New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-16
DO NE NEED An CTOCRATP

Let us not deceive ourselves with the notion
that because our autocrat, upon occasion or
under pressure, consents to legislation which
some of us deem desirable or by his word blocks
legislation we believe to be mischcvous and
bad an autocracy is a good thing. Mr.. Rich
ara Croker may be all that ex-Secretary Whit
ney in recent interview claimed for him.
lie may not be very bad man personally. lie
may have attractive social qualities; may be
free from many of the more conspicuous vices
which we have come to think inseparable from
the character of municipal statesmen; may
even have a sincere desire for good govern
mcnt and an orderly administration of munc
ipal affairs may not be actually in league with
thieves, as Tweed was, or n thief himself, as
were the citys trusted officials under the
Tweed regime. All this may be; and then the
question arises whether the citizens of this
town and this State can afford to have him
for an autocrat. The question is not whether
he is a good autocrat, but whether we want an
aut0cIat.
Nothing is more notorious than that this one
man, Richard Croker, has to-day more power
and exercises it more openly, and with less con
cealment and less restraint, than Tweed ever
in this country ever did before. Beside him
the President of the United States or the Gov
ernor of state is the merest fgurehcad of
authority and power. During the three months
this remarkable Legislature has been in ses-
sion Mr. Croker has been recognized and has
carried himself as its absolute owner. No cit
izcn interested in legislation either Of a private
or public character has vcntmed to have the
measure in which he was interested much
as introduced in the Legislature without first
consulting him. What is the first step taken
by any citizen DESTROYS Of securing legislation,
whether it relates to politics to railroads. to
corporate interests, to charitable organizations
or anything else? " See Croker What Is
the first question asked at Albany when a bill
is introduced lave You seen CrokcrT'
What the last test when a bill-any bills
put upon its passage? docs Croker want
it?" The assertion may be safely vcntured
that not one single bill has passed the Legis-
laturc during the present session except after
consultation with and by the consent Of Rich
ard Croker And Richard Croker is not mem
Der of either Senate or Assembly; has no Off
cal position whatever; is simply private cit
zen What gives him this vast irresponsible
power? Tammany Hall.
Complaint has been made that in some cases
Mr. Croker has treated with dsrcspcct citizens
who recognized his power and waited upon him
with civil and proper requests. But his per
sonal conduct or character is not in question.
1t is not how he discharges the functions of
autocrat, but whether We ought to have an
autocrat If we do need such a functionaIy
we certainly do not need Legislature. If 1t
is only necessary to cOnciliate Croker in order
TO carry or defeat a measure if his decision
is final as it certainly has been and is, why
the formality of two houses Of Legislature and
an Executive t. register his edcts? They are
only useless expense and a supcruoGs scan
cal. Did an overwhelming majority Of our citi
zens rise up in opposition to the Speedway bill
their first fort was TO secure Cookers approval
And now that it has been repealed to whom
are we told that we owe the gracious favor?
TO Richard Croker. is a measure for the i'm
provomcnt of Fifth-ave. desired, the first step
is to ask Cookers consent. J'nopp0sed by
anybody, it lies dead in the hands Of com
mittec. Why? Croker does not want it and
will not have il. And now with IN Election
Inspectors bill pending SO plainly intended 10
defeat honest elections that respectable Dem
ocratS are protesting against it, 10 whom arc
we looking to prevent its passage? Who is it
that the opponents of the bill arc trying TO con-
vince that the shamclcSsncss Of the perform
ance would rather hurt than help its authors I?
The majority in the Legislature? Not at all
We await the nod Of Richard Croker And tho
only question in tho mind of that functionary
is whether the bill will perpetuatc Richard
Croker or upset him.
The question, we repeat, is not whether Rich
ard Croker is good autocrat, but whether we
need an autOcIat If we do, then let lis take
the bull by the horns and abolish the Lcgis-
lature and Executive.
NOMINATIONS THAT MEAN SOMETHING.