Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-10-18
DICK CROKER.
Facts About Tammany's Shrewd
Leader lie is a Born Leader of
Men and Used to Be
a sluEstr, But HIS R,ined wits Polls. cd
Him Up wonderfully ard msde am
d Model Husband.
Chez 90 Herald.

III &c SO iSIdius
NEW YORK, O;!. l0.-rne local poll:i-
cal situation IN NV York City is Ct Ia
ti0nel importance, and Richard Croker is
one Of, if not the most, important person
In local politics as the head OF Tammauy
Hall and the successor OF John Kelly.
Therefore Mr.. Croker is one of the great
est factors IN tie presidential contest,
and much depends upon his action IS to
which pSrtJ will win in November.
Should he ba disposed TO be the less. con
trsry the Democrats would lose New
York. Fer me- hold!ng such conspic-
uous position snd who might control the
future ii lis psrly, little is known OF
Croker outside If his political career,
even among the people interested In poll,
tics in this city.
Yet MS life is slmost romantic. II 3
mans career Can be made By any one,
Richard CO keI'5 was made By his wife.
sac is c lady Of s remarkably strong chat
acter IS we'll as CT y lovely disposition
sac wes 3f!Gs Margaret Frszier, men,
Der OF we'll Go-do Irish family. ard /.
gas after she had graduated with homer
ST oLc of the converts here that she met
Croker. Beng girl If many excellent
traits Of character ard reflsd tastes, II
WAS a matter OF wonder to his many
friends tha5 she shou take fancy to q
man Of Crck,r's stamp A. this time he
was the Iadest of ward politicians and his
AGILITY IS e pugi.ist made MIN sucCess-
full In his cSll!pg. He coz aed himseH &c
& ward thzt Was p2pu ated by the cough
est elemen. of tae city. Politics were
different ir those dGys from whist they
sre now. and svary electioa meant blood
sned Even smong these roTGies r ca
ard Cocker Wss a terror es well as 9
leader. He WAS Incapable Of fesr, ana
there were no better rough snd-tum BILE
fl shters thsn he was, aud this WAC s. 8
time, toe, when John MorTissey and
other men Of his stamp we're promiren,
political leaders. Croker was always on
The side Of John Kelly and So faithful
YVES &c to his chief that X, lily became
very fond CT hIrn.
Croker was the son Of s wealthy Pre-
tes:art gentleman in the north of Ireland.
AS so ms1y North IRELAND Prosestants are
O,sEgemen possibly Croker thought II his
history became known he would be sus-
pected Of being an Oringemap, aud 8 meu
Ok that stripe would De as much GU: oi
plsce ~ r@muanv hall as jay Gould
wos!d among garg Of anhTch-
stS. Noe could he tsve hoped
10 be leader CT his wsrd con
srolied II Irish Catholics. So D.ck
Croker p:eisT:sd to nave it supposed that
he WAS aA IL bred IEishm1n irs.eed Of tbs
son Cf gentleman who had received
every educational advantage. Ee w6s
All aSri Dron1,vtas,~
ta,her, which resulted in his lesvire
hoDe and coming 10 this country. Like
most boys Of weh-to. do parents in Ire
l=no, 1e BAG EatUrsl liking ior Epor:,
AID had learned boxing from the men
employed On his fathers farm.
AS his future has shown, ne YVES born
leader Of ner, and Shifting qualities be-
rg requisite IN q po!i.icikn VINO had 70
begin at the b 2ttom OF the ladder, he
SION becsme useful man 10 john Kelly
rs vas holding some small flee when
Ge accidentally became acquainted with
Miss Frazier. TIE shrewd girl WIS no,
one In discovering that beneath Dick
CT. ker'e rough tx erior there was excel
lent stuff. Thea she fell in love with
HIM.
When her parents lesrned where she
had placed her elections they were
shocked. 1t seemed impossible to them
thGt their daughter, whom they had sc
fiael7 educated, ccn!d see anything IL
such 81 Inbred man as Croker WAS sup
posed to be. Chsy would not consent &c
the mstch, Ard Croker cor idsd the secret
With J DIN Kelly, who intel ceded for him
with the young lsdy's parents. Kelly
wss already q msn CT CREST importance,
but still he had wesry tssk to perform
but, ss the young lady wss deeply in love
her father finally relerted. Croker being
a Protestant WAS another great objection,
but bjfore the marriage Miss FitZ!er
converted him to her faith. The mar
rlaga was very private, only few persons
being preseAt, and john Kslly being bssi
msn.
Immediately Croker threw of his rough
disguiae, end then his wiie's work of pol.
ishing up began. People who knew the
Tsmmany chieftan then and now say the
change has been wonderful, and II is hard
to recognize him IS the same man. There
never was more devoted husband and
father. Besides, hs is man CT much
ref aement. He has taste for art which
be is culsivstlng more and more as he
grows bstter of, and for busy poiti-
cisn he is well up IN literature.
Croker is peculiar fellow. He will
stsnd for hours and day after day spISpk-
ling the little yard in front Of his summer
cottage IS If 1t were the best OF fun, Climb
up In his stable loft and lock for eg6p,
sid when be found one 60 around shaS
ing 1t as happy as II he had accomplishing
some feat IS important as capturing IN
mayoralty for TammaDy Hall. WHIT IN
example Of the great influence gQM wo-
man can have upon man.