ANNIE MATHEWS

Her co-leader, Martin J. Healy, was accused of accepting a bribe from a judge in exchange for his appointment. What makes this quotation particularly interesting is the fact that she was speaking before a reform organization, yet it is clear that Mathews herself saw no immorality in party officials accepting kickbacks. One of the major problems in reform was that most of the Tammany Hall leaders and voters had a different morality from the reformers and many genuinely thought that the situation as it existed was only “fair.” Reform, as with civil rights, required a transformation of public opinion and sense of right and wrong. See {626674} for one of her solutions to political corruption.

See {626675} for her defense of corrupt practices.

See {626675} for her defense of corrupt practices.

Her co-leader, Martin J. Healy, was accused of accepting a bribe from a judge in exchange for his appointment. What makes this quotation particularly interesting is the fact that she was speaking before a reform organization, yet it is clear that Mathews herself saw no immorality in party officials accepting kickbacks. One of the major problems in reform was that most of the Tammany Hall leaders and voters had a different morality from the reformers and many genuinely thought that the situation as it existed was only “fair.” Reform, as with civil rights, required a transformation of public opinion and sense of right and wrong. See {626674} for one of her solutions to political corruption.