The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-05-11
Richard Croker.

Richard Croker.
In 1872, year OF defeat for the Democ-
racy in the national and State campaigns,
and OF overthrow in the city Of New York
as well, the Eighteenth Assembly district
including most Of the Twenty-first ward
was the stronghold OF the whole Demo-
cratic oppositien to Tammany Hall. In
those days the use Of money in elections
was much more general and fragrant than
1t Is to-day, and force and violence we're
great factors also. for It was not an uncom-
mon thing for q gang" Of disorderly In
dividuals to drive their political adverse
ries from the polls. thereby depriving that
side Of protection and representation.
Often. too. 1t was possible for such gang"
to possess themselves violently OF the poll
ing place. aud absolutely control the count
ing. The Eighteenth Assembly district had
been openly and VIGOROUSLY debauched by
such methods. and money and power ruled
ruthlessly in its politics. A courageous as
well as skilled and tireless man was
needed to withstand the opposition
to Tammany Hall and to sustain the
interests OF Il. It was under these
circumstances that the leaders OF Tam
many at that time. Mr.. TnDES. Mr.. HRw-
TT. Mr.. KELLY. Mr.. CLINTON. Mr.. ScHELL.
Mr.. COOPER. and others. DESTROYS OF over
throwing It's enemies in their stronghold.
selected as the man best fitted for the work
| at such grave odds. 10 the Eighteenth
district. RICHARD CROKER. \ young Dem
ocrat OF the neighborhood.
During the ten years succeeding. Mr..
CROKER was the Tammany leader In the
Eighteenth district. and at the close Of that
period 1t was wholly Invested Of its anti
Tammany character. and became. among
the uptown districts OF New York. the ban
ner one for Tammany Hall. 1t was this
sort OF faithful apprenticeship which led to
the selection OF Mr.. CROKER as Mr..
KELLY's lieutenant. with the tacit right OF
succession to the Tammany leadership, q
choice repeatedly approved by the voters
OF the county. and OF his own neighbor-
hood In 1889 when he indicated his claim
to such recognition by being elected Alder
man against the most vigorous and for
midable opposition. personal as well as
political. The year following, 1884. Mr..
KELLY intrusted his lieutenant with the
most serious labors OF the campaign. but 1t
was not until 1885 that Mr.. KELLY actually
retired. and Mr.. CROKER succeeded him.
THE Sun. on Oct. 8. 1888. had this to say
=
apou' 'li' onoAhn anu mo NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
.hen uispu'o.' Du' ~" erely"here NC
ship:
ms career o. hle".ap o.okS' IN the politics OF this
!. ,,,,hfs, TO Do,e. ,,u.. IN. S,.,r., !, m.
Tw.n,y.nr., wArd who stood cut boldly .rain., the
influence sf.x'sh.na oB"ss at {. time when to do SO
mean' o''rH."m. ne mas ioatn' ms way. "sp oy step
T.mm.,, sonn..l. n.n Of ,.mn.r,,. ,,,.'
m.n. and amp. Political tnowi.dr. hi. eour.. a.
the leader of Tamm.ny has been judielOus and
s'nho'' Ihoush strongly .sr'.s'. man. kieH,nn
caused for ,s., no wS:,.1.,
out.id. Of Il, rants He know. municipal polite,
from their very starting point the election booth: and
there no phA.. OF local coates, With which he has
~. v ~ ~, n,S,,. a." 'A''''''"S
-. 100, a, ,oo,
~, Oi -ooo " pe.,o VI nino 'e"le,
ni, onohhn 100 oe0n ;ro aoAno"i1uSeu Anu
snupN . " tnt I"i' anu
ne ie0o.u as ouen nao ooon na'Au W
sen.s Vi spenu sueoeee.s. 'Ioiuuns .he
eiecuon VI W. Demoetau1 ifesiueh.A,
,'oAee "on 70" AA Tou'iiou.eu
iaiHeiy, .no s,iamph ot ,he Dehoe,alic
pa.'' ~ .no Sou " sN0 's.on y, .Iiioe