The evening world., 1888-09-20
He DEF|ES 'EM ALL.
Mayor Hewitt Talks Freely on the
Situation.
He Says Commissioners Croker
is Not q Statesman.
And Sizes Up the County Democracy 40
an ONCE Getting Machine.

Mayor Hewitt arrived at the City Hall at
II A M. to-day. He had recovered from his
attack of neuralg ia, and was in regular fight
ing trim. He had not been seated at his
desk more than ten minutes before an
EVENING WORLD reporter doomed up. As
soon as the newsgatherer saw the fire in His
Honor's eyes he knew that he would get
q corking interview. He judged the
Mayor correctly, and in q few moments
Mayor Hewitt was walking up and down the
carpeted floor firing red-hot shots at Tam
many Hall. the County Democracy and poll
ticians in general.
Commissioner Croker, in q letter to Q
morning paper, says that l wish to succeed
myself as Mayor. Now, he knows better
than that. He, of all others, knows that the
accept a nomination in 1886.
They didn't ask for any. pledges. That is
so. They knew better. Now. what in the
situation at this moment. / am charged by
another term that l am paving my way to a
reelection that l am antagonistlo to Tam
many Hall and not to the County Democ-
ri will say right here that I do not wish
another term. I would be the happiest man
IN New York to be relieved from duty as
Mayor on Jan. /.
Just let Tammany Hall and the County
DohloOioSy uhhbO uRoh huiuo Who va
have the respect and confidence of the peo-
pie, and who would make a ~non-political
Mayor, and you would see how glad l would
be-"
tere the Mayor stopped in the centre of
the room and rubbed the fingers of his dexter
hand through his thin gray-streaked hair.
Commissions Croker is a truthful man"
he went on. He is an honest and an able
man. He is one of the best officials in the
city. l have watched his actions and
the actions of Commissioner Purroy: 1
have no fault as i. to- to in with their their
is only n fault TO find with Commissioner
ana he Sss lived II the atmGs:
ERhe ns,c Of p Thst b.,id He Il be ;ISsssI in +; politics lite
He has many excellent qualities. but he is
not a statesman"
Resuming, his walk up and down the car
pe sfh hSVt charge he S%0n me With leaning towards
never been committed to the County Demoo-
racy, I am not committed to the County
DstteS se the 'n County N.Y. pe mo- SS oif fGm;
up his right hand). The County Democracy
was founded to oppose the methods of Fam
many Hall. The County Democracy de-
generated into an Office getting machine.
The only difference between Tammany
Hall and the County Democracy has been the
difference in the standard of men: The
Gstoonu11ssyyd Democracy De- msp SSo as a t rule r have a higher her
-hh "a htoA "Ao" sANy
appointment or nominate for office" (Here
the Mayor stopped talking for a few mo-
ments.)
~ am not seeking the County Democracy
support for Mayor" was his next remark.
e. will be q candidate for reelection only on
one condition. Ii I'ammany Hall or any
other hall nomlnates a man on a political
or Office getting platform. and 1 may then
think it for the interest of the neople, the
taxpayers and the city to be a candidate for re-
election, l will then be q candidate, h ugh !
should go TO my death. (Measuring his
words.) Two years ago l was nominated
because they wanted q man whom they
thought could defeat Mr.. George, (ChucG;
ling.) They were in a hole. More chuckles.
Perhaps the County Democracy may wish
to nominate me as an antidote against Tam.
many Hall. But if l do run on the County
Democracy ticket the County Democracy
leaders know that tn If support will be un.
solicited and that l will give them no pledges
I" Tammany Hall finds fault with me fol
not appointing to Office all the men they
Treoommended to me. They recommended
He was at the head of their list
didn't name Forster. but I named Morgan
j. O'Brien. who was also on their list. Whe1
Mr.. O'Brien was elected a Judge, Tammany
Hall recommended. Charles F. Mclean fol
Corporation Counsel. l appointed him Pc
lice Commissioner. Gen. Porter was on the
.Tammanv Hall list for Police Commissioner
I appointed him a Fire Commissioner.
Does Tammany Hall wish 1t to be under
stood that q man renominated by it for on,
Office Is not fit for another Office ?"
The Mayor would have said some more in
teresting things had not a delegation of Ital
ians entered just then and dragged him of Il
review their parade from the City Hall steps