New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-16
CROKER'S HATRED OF HILL.
HOW II ORIGINATED AND HOW IT HAS
BEEN EXPRESSED.
The TAMMANY BOSS on THE SENATOR'S TRAIL
FOR YEARS. WATCHING FOR AN oPPOR
TUx-TY TO ToMAHAwK HIS ENEMY


SOME IMPROVEMENTS OF RE
CENT POLITICAL HISTORY.
II one were asked 10 mention the most Important
political incident OF last week in this state he would
naturally answer the choice In caucus OF Mr. Murphy
10 be United States senator. No doubt most people
{hnk So and probably IT viii be- regarded by the
historian OF tie future. The practical politicians,
however, think that the rupture between Croker and
lin Is far significant ana far more interesting
At all events. II Is the live topic of the hour with
them. and In groups where they meet it Is the Jnin
dpal theme OF discussion.
Hin says. with a scoxl at his questoner that he
has no quarrel with the Tammany chleitaln Croker
smiles and says the same. liil gees further. The
story that Croker declared that Hi ought 10 have
been In Washington instead OF meddling with Murphys
election at Albany is nothing, Hill insists. but news
paper fake" Croker, however does not indorse this
statement lie has had several opportunities to deny
the report, but has not attempted TO do so. lie can
not 1t was heard by too many people. Furthermore
there is reason In the world why he should deny
1t. 1t was not an impulsive utterance on MS part
but the result OF quickly adopted though carefully
thought out plan OF his own TO put Mr.. Hi in a
deep hole. Mr. Hill is still In that hole and while
Mr.. Croker Will refrain for the present from throwing
stones down his head he does not propose to toss
him rope In the shape of denial OF the report such
as the senator suggests, TO help the former boss OF
the State Democracy to regain his former position.
The simple fact is that the willy Tammany sachem
has been after HIPS scalp for long time lie sharp
ened his tnmahawk for him about three years ago,
and there has never been an hour since then that
he has not been his trail. persistcnty following
and quietly waiting for the opportunity to bury the
weap pom in the senator's bald head. In View OF the
manner in which Tammany supported Hill for Sen
atOr. and later. the way IT worked for his nomlna
ton for President, this may sound somewhat par
adoxca 1t is true, nevertheless, as those who are
IA Wit
political history know perfectly we'll.
Cookers hatred Of Hill began in 1900 Hill was
then Governor. Croker was immersed in a conflict
with the County Democracy. Tha, organization
though still crippled Of sufficient strength when
combined with the Republicans. to menace the life Of
Tammany Hail. It's power to a large degree rested
In the fact that it was still recognized n regular
wing Of the Democratic party in this county. AS such
II received equal representation with Tammany on the
state Committee and in the State conventions and also
had an inspector Of election here. BY this means Tam
many, though the dominant power in this city, had
only one inspector of the four, two OF the other
three being Republicans and the fourth County
Democrat. This was o serious thing for Tammany
II could not fasfy the returns do much stealing
An honest election the result and that Is pre-
cisely what Tammany never wants. Croker fully
appreciated the unfavoablc features OF the SITUATION
lie went TO Hill before the county election In 1890 and
asked him to prevent the County Democracy from hav
that this would be done. Croker went away trusting
implicitly 10 this assurance lie did not know Illls
character at that time.
When election time came he aegered when he
found that, despite all his efforts the Counties re-
ceved an inspector, as usual lie could not bring
himself to believe that Hi had broken his word ana
did not think so for months aicrward, when he had
the proof brought home 10 him In way that mado it
impossible for him longer to doubt the Governors
good faith. Meantime the Counties combined with
the Republicans. and had the combination ticket been
made mp In the right way. that Is to say, Of strong
representative ciIl:ens such rs the occasion called
for there is no doubt that Tammany would have been
beaten As II was the weakness OF the ticket DUE rs
every man familiar with the inside facts knows. to the
influence exerted by Tammany In the nominations
aienated thousands Of voters and Tammany carried
the day.
Some time in the following spring Croker was In
Albany. lie and two three Of his friends whose
names cannot be mentioned here, called on the GOV
crnor The conference in regard TO the fan cleo
tion: It was held in the Executive Chamber AS usual
IN such conferences Croker had little to say, while HILL
rs IS customary, did all the talking. william H..
has frequently said that OF all men In publc
life Hill is the most reckless man In conversation
This conference afforded good illustration OF the cor
rectness OF Mr.. Grace's remark Hin almost III
mediately began to rail against the County Democracy
declaring that "they must be wiped from the iaee OF
the earth" "Why," he said In substance. they are
lot OF scoundrcls ngratcs Just look what they dd
last fall ] secured for them an inspector OF election
surprising, OF course that they would act with US. IN
stead of that, they went over and joined FORCES WIN
Patt and tried to rip the life ont II us
Croker listened in silent anazenent. Not woid'
however did he until he and his friends left he
room. when away safe distance, he turned 10
them and remarked Did You hear what lilii saiu
about giving the counties an Inspector what 40 you
think of that statement compared with his promise 10
me before election. And what do you think OF SUCH
n fellow anyway ?" That was all he said, but rom
that time forth he has been HIPS enemy. Whatever
NAV be Croker's faults and neither he nor anyDouy
else looks upon him as saint, he Is 100 goou IL
politician to break promises OF this kind or 70 'oera'c
such breaches OF good faith. There were other tmhs
that fed his dislike OF liil, but TINS was INC "''
cause of his intense feeling
But his bitterness OF feeling did not blind his !udg
ment. lie knew that lll was shiewd ana cunning
and audacious. lie knew, moreover, that I'LL had
control OF the State machine, and had as he sun mas
strong friendships in Tammnny Hail. lie could not
afford to indulge In any hostile demonstrations lie
did not, but bided his time until the opportunity 10
feed fat the ancient grudge" should present Itself
This opportunity, however, seemed long time coming
Instead OF decreasing HIPS power began to increase
and when finally he had achieved the browning ac' Vi
his unsavory political career the theft OF the Legs
lature-unquestionably the bodcst political crime ta'
has ever been committed north OF Mason and DIXON
,ne-he seemed 10 Croker to be beyond the reach OF
the tomahawk above the fight OF the Sachem
arrows.
The theft OF the legislature was lirs personal
work. 1t was his brain that devised the scheme ana
II was his audadty that carried it through. When his
more conservative allies falt'ed and wavered II was
his absolute and inscriptions devices that came
TO the rescue. 1t his plant Hols such as May
nsrd that did the technical work. And 1t was, there
fore entirely fair ard logical that when the JOB was
completed and his party had Endorsed II ana shared III
An. shameful results that followed, he should stand
forth as the unqucstioned leader OF the Nrw YORK
Democracy. The Impetus that this rascaily perform
ance gave his fortunes followed by his election to the
senate and the general hatred OF Cleveland, maze