New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-10
MR.. CROKEK'S COR MINES.

There seems 10 bc something in the conditions
surrounding Tammany statesmen while they
are on their travels which prcdisposcs them to
silence after their return They may pass a
considerable part of the time while they are
away in breathing out thrcatcnings and slaugh-
ter but the moment they rccntcr their capital
they are reduced, in some cases To absolute ana
In others to comparative silence. Mr.. Justice
Diver, for example. who not only made
virtue of commenting on Congressman Dun
phys famous arraignmcnt in terms OF malcdic-
ton. but induced the news agencies 10 quote
him extensively so long rs he was at safe
distance. has been in a state Of rctlccncc border
ing on coma ever since his return. And now
Mr.. Croker who during the last year has en-
dcavored 10 remove the impression that he re-
scmblcd General Grant in any particular by
talking with great freedom AT frequent inter
walls. disapponts an admring populace eagerly
awaiting his rcappcar1ncc by officially emitting
only n few casual remarks about climate,
weather and the prospects Of the turf
Mr.. Croker has. however, accidentally and
unofiicially permitted one extremely Interesting
and significant statement 10 escape him.
He says that he Is about to present 10
Mr. Otto Kcmpncr one OF the two gold
mines which he recently purchased In
California, and Is inclined TO bcstow the other
on Mr.. James OHren. TO n man Of such solid
wealth and dazzling expectations as Mr.. Croker
the alienation Of n couple OF gold mines would
be a small matter if he had acquired the habit
of Offering such testimonials Of his esteem to
the less fortunate II IS not the magnitude OF
the gift which mprcsscs us. But Mr. Croker
associates have disseminated the impression
that he Is extremely cautious In such mat
tcrs. They say that although his conspicuous
Investments and general mode of life prove that
he has an immense income they have never
known him TO share ii with anybody since the
day when he laid the foundation Of his pros
perty by accepting $4,000 from Sheriff Grant
I'm trust for his daughter. In fact. the chief
criticism passed upon Mr.. Croker by men OF the
generous, whole-hcartcd type, who like TO see
their fellow-creaturcs happy and would rather
give away money at any time than not have II
to give is that he falls below their standard OF
good fellowship in respect to the art and prac-
tice OF distribution. Some of them say that
though as the head OF Tammany Hall and ruler
of New-York he annually receives for election
and other necessary expenses some S2,000OOO
more than he has occasion to disbursc for such
purposes, they never see or feel Il dollar of 1t
from one years end TO another. whereas a much
smaller surplus in the days Of Mr.. Tweed was
constantly in evidence all over the country. The
Aldermen. moreover, with considerable special
knowledge Of the situation and the possibilities
say positively that there is no longer any money
for them in their business. the implication being
that their silent partners get the whole Of II.
In view, therefore, Of this reputation for
habiual prudence with which his associates
credit Mr.. Croker, too much Importance can
scarcely be given to his sudden bestowal on Mr.
Kempner Of a California gold mine, which may
not improbaby prove to be bonanza. 1t APP
pears to indicate remarkable change Of dis
position on bis part which may lead. politically