Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-06-08

John KeIly,s Successor.

New York Letter In Philadelphia Press.
BY the death OF John Kelly Richard Croker
| becomes the leader OF Tammany Hall. Croker
| is veritable political Carnot He has a good
brain, clear conceptions and extraordinary ex.
ecutive force. He is keen judge OF men. He
keeps his own counsel, and Is extremely reti
cent. He makes no speeches and very few
promises. Those few, however, are fulnl.e ed 10
the letter. lie has the strongest OF friends and
the bitterest OF enemies. He IL IA positive hut
not as obstinate as was Mr.. Kelly. Like Kelly,
he was not born with silver spoon in hl-
mouth. He came from the humblest source,
and hard stories are told of him In his YOUTH
But, like John Morrssey, he has won the con H.
denoe Of the people and developed tie qualities
OF great political leader.
Tammany will have few defeats under his
rule. He Is SO strongly entrenched I'm the TAM
many society, which Is the fortress OF the party,
that he could hardly be blown cut of IL by the
use OF dynamite His foresight IL something
remarkable. Hugh j. Grant, now sheriff, is
one OF his proteges. Ii was Croker wno pat him
in the board OF alderman in lss4 lie advised
Grant ana other tammany aldermen not ID vote
for the broadway Surface railroad scheme. la
Grant case the advice was entirely unneces-
sary. The others wish that they had taken his
advice. Before the bill was passed Croker I'm
voted Tor Il would land In state prison. They
are going there, one by one. last ss possible.
Croker, like Kelly, is thoroughly honest. II
he once gains mans confidence he never loses
IL. Under his rule Tammany will probably re-
gain much OF her old glory. He eNcites no en-
mites, and tries To allay all Jealous sizes among
ingly. He has already captured the patronage
OF the department OF public works. and he has
secured the strongest pull I'm the executive
chamber at Albany. The County democracy is
becoming disintegrated under his mining and
sapping They have nothing but federal pat
ronage LEFT, and that is divided with the repub-
licans. Already there are whispers that ED.
kearney, Andrew ID. White, and even District
Attorney MARITIME, are ready To rs-enter Tam.
many Hall.
OF course the aldermanic exposures have In
tured all the political machines-Tammany,
however, the least OF all. Shrewd poll Jicians
have already organized q reform movement.
All are persistent office seekers. The play is tn
fuse with the republicans I'm making nomi-
nations for mayor, register and other fat offices.
AT the proper time ex-Sherin . Brien and
similar independent leaders, with strong per-
sonal folowings, will turn Ia and help things
along.
Croker is about five feet eight inches high.
lie has frame OF iron and grip OF steel. He
is clean-shaven, has regular features, n grim
mouth, and eyes like a falcon. He rarely
smiles and seems ever TO be lost In thought lie
converses In low tones and Is extremely sem
tentious. He dresses plainly and wears no
diamonds. In his movements he recalls Gene
eral Mcclellan. Always calm and dignified,
he Is urbane but not over-courteous, and he
listens patiently TO what his visitors have to
say. When his mind IL made up, however,
nothing In the world will change 1t