The evening world., 1894-05-07
Asks That His Duties and
Responsibilities Be
Divided.
TIRED OF BEING CRITICISED.
His Statement Regarded as One Way
Of Getting Out Gracefully
Under Fire.

flCnaru croker, tne central ROVER oi
Tammany Hall, made statement this
morning which is in effect partial
resignation. Although he denies that
he will let go of the leadership of Tam
many, his utterances are accepted as an
indication that he wishes to sever his
connection from the Wigwam by de-
grees. and at the most favorable OPP
portunity to rclinquishthercinsof
without the appearance of making
complete surrender.
Mr.. Croker returned from Washington
this morning. ana his home coming was
preceded by another one of those peri
odical political rumors that he was soon
to retire as the leader of Tammany Hall
into private life.
An "Evenlng World" reporter called on
Mr.. Croker at Tammany Hall and asked
him whether the report was true. In
reply he said he would make state
ment that he hoped would set at rest all
the talk about his contemplated with
drawal.
"'rhese reports have started from talks
/ have had with members of Tammany
Hall. l have told them what l tell you
now. that l desire to be relieved of the
responsibility that rests on me.
81 want TO remain a member of Tam
many Hall and do my share of the
work. i don't wan. to do all the work
and be responsible for 1t.
Il have been urging on members Of
Tammany Hall to appoint committees
for the purpose of relieving me of the
labor | have been doing alone. to divide
the work and the responsibility.
"Will you make that announcement
to the Executive, Organization and
General committees at their meetings
this week?''
mo. l don't propose to do so. but ]
expect others, II they are friends of
mine, to attend TO it,
Lest he should be understood that he
intended to resign the leadership of Tam
many Hall. Mr.. Croker became more ex-
plicit.
II want" said he, more time for my
self and my business. ] want to so to
the races or to the country or anywhere
l please and whenever l please. | want
time to so to my business downtown.
"As matters are now l can't. All
work devolves on me. I must be here
to attend to it. Everybody looks to me
to see that 1t Is done. l can't stand
II.
"If I go away for rest am criticised
or maligned. Other members Of Tam
many Hall go away for six months and
nothing IL said about 1t. l want to have
the same freedom and liberty of action
as other members of Tammany Hail."
In reply to n direct question. Mr..
Croker said 1t was not his intention to
retire from the leadership of the or
ganization. His answer gave the i'm
preston that he merely wanted to di-
vide the work and responsibility from
, It, but not the honors.
Il have been In harness now for thirty
years" he continued. Il am getting
old"
! At this point he again interjected a
sentence that was calculated to correct
an impression that he would throw up
! the leadership.
| lie also wanted to convey the idea
that his resolve was not Of sudden or
recent origin, and did not spring from
the late attacks upon him.
Il have been talking with friends about
retiring from the sole management for
( four years. So YOU see 1t Is nothing
new" SAID the Big ChIcf, appealing with
look for corroboratlon to eX-Spciker
Su.zer, who stood beside him. The latter
| nodded aitirmatvely.
| Would not suCn n change as you
| propose revOlutiunze the system under
| which the business Of the Iammany or
| ganization has been run for years?
| Would II not abolish the central head OF
| leader?" he was asked.
| "Oh, there Is no system" was his an
! swer
"Tammany has grown and has been
! solidincl without a system. 1t has been
| II rule-system II you wish to call 1t so
| to put the best men in office; men who
| are also loyal 10 the organization.
/ That is the reason why the Mug
wumps and other ants are opposed to
us. The sole reason, no other with a
!, good deal of emphasis on the last two
! words.
THE committees appointed to do III,
| work | have been doing might act un
der the direction of the Executive Com
mittee and things would go on the samt
way as before"
Mr.. Croker followed the reporter out.
He wRs anxious that his position should
not be mistaken.
| II don't want the impression to go out
! that am going into retirement h" eN'
planned over again. ~ simply want 10
have less political work TO do, so that
can devote more time TO my AFFAIRS and
recreation
Not a Tammany man could be found
| who would express himself for publica
| ton on Crokers announcement, but pri
vately they agreed unanimously tha