The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-25
CROKER ATTACKS COCkRiN.
Challenges Him to a Meeting
at Tammany Hall
OR BEFORE THE LEXOW COMMITTEE

Mr.. Croker's we.lth Attributed nv isis,
20 the Congressman a Demand on sight
for n Personal Ex%pia-stio. Threate.es
nNr Cockrsn Does Not Meet Mr. Croker
Before the Tsm-any Executive Conmit-
tee Cochran. Calls the statement "stun.-
.pd Says that He Will Not nc Draw.
Into Any Controversy with Its Author.
To the politicians II has been no secret that
Richard Croker. the cx.leader of Tammany Hall,
and Congressman W. Bourke Cochran have been
Mt odds for more than two years. 1t was with
the greatest difficulty that the assent vi both
was secured to Mr.. Cockran's remaining on the
Executive Committee. This was a concession
made by both in the interest " the organization
to make II appear to the public that the friction
OF which there were hints did not actually exist.
The concession went no further than this. how
ever. for Congressman Cochran. who used
always to be put forward ms the orator Of the or
ganization and Its resolution drawer. has not
acted in either Of these capacities since lie had
his falling out with Mr.. Croker. In fact his
membership in the Tammany Executive Conn
mittee has been merely nominal.
Mr.. Croker has not h~esltsted to ascribe to the
Congressman many recent publications which
charged that he Croker managed the affairs Of
Tammany Hall for the purpose Of accumulating
a private fortune for himself. The fact, too.
that Mr.. Cochran was not renominsted for Con-
gress ia the Twelfth district was ascribed to
Mr.. Cr5Xers influence with district leaders
Scann1l,. Heating. and Reilly. who controlled
the majority Of delegates In the Congress Con-
~ventiOn.
Mr.. Croker has been nursing his grievances
against Mr.. Cochran for a long time, and made
them public yesterday by giving out the follow-
ing interview:
" have become satisfied that certain publica-
tons about the Tammsny Hall organization and
myself made since the last election have been
inspired by Cochran, aud I now have no hrsita-
tion in saying that | believe that he has been
going around corners to talk about me and acting
in a way that sometimes leads men to be termed
informers.
Now, l submit that 1t would be manifestly
more manly and dignified for him to come right
before the Executive Of Tammany
Hall and say what he has to say. lie has been
termed or terms himself the man OF brains.'
Now, II this man OF brains has got the manhood
let him accept this challenge and come before
the committee. l will go back to one more
meeting TO meet him and discuss these matters
with him. | expect to 20 to Florida in about
ten days, and l hope to have the pleasure Of
meeting him before the committee before then.
and let us see II he can make good
the attacks he has made. ! understand
he is to give . great reception in Washington
before he leaves there. l know that tho
committee. II he comes before IL. will give him
even a greater reception than that ore will no
one that he will remember longer. and one
that will make a deeper and more lasting I'M
preston upon him.
IL would like TO have the committee appoint
him the Chairman of an investigating COM
mittee TO look into all these affairs that he has
been talking about. lie has told people thatI
had to leave Tammany Hall. Now want this
man Of brains to make a thorough examination
OF all the affairs of the organization when | was
the so-called leader Of II. II lac refuses TO come
before the committee. the next time ! meet him.
no matter where 1t Il, | will demand a personal
explanation from him.
Il hope that the Committee OF Sixty will hold
a meeting soon: certainly before I go away. I
have been waiting patiently for such a meeting.
in order that ] may present myself and ask FOR
an explanation from the man OF brains As
Chairman Of the on Correspondence.
he is still u member Of the Executive Commit-
tee. II he knows ~ much. let him come and tell
the committee 10 which he owes 30 much NJ the
prominence which he once enjoyed. And let
me also say that II he knows OF anything that 10
wrong, let him go before this present Senate In-
vestlga,iny and tell all lie knows"
MIR. Croker, what was the original cause %
the difference between y,ursclf and Mr..
Cochran y asked the rrportrr.
THAT Is generally known. lie was di'ap-
pointed because he was not supported by the or-
ganiZution for United States senator in 1904,
when Edward Murphy, Jr., Of Troy was numi-
mated to succeed Senator Lltscuvk. lie was also
disappointed because he VIA not rrnOminsted
for Congress this year. lie could not have .ern
elected. lie is hot n resident ~ this city. lie
ran away from his district, just ~ he has run
away from some or his Iriend-. He lives at
Sans Point. l.. /. | don't know that lac WAS
ever Ia his district since hS e~!rr'iIH. Is il any
wonder that q man gets slCk ~ politics when
he has to deal with such characters; such
things are the dIsagreeable features Of politics.
Cochran never amounted ~ anything ia pol-l
itics. lie was like a Western cyclone, all wind.
or all the members OF %Tanni1ny who ara under
obligations to the organization This man has
proven himself the most ungrA'efHI for favors
obtained. lie never contributed one cent toward
his own election or 10 the campaign fund OF the
Democratic party. lie claims tohaye done great
things for Tammany. II he was 80 useful To il,
why don't he take hold now when Il Is in need
of men who can be useful, and not be playing 70
the galleries;
Il am told that he would not Interest himself
for the Democratic party this year unless he had
that he would be the next candidate
for the United States Senate in case Of SenatOS
Hill's election as Governor
Mr.. Croker said that after his return from
Florida, probably some time in March, he will.
20 10 England. where he expects 10 be inter-1
ested in the racing. lie will send Ave Of his
horses across next month, including DobblnAl
and Mohtauk. the last named an entry for the
Derby. Mike Dryers colt. Harry Reed. will
also lie sent over, The purpose OF sending them
over 50 early. Mr.. Croker said, IL 20 get the ani-
mails acClimated The first races In which any
OF them will probably run will be at NswmArs
ket. Mr.. Croker said that he will also rAoS
horses in the United States during the season.
wAsHISGToS. Dec. eth SUE correspOndS
ent saw Mr.. Cochran At his residence this sysnS
ing. and showed him a despatch giving fully
the substance OF Mr.. Cookers statement. Mr..
Cochran read IL very carefully, apparently At .
10 understand what Mr.. Croker meant. or 70
that he referred in his various charges and ins
Ar. Cochran read and reTeAd the
aud finally laid II down with an imS
patient gesture, saying. How can l reply -