The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-06
JOHN KELLY'S SUCCESSOR.
Who Is Richard Croker, the Man Who
Succeeds to the Tammany Boss-ship?
Incidents of the Visit of frankie Folsom to
New York City-Nym Crinkles Views
of the Presidential Wedding.
correspondence of the Indian apolis journal

Correspondence of the Indian apolis Journal
NEW YORK, June 4-By the death of John Kelly,
Richard Croker becomes the leader of Tammany
Hail. Croker is veritab1e political Carnot He
has good brain, clear conceptions and extraor-
binary executive force. He is keen judge of
men. He keeps his own counsels, and is ex
tremely reticent He makes no speeches and
very few promises. Those few, however, are
fulfilled to the letter. He has the strongest of
friends and the bitterest of enemies He is as
positive but not as obstinate as John Kelly.
Like Kelly. he was not born with silver spoon
in his mouth He came from the humblest
source, and hard stories are told Of him in his
youth. But like John Morrissey, he has won
the confidence Of the people, and developed the
qualities of great political leader. Tammany
will have few defeats under his rule. He is so
strongly intrenched in the Tammany Society.
which is the fortress of the party. that he could
hardly be blown out of it with dynamite. His
foresight is something remarkable. Hugh J.
Grant, now sheriff, is one of his proteges. 1t
was Croker who put him in the Board of Alder
men of 1884 He advised Grant and other
Tammany aldermen not to vote for the Broad
way surface railroad scheme. In Grants case
wish that they had taken his advice. Before
the bill was passed Croker, in my hearing, pre-
dicted that every man who voted for 1T would
land in State prison. They are going there, one
by one, as fast possible.
Croker, like Kelly, is thoroughly honest If
he once gains mans confidence he never loses
it. Under his rule Tammany will regain much
of her old glory. He excites no enmities, and
tries to allay all jealousy among the leaders
He works silently and increasingly. He has
"A D0Dart-
ment OF Public Works and has secured the
strongest pull in the executive chamber at Al
bany. The County Democracy is already be-
coming disintegrateG under his mining and sap
ping. They have nothing but federal patronage
left and that is divided with the Republicans.
Already there are whispers that Ed. Kearney,
Andrew d. White, and even District Attorney
MARITIME are ready to re-enter Tammany Hail.
Cookers warm personal friend, Henry d. Pur-
roy, is chairman of the County Democracy's ex-
ecutive committee, and Mayor Grace has virtu-
ally been driven to the wall His record is so
bad that it is doubtful whether he could get
respectable-sized citizens committee to renom-
mate him this fall.
OF course the aldermanic exposures have in
jured all the political machines-Tammany, how
ever the least OF all. Shrewd politicians have
already organized a reform movement All are
persistent offce-seekers. The play is to fuse
with the Republicans in making nominations for
Mayor. register and other fat Offices. At the
proper time Sheriff OBrien and similar indie
pendent leaders with strong personal followngs
will turn in and help the thing along. The lead
ers in this movement and the kid-glove Repuh-
lican element fancy they can easily win If
necessary, however. the Democratic factions
will unite. The County Democracy, as things
now stand. can't afford to make an independent
fight, as it would show their weakness. They
have lost so much strength il losing patronage,
that they could hardly poll 10000 votes if an
election were held to-day.
Croker is about Ave feet eight inches high
He has a frame of iron and grip of steel. He is
clean shaver, has regular features, grim
mouth, and eyes like falcon. He rarely smiles,
and seems ever to be lost in thought. He con-
verses in low tones, and is sententious in the
extreme He dresses plainly and wears no dia-
monds. In his movements he recalls General
Mcclellan. Always calm and dignifed he is
urbane, but not over courteous and he listens
patiently to what his visitors have to say When
his mind is made up, however, nothing in the
world will change il. ZIsKA