Thus passed away the second absolute “boss” of Tammany Hall. For more than ten years 50,000 voters obeyed his commands, and it was he and not the people to whom a host of office-holders, contractors, and all who profited directly or indirectly from politics, looked as the source of their appointment, employment or emolument. On more than one occasion Kelly complained of his onerous duty of providing government for New York City. The secret of his control was the same as that of Tweed and of the previous cliques: he knew that a large part of the voting mass cared nothing for good government, but looked upon politics solely as a means of livelihood; that another large part were satisfied to vote the “regular” ticket under any and all circumstances; and, with a keen understanding of human nature, he knew how to harmonize conflicting interests, to allay personal differences, and to soothe with large promises of future rewards his disaffected followers. Profiting by Tweed’s fate, he knew the value of moderation; and he earned the praise, not only of his interested followers, but also of a tolerant and easy-going class in the community, through the fact that under his rule the stealing, compared to that of the Tweed régime, was kept at a comparatively respectable minimum. It was pointed out to his credit that the fortune he left--reputed to be $500,000--was very reasonable for one who so long had held real control of a great city. FOOTNOTES [1] _Document No. 8_, p. 102. [2] _Testimony, Senate Committee on Cities_, 1890, Vol. I, pp. 682-98. [3] _Ibid._, 733, and _Ibid._, Vol. II, p. 1693. [4] _Proceedings of the Board of Aldermen_, Vol. CLXXV, pp. 237-39. [5] Alderman Arthur J. McQuade’s testimony before Recorder Smythe, November 19, 1886. [6] Alderman Fullgraff’s additional testimony before Recorder Smythe. [7] _Proceedings of the Board of Aldermen_, Vol. CLXXVI, pp. 777-84. [8] _Testimony, Senate Committee on Cities_, 1890, Vol. I, pp. 706-7. [9] _Ibid._, Vol. I, p. 752. [10] _Ibid._, p. 744. [11] _Testimony, Senate Committee on Cities_, 1890, Vol. III, pp. 2667-68. [12] Testimony of Hugh J. Grant, _Ibid._, Vol. I, p. 739. CHAPTER XXVIII THE DICTATORSHIP OF RICHARD CROKER 1886-1897 Upon the death of Kelly, the twenty-four leaders of the Assembly Districts, comprising the executive committee of Tammany Hall, announced individually that there would be no further “boss,” and that the organization would be ruled thenceforth by a committee of twenty-four. However, cliques immediately arose, and soon four leaders--Richard Croker, who had been a sort of deputy “boss” under Kelly; Hugh J. Grant, Thomas F. Gilroy and W. Bourke Cockran--arranged a junta for administering the organization’s affairs. By securing the support of 17 of the 24 leaders, Mr. Croker began concentrating power in his own hands, and for about fourteen years remained the absolute ‘boss’ of both society and organization.