parties, but who 

 feel that in municipal politics good citizens should 

 act independently. The tidal wave, which was run- 

 ning high against the Democratic party, was un- 

 doubtedly very influential in bringing about the anti- 

 Tammany victory ; but the chief factor in producing 

 the result was the widespread anger and disgust 

 felt by decent citizens at the corruption which, under 

 the sway of Tammany, had honeycombed every de- 

 partment of the city government, but especially the 

 police force. A few well-meaning people have at 

 times tried to show that this corruption was not so 

 very great. In reality it would be difficult to over- 

 estimate the utter rottenness of many branches of the 

 city administration. There were a few honorable 



and high-minded Tammany officials, and there were 



-. 

 * Atlantic Monthly, September, 1897. 



(203) 



