The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-24

present condition of Richard Croker
which seems invested with a perennial
interest-his wealth.
Many persons declare that Croker is
worth over s., 900, 900, but when such per-
sons are asked what his wealth is they
cannot answer To be sure they will
point to the stately mansion on Seventy
fourth street, which cost for the bare
house about So, 600, and in the princely
fitting up of which sum far in excess Of
that amount was expended. The decora-
ting of one room alone cost S25, 900. But a
mortgage of $50, 600 covers the property,
and Croker's other house on Morris ave
nue.. 1t is alleged that this incumbrance
is blind, trust company holding it in
favor of near relative. But how can
this be shown2 Then the stock farms and
racing studs are referred to. But the
Richfeld Springs farm land was sold a
few years ago for $l0. 900, and even offered
for s., 900, and since it became CrOker's il
has hardly increased in value. The same
is true of the southern property. Yet,
say the believers in the fabulous fortune,
there are the horses.
Cookers horses have attracted great
attention. His possessions in that line
are valued at $500, 900. Now, Croker never
paid any such sum for them. ANY turf
man has list of the Croker animals at
his fingers ends, and no such sum as half
a million would be given for the entire
list. So that item must be cut down.
1t is well known that the intrigues in
which Tammany figures often have pro-
found effect upon Wall street. Many a
fortune in stocks has dwindled and
shrunk in consequence of some secret
conference in the wigwam Many an ac-
cusation has been made that Croker has
not hesitated to invest upon the ''tips" he
has access to. But what evidence exists
that this is SOL What stocks as holdings
are certainly known to be Cookers! Sup
pose the Investigation committee. of which
so much is whispered just now. really
came down from Albany, could any
one disprove before it Cookers sworn
statement that he is poor manl His as
sets would shrink like a sensitive plant
AS for his liabilities no one but
himself knows there amount, but
but there is no reason to believe they are
large.
Richard Croker has not a vul-
gar look His present appearance has
that rough distinction observable in big
well fed, well groomed dog. He is always
well attired, looking like a bank presi-
dent somewhat, in his rich black cutaway
coat and waistcoat and fine striped IN
emphatic trousers. His only iewelry are
one ring, gold watch and chain with
He is very solicitous about his two big
boys, and frequently accompanies them to
places of amusement.
These, however, are not Mr.. Croker
only virtues as family man. Every rela-
tive of his who is so fortunate as to dwell
within the limits of New York city draws
money from the municipal treasury. Mr..
Croker's brother George has a lucrative
court clerkship. Another brother, Ed
ward, is dead but he left two sons. One
of them is chief of the First battalion; the
other succeeded his own father in the de-
partment of public works. Mir. Cookers
sister Sarah is also dead, but another
sister is now the wife of one Samuel War
rem Samuel Warren is in the custom
house. The fact that Mr.. Cookers third
sister married DR.. Jenkins has also been
the making of that physician, for he is
practically the New York board of health.
Even Mr.. Cookers relatives by marriage
are provided for, one of them being Capt.
Collins, of the Park police while another
set of public revenue receivers, the Fal-
Ions, are equally indebted for all their
worldly influence to their Croker kinship.
That characteristic which prompted his
old pals to call Richard Croker thick is
manifest in the man to-day. He is tao
turn, and, with his stubby, stocky beard
and slow, ruminative air, seems to possess
wisdom in q heavy way When he is
spoken to he will look up, think mo-
ment, and when apparently on the brink
of utterance, he will look gloomily at you
as much as to say:
"You thought was going to say some
thing, didn't you2 But I'll keep my mouth
shut"
Such is the man who made the oath
of poverty before an investigating com
mittee
Mr.. Croker lives leisurely life now
AS stated, he gives much time to his home
and his horses. One of his recent char
acterlstics is an awakening pride in his
ancestry There was a Crofton Croker
some generations back who had a certain
literary vogue in his day. He wrote for
the Dublin Review, and met the wits of
that time on terms of equality Richard
Croker is becoming interested in Crofton
Croker and the heraldry Office.
But, how comes it that Richard Croker,
instead of some other man, rose to the
boss-ship of Tammany? why he more
than another?" If he be as stupid as they
say, how explain his present position2
Richard Crokers method in life is very
simple. He DULLES his way up He bull
lied his way at school and he bullied his
way to leadership in the Fourth Avenue
tunnel gang. He can acquire power in no
other manner. He is the boss of Tam
many because he knows how to bully. He
will have no one about him whom he can
not bully. He knows that in the contests
wherein bullying is no factor, he can
never amount to anything. That is why
he represents one mans power so pecu-
liarly. Tammany is the Fourth Avenue
Tunnel gang on gigantic scale. It's mem
bers have no more voice in its control
than the coolies in Ceylon. If they don't
like that they can get out.
But there is good reason to stay in.
Croker represents selfish mbination
of which the safety is numbers and cohe-
sion. The Tammany men know that If
they take orders patiently the time will
come for police justiceship, a commits
sionership, place in the assembly. What
use is brains in Tammany2 1t only counts
one vote. So the saloon men, the division
men, the policy men, the gamblers the
heelers, are as one man, and that man an
archbully. And when they act in con-
cert, their divided opponents, who call
themselves anti-snappers, and laborites,
and republicans and the County Democ-
racy, and so forth, go down like wheat
before the reaper.
The beginning of Richard Croker will
always be the most extraordinary chap
ter in the history of municipal govern
ment in America.
AS to Giants.
From the Illustrated London News.
There is no subject concerning which
more lies have been told than about