Evening journal., 1894-12-26
CROKER ON HIS MUSCLE
Viii the Elk Tammany Chief
Thrash Bourke Cochran?
AN INTIMATIOE 10 THAT EFFECT.

Cochran Says IIe IS Not Afraid and VIII
Not Rnn Away From Washington when
Croker Goes Thsre-A Sensational Meet
ing Expected Later.
NEW YORK, Dec. 26--Richard Croker's
attack on W. Bourko Cochran is the sub
ject of discussion whenever politicians
chance to meet Mr. Crol1er's statemont
that IL Mr. Cochran fails to accept the
challenge for a discussion before the Tam
many executive committee Croker will
demand personal explanation is taken to
mean that Mr. Croker viii force an issue
with Mr.. Cochran when they meet face to
face.
There is no doubt that Mr. Croker is
thoroughly angercd, and the demand for
a personal explanation, should it be made,
is expected to result ia a physical encoun-
ter. Mr.. Croker has had some experience
Is contests Of this kind. Although his
hair is silvered and tinle has made some
ravages, he Is still as hard as iron, = has
broad shoulders, a prodigious arm and
could strike a powerful blow These facts
are being seriously discussed today by
politicians and friends Of both men, and
tho consensus Of opinion is that meeting
between Messrs Croker and Cochran
would begin in an attempt at nose pulling
or face slapping and end in flsticuffs
Mr.. Cochran S refusal to explain himself
before the Yammany executive committee
or to engage in controversy makes it
necessary for Mr.. Croker to wait awhile.
Should Mr. Croker stop over in Washing
ton on his way to Florida he may meet
Mr., Cochran If the latter does not leave
Washington about that time.
Must Meet sooner or Later.
The accidents of everyday life and the
course Of political events are practically
certain to bring about meeting between
the men at some time in the future, and
q sensation is expected to follow.
Mr., Croker, when shown a telegram
from Washington containing Mr.. Cock
rams refusal to hold any intercourse with
him. said, You don't call this a replyg"
Mr. Croker was asked if he still intends
to demand personal explanation and an
swered, That's what / said +"
When asked rs TO what course he would
pursue in the event of such a meeting,
Mr. Croker asked to be excused on tho
ground that that was a personal matter
entirely
Mr.. Croker then added: Every word
in that interview stands. There is moth
ing TO change or take back There are
others too Some Of these high toned fell
lows, with their heads up in the air, so
that they can see where they going
some Of these win go over backward "
Mr.. Croker said chat he had declared
himself and did not care to elaborate his
original statement
1t is understood that Mr. Croker con-
suited with several Of his intimate friends
before delivering himself and talked with
full knowledge Of the inevitable results
| These results are that Mr. Croker and Mr.
| Cochran are certain to have personal
difficulty
It is furthermore entirely probable that
now the issue has been made, Mr.. Croker
will have much to say ia the reorgani7a-
tion and reformation Of Ial4.I1ahF Hail.
Mr.. Croker's attack on Cochran is said
to indicate several things. First, that Mr..
| Croker to relieve his mind wants to pub
licly express contempt for Mr.. Cochran
second, that he wants to discredit the lat
ter in the eyes of the rank and ale Of
Tammany, and, third, that he wants to
kin Off politically Mayor Gilroy, Cor.
| poration Counsel Clark, Police Commits.
sioner Martin, Police Justice Martin and
| the followers Of all Of these men,
This element since Tammany's recent
| defeat, wants to control the organization
when It is reorganized. While Mr. Croker
/ has no desire 90 re-enter active political
/ life, he has friends and followers ia Tam.
many, and these he desires to see remain
on top.