New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-09
RICHARD CROKER'S TRIUMPH
p1TTlNG AN End TO THE NEW TAMMANY.
n,r pE1rER ELEMENT OF THE WICwAM
CRUsHED-PAVING THE WAY FOR
POLITICAL TYRANNY.

POLITICAL TYRANNY.
richard Crolor's startling interview. supplemented
-, bis MAYORS shocking appointments last week, has
ohablv convinced every intelligent citizen that this
,tx has entered upon period OF misrue such as
49, not been witnessed since the days of Tweed. Mr..
C,otsr It is true, has tried TO explain away his
n.,,nc declaration In favor Of Tammany heeers for
r,ces as against business but unfortunately foT
Am his remarks do not admit the explanation which
- se.Ns TO offer and certainly long As the scandal
~. ennontment OF Scannell is allowed TO stand as
octical Illustration OF what he meant no Other Inter
Isolation will be given to his words than that i'm
nsately accepted by the public. In other words his
,ohred efforts to moify the outraged sentiment of
,sst people will have about much effect as the
n,ch.soundng patriotic parts OF Mr. Gilroy's message,
rno nom an Official who had just filled some OF the
os, important places in the municipal government
h The represen talves Of the worst elements OF the
~ommunity No. Mr.. Crokers interview will stand as
~. platform OF Tammsny Hall, and 1t Is perfectly
az. 70 predict that his organization Will live up to
q. requirements. and that every one OF It's planhs
stu have thoroughly practical effect 70 Put none but
N. gang on guard is the slogan, and already II
'rsrberates throughout the organization from the
prnx 10 the Battery.
Tholehttul observers who recall the way In which
coma OF the papers Including Mugwump organ OF
.ooh renown as Harpers Weekly were filed some
,m. ago with Mandatory articles about The New
,bs sudden change of front on the part OF Mr..
c.or., II should be remembered that according 20
,hsse complimentary biographical sketches and naIter
ing predictions the old thevnS. crtne-stained Or
rSnIlaton OF Tweed, Genet and Connolly had actually
entered upon new era and that IL was 10 De
highly virtuous rsformatory institution and the hom'
., none but whte-robed statesmen. All the IN
orr elements were 10 be soushed or. Clan poll
,cs alone was TO be tolerated and. in the language
n Nayor Grant fitness for ofice was 10 be the sole
,.t Of appointment Particular attention was to be
ran 10 the same business community which MI
Croker now desplses Its representatives were 70 be
considered especially IN the matter of appointments
and this 10 be regardless OF any pollucai anil
s,ons In short, the Tammany OF the future was TO
"a met rs much unlike the Tammany OF the past
noss,h. True the traditional leopard had made
dismal failure In tie efforts to change us spo's Ou'
nevertheless as senator Patt faceuonsy expressed
A. "the tiger going 70 rub Out al ils sulp'H'
hsv. lis teeth fled down and It's claws drawn out
ereat many creduous souls accepted these as
>,rsnces in good farih, but the majority OF welln'
formed opponents OF Tammany methods were scepucai'
refusing TO believe that any goo1 thing could come out
y, ,ho WYcwnm There was however, basis for these
r.ports The Tammany leaders did propose TO put tic
orgs1i al on on a higher plane They really h'ehueu'
q, least far appearances Went 10 MINT II
rss,ec,a le The reason was obvious John helN
t.s,b had loft Nmmany not Only without leader but
A
field which menaced the Wigam's life. The counties
we're sI.powerAil Nearly all the CITY Offices were IN
hair srosp Nj Cleveland believed that they had car
lied New.York City for him and thwarted kellys III
tenton 10 betay him election day. Hence MT
Power and his friends in high hvor With the
President and had tie National as well as the CITY
patronage at their disposal Tammany was out in the
frost and snow. Under the circums ances there WAS
nothing for It's leaders 10 do hut TO turn reiorHs
They were all comparatively new men in the public
eve. Cochran lad some reputation as stump
speaker as he and Grady were known as the vehicles
for Tammanys abuse Of Cleveland Grants credtaoie
record in the Board Of Aldermen. where he Opposed
the granting u tie broadway Railroad franchise To
Jacob Sharp had I'D 70 his nomination for Mayor Ia
1884. Gilroy managed his canvass.
1t was not successful. but both gained prestige Tor
the campaign was we'll monaged. Croker through inc
assistance Of Barney Bign. had Just emerged ron the
comparative obscurty into which the charge OF MURDER
had consigned him. Martin had held confidential reia-
tons with Kelly for years. and had looked after THm'
many interests at Albany, but aside from that he hao
formed prominent fgure before the people lie was
looked upon then as now. however. rs one Of the
brightest and best posted men in the organization.
But while without any great reputation as leaders.
these mon were all well-trained politicians and exceed
ingly wldcawake. The men wise enough 10 keep
In touch with public sentiment and TO take advantage
their rivals which numerous ard stupid
Realizing that It was q Of life or death with
them D ltically they had the good sense 10 work
together in harmony Never i'll It's history, perhaps
was Tammany 50 free from one-man power as dnring
thoss foy wears Tho organization In reality
ruled By the executive committee, through Of course
The Influence OF the stronger me ntes mentioned GRANT
Cochran Groy, Martin and Croker. gradually pre-
dominated.
None OF the five however attempted TO give MIN
sen undue prominence. Croker least OF all lie
kept in the background much rs possible lie nau
little ;, say In the meeting until everybody else Ha'
q through talking Then his sturdy common SENSE
would assert Itself In way that coud not lali l"
command respect. lie not brilliant Ike Cochran
nnr smooth spoken like Grant, nor 50 welliofued is
Groy nor fertile ia resources Martini but he was
more evenly balanced and more In touch WIFI '"c
rank and file Of the organization IMAM any ONE VI
them Ills training had been severe. lie had come
Up from the lowest Lowell OF city politics lie had
fought his own way step c' step. lie was one OF 'hc
gang and unlike leaders he had never soue"o
get away from his carry associations Ho rcma'he'
tue TO the "gang" as re does TO this day. ana the
sang stood by him. IL Is 10 this fact that ne owes
bis escape later from dethronemtht
Such was the general condition Of Tammanys lead
ersldp when Il began IT'S great fight against 'ne
County Democracy. The wigwams opportunity carne
OF Tic Doodle Aldermen trials. The County Dehoo-
racy failed 10 appreciate the fact that the city was
AROUSED and terribly in earlest In these proceedings
@Elss7 Power declared that the proSccluons OF INC
bibc talcrs did meet his approval while Tammahy
put itself In accord with public feeling by sun further
honorlng Grant who voted against the sharp iran
ehse. In 1885 the county elections resulted In a
syeoninr vic,orv f,,r Ia mrnany Grant chosen
Sheriff rs n handsome majority The downfall Of the
Counties had begun.
Tammany gained In strength rapidly but still there
was no particular display Of "bosslsm." Croker Kept
himself In the background. but his power began to
manifest itself In a quiet way. Those familiar With
the Internal workings OF the Wigwam knew that he
was the most potent force In the council and that
the great mass OF the Tammanyites looked to him
the leader Nevertheless he made no display OF his
strengfh Annarennv Ne Was content 70 share hOnOra