New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-06
PRICE THREE CENTS.
KING CROKERS IRON HAND.
1T is NOW READY TO CRUSH THE PUBLIC.
THREAT-THE TINE FOR PLUMBER AND
DEBAUCHERY COME.

DEBAUCHERY CONE.
question frequently asked in local politica
is, What makes Richard Croker the leader ol
Tammany Hallp 1t is not superior mental ability,
for he is only ordinarily endowed and there ars
scores of men in the organization who are more
than his peers in intellectual strength Nor ID
it oratorcal power for he possesses little If any
of that, and could not for moment be COM
pared with Cochran or Fellows, or even Grady
Nor can his success be attributed to personal
magnetism, for he is really deficient on this point,
being utterly without the genial qualities Oh
Grant or Clark Furroy, or the majority OF the
district leaders. He does not make friends easily.
His manner is cold and almost repellent De-
spite all the popular chatter about his unswerv-
ing devotion to those near him few people really
trust him implicitly, and there is probably NJ
man occupying similar place in active
nolitics today who has a smaller circle Of dis
interested friends. His associates, as a rule, DO
not love him; they simply fear his power.
Furthermore, those who today are nearest 70
him and enjoy his confidence, to some extent
at least are, almost without exception, actuated
entirely in their devotion to his fortunes py
motives of self-interest and would form ne"
alliances Just as soon as they found 1t mor
profitable to do so.
How does it happen, then, that this man WITH
OUT culture or education, without any great
amount Of mentality, without even ordinary
power of expression, without ability TO AWAKEN
in Others emotions Of warm friendship, withouu
any original ideas on leadership or organlzation'
with no especial aptitude for handling either men
or affairs and utterly without public confidence.
is able to raise himself from the prison cell 70
the highest office in the strongest and mosU
compact political local organization in this or any
other country? People talk about Tammany
being controlled by the big -Four, but this
q mistake Tammany is ruled by one and only
one man to-day, and his name Is Richard CROKER
He is the Wigwam's lord and master. Compared
with him Tweed was the head OF an oligarchy'
while Kelly, though pugnacious, was constltu-
tional ruler. But CrOkers authority is absolute.
To dispute it means ruin or banishnent from pup-
lie life, even though tho dspntant. as in the case
Of Grant, be the Mayor Of this great city. How
has he gained this tremendous power? What Is
the secret Of his marvellous successp How has
he managed to obtain and hold this autocratic
SWAY over the multitude Of discordant and re-
belious elements that make up the Tammany AS
sociation.
The answer is found in one word-discrefion.
That covers it all Discretion is the keystone OF
his political career Nature denied him many
gifts but she bestowed this one upon him In rich
profuston. II is not only his most striking char
acterstic it is the one trait which overshadows
all else even his daring aggressiveness. Ii mas
been his passport at every step OF his remarkable
career: in fact his political life presents an ad-
mirable illustration of the old Germans sagacious
reflection, that there is discretion OF far moro
practical value than the rarest powers OF express
sion or the lofticst intellectual endowment.
Mr.. Croker has certainly been discreet beyond
nnv 81 his predecessors He has profted By their
mistakes and avoided their misfortunes. Where
Tweed was reckless, he has been careful where
Kelly was tyrannical and unyielding, ne
has been mild and conciliatory. Instead OF drfv-
ing men out OF the organization he has endeavored
10 bring them into it, and when other leaders
have sought to keep the patronage in the HANDS
OF few old warhorses he has scattered 1t oroao-
cast among the younger men, and thus bound
q powerful fighting force to him, NOT oniy
this. but he has sought TO some extent 10 mollify
public opinion and In some degree TO populsrlze
his organization by keeping in touch it with the
sentiment of the people as reflected in the news
napers 1t is not too much to say. perhaps, thas
Mr.. Croker has recognized the importance OF
the press more fully than any other leader that
Tammany ever had Tweed and Kelly thought
Il sufficient for the Wigwam to own news
naper or two, but Croker has never made this
mistake He has sought 10 maintain friendly 70
lations with all the papers, and his unfaning
courtesy toward reporters and editors Is well
known.
But while discretion has been Mr. Croker's
predominant trait in the past he has done certain
things of late which would indicate that he mas
lost, or is in imminent danger OF losing, this
precious quality. 1t begins to look as II he hao
reached the end of his endowment. or, IN other
words, success has had the same eifect on MN
that it has had upon 50 many others WHO nave
attained still greater eminence-turhed 'hs hea'''
This is evident to most people now it has been plain
10 close observers for some time No clear-leaded
nolitician who has watched Mr.. Croisers course
during the last Twelve months, and seen his am
hitious determination not only to extend the
;rauerce of his organization TO Albany and Wash
incton. but to concentrate all this vast power ia
himself. seen the relentless way in when ne
has endeavorcd 10 crush out Grant ana Martin
and all others who dared TO oppose MS personal
views; seen the complete anahuotinHn. a,nd y. nd
efforts to put his organization on higher gronne
and tho absolute surrender Of the city eovsrhmehc
into the hands of the most disreputaole gang
that ever plund"red man1ciP.is a,H machine of
Hi and Murphy in It's foolish fight against the
Fresdent-clect, and fnally read the amazing m,
to to' Conclude that the Richard Croker of to-day
is not the Richard Croker Of two years ago. H.
As matter of fact he is not lie has
changed radically. vistas Of power ana
dominion that his successes have opened i up eei
fora him appear 10 have destroyed his mental
f}s'"si"1h ba pa.s has given place to erce reckless
defiant demcanor that one mght expect Ito, to ma Sa
~ - t"o hto nower and has given himself up 10
the h full enjoyment of its Injuries, Chief q
Which is supreme CONTEMPT for public se1{Ss ~
in, iilen, mav think about his actions. He is IN
rrcdpsey cpl I the same condition of mind as his IN;
famons predecessor when he coolly propoundcd
,bc impadent query. We'll, what are you gong
10 Mr. j,o Cro,lcrs startling interview which pre-
oodnd Vayor Gilroy's astonishing and shocking
appointments was as bald and Gean1 n as Sube
Cue; Soiled leader. What the people will do IN
tuu' so'i''' bo what repreS<'n-