The Anaconda standard., 1890-07-09
DICK cRockEes LOVE STORY.
The Tammsay roiitician's Career Was
Made By u Woman.

The Tammauy Poiitician's Career Was
Made By - Woman.
Washington Cor. Brooklyn Eagle.
A Tammany congressman was telling
several friends about John Keliy's sue
cessor in the rotunda Of one OF the hotels
here the other night and n most romantic
life was described. According to him
Richard Croker's career was made by
woman. Her name was Margaret Frazier,
q member Of well-to-do Irish family In
New York, where she met Croker soon
after she had graduated with honors at
one Of the uptown converts. Being
girl of many excellent traits OF character
and refined tastes, il was n matter OF
wonder that she should take n fancy To a
man Of Croker's stamp. Al that time he
was the rudest of ward politicians and
his ability as a pugilist made him success
ful in his calling. Politics were
different in those days from what
they are now and every election
meant more or less bloodshed. Even
among these rowdics Croker was terror
as well as a leader. He was ignorant Of
fear and no better rough and tumble
fighter than he was lived in his ward,
although il was in the days when John
Morrissey and others OF that sort were
prominent political leaders. Croker was
ALWAYS on tie elut JOiu iNelit
faithfulness i'm this direction made the
boss very fond of him.
Croker was the son Of a wealthy Protest.
ant in tie north of Ireland, his father
was n gentleman and, as many Of the
North Ireland Protestants were Orange
men, possibly young Croker thought. IL
his history became known I'm New York,
he would he suspected of being an
Orangeman, and man of that
stripe would be as much out OF place
i'm Tammany hall as Jay Gould among
n gang of anarchists. Nor could he have
hoped 10 become a leader i'm his ward.
controlled as IL was 10y Irish Catholics. so
Dick Croker preferred 10 be considered an
III bred lrishman than he known as
gentleman's son who had received every
educational advantage. Like most boys
of prosperous parents In Ireland he had n
natural liking for sport and acquired pro-
ficiency in boxing from the employees on
his fathers farm. This accomplishment
did him good service In the ward fights
after lac nad proved too wild To suit his
strict Presbyterian father and had left
home 20 become "A citizen Of the republic.
He was born TO be a leader. and fighting
qualities being requisite IN "a politician
who had 10 begin at the bottom of the lad
der. he became useful man TO John
Kelly.
He was holding some small office when
he accidentally became acquainted with
Miss Frazier. The shrewd girl was not
long IN discovering that beneath the
rough exterior there was excellent stuff.
Then she fell in love with him.
When the parents learned where she
had placed her affections they were
shocked. Ii seemed to them impossible
that their daughter, whom they had edri-
Gated with such care, could see anything
in such an ill-bred man as Croker was
supposed To he. They would not consent
% the match until Croker had confided
his secret To Kelly and had the boss
intercede for him. When the father
Of the girl finally relented another obsta-
Gle appeared. Croker was protestant
and had TO he converted to his intende,l's
faith before the marriage. Only few
persons were present at the ceremony and
John Kelly was the best man.
Immediately Croker began to diyest
himself Of his rough disguise and his wife
began 90 polish hlm. He rose rapidly
until at the death OF Kelly he assumed
control of the organization that makes
and unmakcs presidents. People who
know the Tammany chicftain Ia the old
days and who know him now declare the
change in him is wonderful, but few know
how Il was brought about. There never
was a more devoted husband or father or
an ADLER leader in New York city.