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Show CHARLES THE LISTENER Charles Francis Murphy, erstwhile Tammany boss, was one of the "sights" of New York but seldom seen. And seldom heard as well, for the matter of that. If his people were to crown him they doubtless would call him Charles the Silent, or Charles the Listener. For of all leaders in political organization life he talked the least and listened the most. He was willing, often eager, to receive re-ceive suggestions. And be was not the least particular from whom they came. But he never commented on them. He packed them away in the recesses of an active brain and they were there when he wanted to use then). He learned this lesson from Richard Croker, so his intimates say. Croker was a successful leader until he began be-gan to talk. "The i istant the old man opened his mouth his influence and prestige began to wane," recalled a seared and seamed Tammanvite who v v f I ! At w VSf y A, V. '. 'A i x' f : should know. Murphy also combined the policy of silence with the equally important policy of having few intimates. There probably were not more than half a dozen men with whom he really was friendly men with whom lie put aside his professional reserve and talked freely. These were the men who, it is said, shaped his thoughts for him, smoothed off the rough edges of his 6peech when he had something to say, or helped in the preparation prepa-ration of statements for the public. In this particular he was the best counseled boss Tammany ever had. He has been decisively beaten twice during his leadership, which began in 1003. . His first defeat came when he tried to elect William F. Sheehan to the United States senate to succeed Chauncey M. Depew. The other defeat vas more decisive, and occurred only recently. |