User:DonnaWelles/Plunkitt of Tammany Hall

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall is a collection of speeches given by George Washington Plunkitt and recorded by William L. Riordon in the late 19th century. Mr. Plunkitt was a veteran member of the Tammany Hall political machine of New York City. The work serves as an illustration of how political machines of the era functioned as well as a model for a specific form of corruption- the idea of 'honest graft'.

"This volume discloses the mental operations of perhaps the most thoroughly practical politician of the day- George Washington Plunkitt, Tammany leader of the Fifteenth Assembly District, Sachem of the Tammany Society, and Chairman of the Elections Committee of Tammany Hall, who has held the offices of State Senator, Assemblyman, Police Magistrate, County Supervisor, and Alderman and who boasts of his record in filling four public offices in one year and drawing salaries from three of them at the same time.

The discourses that follow were delivered by him from the rostrum, the bootblack stand in the County Court-house, at various times during the last half-dozen years. Their absolute frankness and vigorous unconventionality of thought and expression charmed me. Plunkitt said right away that all practical politicians think but are afraid to say." - From preface written by William L. Riordon

List of the 'plain talks' included in the work:

Honest Graft and Dishonest Graft

Mr. Plunkitt distinguishes 'honest graft' from 'dishonest graft' by asserting that practitioners of 'honest graft' have public service in mind while they use their political office to generate personal profit. By contrast, 'dishonest graft' occurs when a statesman uses his office to accumulate personal profit regardless of the effect such a transaction has on the public. An example of 'honest graft' would be if a statesman acted on insider knowledge that public improvements were scheduled for a certain neighborhood by buying property in the neighborhood and selling it for a profit once it became widely known the improvements were coming.

How to Become a Statesman
The Curse of Civil Service Reform
Reformers only Mornin' glories
New York City is Pie for the Hayseeds
To Hold Your District - Study Human Nature and Act Accordin'
On "The Shame of the Cities"
Ingratitude in Politics
Reciprocity in Patronage
Brooklynites Natural-born Hayseeds
Tammany Leaders not Bookworms
Dangers of the Dress-suit in Politics
On Municipal Ownership
Tammany the Only Lastin' Democracy
Concerning Gas in Politics
The Successful Politician Does not Drink
Bosses Preserve the Nation
Concerning Excise
A Parting Word on the Future of the Democratic Party
Strenuous Life of the Tammany District Leader