New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-11
WOE IN TAMMANY HALL.
CROKER'S RESIGNATION ACCEPTED AMID
SIGHS AND GROANs.

|
COMMITTEE VOTES AGAINST RELIEVING THE
WEARY Boss-JoHN MoUADE CON-
TRACTOR WILL BE PUT UP AS
DUMMY LEADER"
About everybody who is possessed OF any
standing in Tammany Hall was at the Wigwam
yesterday afternoon. and most Of the warriors,
strong men unused 10 weep fortified with
double sets Of pocket hsndkerchiefs. 1t was
moving scene and the great majority could
hardly have been more deeply affected had they
been moved out OF the fat berths they hold under
the city government. 1t may have been that
their consciousness Of the approaching change
| in municipal control when the minions OF Tam
| many will go out and honest men will take the
city Offices had more to do with the fearful exhi-
bition made at the Wigwam yesterday than the
retirement Of Mr.. Croker.
It was well understood that the millionaire
boss was to go through the ceremony OF lay
ing down his crown and sceptre at the meeting
OF the Executive Committee, which had been
called for 4:3O D. m. and every member Of the
slxty-four was present including the thirty dis
trict leaders and their thirty associates except
Congressman w. Bourke Cochran. ex-officio
member as chairman of the Committee on Cor
respondence; Professor X. d. Petty, associate
leader Of the XIXth Assembly District. and NJ
Callahan. who holds the same place in the
XVIII. Police Commissioner James j. Mar
tin presided and Park Commissioner Edward
Bell was secretary. As loon as Mr. Martin had
requested his colleagues to be in order Mr.
Croker arose and handed Secretary Bell the fol-
lowing paper. requesting that 1t be read
New-York May o. 1884,
James J. Martin, esq. Chairman Executive Com
My Dear Sir: hereby respectfully tender co1 my
resignation as n member OF the Executive Com-
mitiee and also "A chairman Of the Finance COM
mi''ee OF lamma"' nan Ri'cHARD CROKER
PLENTY OF SUPPRESSED EMOTION.
The secretary's reading was Interrupted oy
number Of deep-drawn sighs and some groans'
but he managed to get through. As soon as he
had finished. Police Justice Charles "eide' ol
the XXVIIth District was on his feet huskiiy
protesting against the reception Of the resigna-
ton. He had said only a few words when ne
was interrupted by Mr.. Croker, who made
short speerh in which he urged the members OF
m. committee II they were his friends. to grant
his request and accept his resignation without
any DELAY His reasons were that his health
had been affected by the onerous duties when
he had been called upon to perform, and IL was
only after careful consideration that he had de-
cidcd upon resigning. The strain upon MS
health was too great. he said and he must oe
relieved OF the responsibility. County clerk
Henry y. Purroy spoke next and made ieei-
ing reference to his lifelong association win the
leader Then Chairman Martin took his inning,
and said he had known Of Mr.. Crokers purpose
for four or nve months. but faithful ana de-
,.o,., friend as he was to the departing chief.
n. had sympathzlngiy kept the dread secret
within his own bosom Neither Mr.. Purroy nor
Mr. Martin intimated n personal anxiety whch
II is said possesses them both to become MIR.
Crokcr's successor on the contrary. they ex-
pressed keen regret at his decision. whlch they
were awt was past recall
THOSE WHO WE'RE MOST DEEPLY AFFECTED
Chairman Martin ordered the roll to be called
and as each man was named he responded In
few words euogIzng Mr.. crokcr's goodness ana
cr.atness Among those most vlsibly affected
by this trying ordeal were DRY Dollar sullivan,
"I,,t" keenan, Barney" Martin Larry Del
mour Eddie" Sheehy. John Scannell, jimmy
Keating and Mr. Cookers real estate partner
pete Meyer All voted "aye" on the motion 10
accept Mr. Crokcr's resignation, except FIRE COM
missioner Scannc'. ,
"I nave never differed with Mr. Croker before"
he said I'm n voice quiverIng with emotion, Dut
| can see no good in his resignation. It's ter
The vote of the sixty-one present stood hfty-
nine in favor Of accepting the resignauon anu
vote. The committee adjourned without taxing
further action. ,,
In tho evening the Wigwam was crowded with
eager and anxious henchmen who wanted 10 be
M the meeting OF the Committee on Orgahiza-
ton, which Is composed Of nearly 1000 members
and meets In the subterranean chamber with
open doors. ,,,
County Clerk Purroy, the chairman. presided,
and John b. McGoldrick and Under SheriH
william II. McDonough were the secretaries;
With awful solemnity Mr.. Purroy requested
those present 20 be In order and he listened with
bowed head az one In deep bereavement To
resolution offered BY ex-senator Plunkitt FOR the
appoiniment Of n committee 10 supervise the
preparation OF lists Of Tammany Kan men 10
serve in each election district as inspectors, pol
clerks and ballot-cerkB al the election next IAN
These lists must he ready to submit TO the
Bureau OF Elections by August 10. The resolu-
ton being adopted. Mr. Purroy appointed MT
Plunkitt. James +. Keating and Police Justice
II + Mcmahon 10 serve on that committee
chairman Purroy then asked with. II possible
increased soemnity, II Chairman Martin o, II une
Executive Committee were present. me fohce
Commissioner did not answer and the iact soon
hecame patent that he was not there. His emo
tens were too intense probably. and he was , IN,
able to trust himself TO come 10 the meeting anu
announce the resignation OF the hohored 'eauei
uoIAHANs TOUCHING ELoorENcE
"In Chairman Martins absence, SAID MT
Purroy In funereal accents ''it becomes my pain
full duty to announce to you that MT. Croker
tendered his resignation to the Executive Com
mittee to-day as one OF its members, ana as
chairman OF the Finance Committee. ana that IL
WAS accepted" The resignation was then reau
nv Mr. Mciodrick and Chairman Purroy recog-
nIzed Deputy Commissioner Maurice f. Holahah'
Michael T.. Days first assistant In the Depart
rnent OF Public Works. ~ -
Mr UoIahaf, made a speech full of pathos. ana
mas co strangely moved by his own eloduehce
", times thai ne was often able to proceed only
Win great difficulty. Many of those present were
Impressed with the idea that they We're at d
t,rIaI aervice and almost imagined that they
beheld corpse. . ,,, o,d.
referring 10 Mr. Croker. Mr.. Holahan said:
'IIe was the greatest leader TINS oIshinA',U, i''
- had In nine years you have never known
the sting OF defeat When Tammany was strug-
cling along without organization, all the offices
naners against us-only the old guard 70 DO