The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-20
GOSSIP FROM D / l, GOTHAM 9TH
NEARLY ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND
PEOPLE HAVE LEFT FOR CHICAGO.

Mr.. Richard Cookers Rule of rammapy
Hall-Fame That Came Like n Rocket.
A Good Political Precept-Anecdoto OF
Robert Bonner.
NEW YORK CITY, Oct. 1s.-[Special.] J.
Although 100000 fortunate and patriotic
citizens, more or less, are at the Worlds
fair In Chicago to see that Manhattan day
Is observed properly, yet they are not
missed upon our streets or in our homes,
for there are nearly 100000 struggling,
striving, toiling, moiling, pushing souls
still left on this little narrow strip Of land
wat changes the whirligig of time has
wrought within few short months! Until
1T was known with absolute certainty that
the fair was to be success artistically and
financially there was nothing too mean to
be said about it by the New York papers.
But now the green eyed monster, jealousy,
seems to have skunk away, and Manhattan
has really done herself credit by contrib
uting literally both Of money and encour-
agement to the occasion, pausing in the
midst of an exciting political campaign to
give the affair the brillianoy of we'll d.
rected effort. Among the contributions is
a carload of cut flowers, which has Just
left the city bound for the New York build
Ing at the fair.
Yet politics booms, and Mr.. Richard
Croker is the most prominent man in the
city just now. He holds Tammany Hall in
far closer subsection than it was ever held
by John Kelly. Yet his iron rule IS both
5udicious and progressive. He has marvel
GUS tact and common sense and believes in
new blood and young men. "Tammany
has got to keep good men to the fore, :" said
he the other day, "or the public will have
no use for it. The people are mightier than
any political body, even than one so strong
as Tammany."
And what marvellous career this man
has hadl Eight years ago he had hardly n
penny, so he says, and today he is worth
not far from n million and has invested in
the past year and half or two years near
iy half that sum in racing stables, breed
Ing farms and city property. Not ONLY
that, but he has wife who is somewhat of
leader i'll society and has adopted or res
directed tasteful and appropriate coat of
arms, Deus ALT eos"-"G Cd feeds themn-
very good motto.
From coroner to fire commissioner, a
city chamberlain, and now at the head of
the greatest political organization of the
kind in the world, is quite a rise, but Mr..
Croker has sense enough not to let it turn
his head. He has completely lived down
the clouds that shrouded his name by the
killing of Mclienna some 90 years ago. In
deed 1t IS now claimed by his friends that
he did not fire the fatal shot at ALL The
trouble took place on election day at
Thirty-fourth street and Second avenue.
A political fight was raging between
Abram S. Hewitt and James O'Brien, who
were ptted against each other in the race
for congress. Croker was an advocate of
MIR. Hewitt and worked hard for his cleo.
ton, and it having been reported that
O'Brien's heelers were smashing the Hew.
lit ballot boxes he determined to stop it il
possible. The two forces met at the Doll.
Ing precinct and words between O'Bricn
and Croker led to blows, and blows to the
fatal pistol shot. The case was tried. but
the district attorney, becoming convinced
that conviction was impossible, allowed u
pole prosequi to be entered 1t is still on
file In the district attorneys office.
Mr.. Croker as a Writer.
BY the way, have just heard an alleged
true story of how Mr.. Croker came to sun.
ply his article for The North American Re.
view some time ago. A talented younn
Journalist called upon Mr. Croker at the
suggestion of the editor of The Review
and asked him if he would supply an mr..
ticle upon Tammany Hall and it's politica
and the young newspaper man engaged
him in conversation for some time. He
subsequently, prepared long article in de
tense of Tammany, and after having /,
neatly typewriter presented it to Mr.
Croker and asked him if it met his views
The Tammany chieftain was pleased with
the article and was free to say SO. Then"
said the young journalist, why will you
not attach your name to it?'
The Tammany chieftain revised the paper
carefully and finally put his name to il
with some reluctance. 1t was then taken
to the editor of The Review. A check for
500 WAS rendered Mr.. Croker, but he
promptly returned it and also gave his
check for 500 to the young man who had
defended Tammany SO ably.
Robert Bonner's Orders.
saw Robert Bonner riding in the park
the other day behind fast but not spirited
stopper. He was going at q three minute
clip, and he sat as erect and firm in his
open carriage as though he were young
man of 20 instead Of veteran of 70. An
old pressman9 told me this story about him
not long ago:
before Bonner was wrapped up in fast
horses and just as he had succeeded in
getting The Ledger up to q circulation OF
$4,000 copies he was worried half to death
for fear he could not hold it to those fig.
ures. had charge of his pressroom. Bon.
ner came down one day and said
1t seems to me that this cut Oh the
fifth page works up too light. What do
you think about it. Jim?
II thought it worked about right and
told him so, but just to suit him tried to
fix it, remarking, If work it any heavier,
it will be one black botch'
WELL said he, sticking lead pencil
between his teeth and chewing it, rs he al
ways did when he got mad, If tell you to
make black botch of it, you will do it,
WON'T your,