Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-07
JOHN KEhLY's SUCCESSOR.
A Man of No Speeches and Very
Few Promises.


Few Promises.
NEW YORK, June 5.-By the death Of
John Kelly, Richard Croker becomes the
leader of Tammany Hall. Croker Is a
veritable political Carnot. Hehas a good
brain, clear conceptions and eXtraOrdi-
nary executive force. He is keen Judge
of men. He keeps bis own c0unsels and
is extremely reticent. lie makes no
speeches and very few promises. Those
few, however, are fulfilled to tue letter.
He has the strongest OF friends aud 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 hum
blest 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. lie is 80 strongly intrenched in
the Iammany society, which is the for
tress 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 pro-
teges. 1t was Croker who put him in the
Board Of Aldermen Of 1884. He advised
Grant and other iammany Aldermen not
W NOtG AbA LuG buiihtt Thll~
road scheme. In Grants case the advice
was entirely unnecessary. The others
wish that they had taken his advice. Be
fore the bill Was passed. Croker, in my
hearing, predicted that every man who
voted for IL would land in State prison.
They are going there one by one as fast
as possible.
Croker, like Kelly, ls thoroughly honest.
If he once gains mans confidence he
never loses 1t. Under mis- rule fammauy
will regain much OF her old glory. He
excites no enmities aud tries 10 allay all
jealousy among the leaders. He works
silently and increasingly. lie has already
captured the patronage OF the Department
OF Pubic w 0rks, and has secured the
strongest pull in the Executive chamber
at Albany. the County Democracy is al
ready becoming dIslntegrated under mis-
mining and sapping. They have nothing
but Federal patronage lett and tnat is di-
vided with the Republicans. A Already
there are whispers that Ed. Kearney,
Andrew ID. White, and even District A.
torDeY MARITIME, are ready TO re-euter Tam
many Hall. Croker's warm personal
friend, Henry ID. PurrOy, il Chairman of
the County DemGcracy's Executive Com
mittee, and Mayor Grace mas virtually
been driven TO the wall. His record IS 80
bad that 1t is doubtful whether he could
get a respectable sized citizens committee
70 ren0minate him this fail.
EFFECT or RECENT EXPOSURES.
OF course the Aldermanic exposures
have Injured all the political machines
Tammauy, however, the least or all
Shrewd politicians baYe already organ
ized a reform moment. All are persistent
Office seekers. The play is 20 iuse with
the Republicans in making nominations
for Mayor, Register, and other lat ohices.
AT the proper time eX.SberiN OEricu and
similar independent leaders with strong
persOnal following will turn IN aud hetp
the thing along. The leaders ~ this
movement and the kid-glove Republican
element fancy that they can easily via.
II necessary, however, the Democratic
factions will unite. TIE County Democ-
racy, as things now stand, can't afford 20
make an independent light, as II would
snow their weakness. 1hoy have lost 80
much strength in losing patronage that
they could hardly poll $1,000 votes II an
election were held today.
Croker rs about nye feet eight inches
high. He has a frame Ot iron and grip
OF steel. He is clean shayen, has regular
features, a grim mouth aud eyes like
fale0a. lie rarely smiles and seems ever
20 be lost in thought. lie cOnyersca ln
low tones and ~ sententi0us 10 the ex-
trcme. lie dresses plainly aud wears no
diamonds. 10 his movements be recalls
Gen. Mcclellan. Always calm aud DIG.
uifed, be - urbane but not ovcr-eour.
teous, and ne listens patlontlyto what hip
visitors nats - SAY. When hle ulnd ie
made up, however. nothine ~ tuo world
VIII ohan9e lt. LlaAA.