| Boss Tweed's Ballot Box | |
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Origin |
Boss Tweed |
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Type |
Ballot Box |
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Effects |
Reveals the incentives necessary to get someone’s cooperation |
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Downsides |
Each name acted upon draws more illicit income in a more obvious manner each batch |
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Activation |
Writing down names and placing in the box |
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Section |
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| [Source] | |
Origin[]
William Magear “Boss” Tweed (April 3, 1823 – April 12, 1878) was the political kingpin controlling Tammany Hall, providing financial kickbacks for Democratic votes throughout New York. Under his commission, the political machine embezzled $30-200 million during his time in power.
Tweed’s early swindling involved Tammany volunteer fire company Big Six, which often allowed buildings to blaze while they tackled other companies. He was elected as State Representative in 1852, allowing only vendors that paid an extra 15% to sell in the city. Appointment as New York County Board of Supervisors in 1858 also marked his promotion to Boss. Law firms, public works, banks, construction, real estate agents all answered to his beck and call. There was rarely a position he didn’t fill as director, shareholder or board member.
His reach continued with election into NY state senate in 1867, helping financers Jim Fisk and Jay Gould commit a hostile takeover of Vanderbilt’s Erie Railroad for stock returns. The Ring inhabited every nook of the city, from the highest paid officials to the immigrant workers. A near total lock allowed the Upper East and West Sides to flourish, the Brooklyn Bridge to lay foundation, the Met to prepare for exhibitions and welfare services to become widespread. A few bribes and convincing allowed Tweed to create a new city charter with direct access to all their finances. Tax fraud, pay inflation and overpriced building projects became rampant. Voter fraud was the norm.
Multiple conflicts besieged Tammany until their complete exposure as charlatans. Cooked accounts had reached the former sheriff. Riots by Irish immigrants stressed the balance between the wealthy Protestant mavens and the growing, restless lower class. Headlines from The New York Times and cartoons by Harper's Weekly Thomas Nast, portraying the whole ring as corrupt in sum with leaked evidence to boot. The non-Tammany Democrats cut off funding and investigated Tweed for personal profiteering. He was arrested multiple times, charged with grifting $25-45 million from taxpayers. Even after escaping, the pictures of him were too recognizable. He died unable to pay bail in Ludlow Street Jail.
Effects[]
Shows what “price” an individual can be bought with. One side has a name written on it, with the box focusing on the correct person. Removing it shows the other side scrawled with whatever motivation is best effective to get someone’s cooperation. An exact amount of bonds and diamonds. Plots of land in the country. Promotion to a deserved position. Healthcare for terminal family. Threats against their children. Besmirchment of their reputation. Nothing is off limits in scope of imagination or morality. The only times blank cards appear is when physically impossible (without the aid of artifacts).
Usage compounds a small interest into their coffers. The money usually comes from leveraging others into doing their bidding with the hinted weakness. No amount seems unreasonable when the one value they carry is being extorted against. Each successive patsy fallen in line adds more money, most from illegal activities to meet demands. Funds snowball after each group of votes in amount and visibility. What was once an undetectable operation become blatantly clear corruption. Attempts to stay on payment with the user and their manipulation of others become more widespread, fueling another until dismantled by other parties.