New-York tribune., 1896-10-04
V H..
THE REIGN OF CROKER.

..rior, crokar he was called in the old days
,,h.p he was q .Bowery Boy ready with his
6sts in any row that might occur Richaro
r,ro,,ar he became when he succeeded Kelly a.
chose" of Tammany He assumed contfoi OF
Tammanv when that Hall had only one great
local office the Registers, in its grasp. The nori-
lund and mslodorous County Democracy had
the rest Croker was merely a Fire Commissioner
on 81 ono a wear with no other income or fort
une living like a man Of most moderate means.
But he was determined and ambitious seeking
wealth rather than office; and was not deVod o1
political acumen He had tact too. and the. gift
of silence; was also sufficiently domineerihg ana
autocratic to enforce discipline In IN" ne haoe
Tammany nominate for Mayor Mr. A. >. hewitt
q Countv Democracy and anti-Tammany man.
Thus he forced the hand OF the County De-
mocracy and expedited its dissolution Mr. Hew-
lit was elected. and Tammany had scored big
point Next the friendship and aid of Governor
Hill were secured and even some little favor
from President Cleveland. BY 1SSS. therefore,
Tammany was able to name and elect Hugn ).
Grant one Of its own men. Mayor Tammany
was now in full control of the city government.
and was doing about as II pleased Croker mani
tested all the external Indications Of rapidly in
creasing wealth. So did other Tammany leaders
Some people began To wonder where they got H.
Bv $500 there WAS a considerable public senti-
ment aroused against Boss Croker, and an ef-
fort was made to defeat his ticket by fusion or
Republicans and what left OF the County
Democracy. The attempt failed Grant was re-
elected. with the whole Tammany ticket, ny
large majority.
Then the Republicans in the Legislature sent
down q committee, with Senator Fassett AT It's
head. to look into municipal affairs; To find out
why Grant after his election as Sheriff, had
given Crokers child present Of SIo,Vb: ana now
Croker $1,000 to 5000 year. could buy
$1,000 worth Of property. These things looked
suspicious The committees labors. however.
had no immediate results Mr.. Croker moved
into a mansion which $4,000 year was hardly
sufficient to maintain. He bought fine stock
farm near Richfeld Springs. and invested AZ
least S2.O.OOO in horsehesh within year or so
In 1892 Tammany again swept the city. elect-
ing Thomas r. Groy to the Mayoralty Tne
food tide Of financial prosperity among It's lead-
ers continued But now there began to be omens
of a crisis The Rev. Dr. Charles H. ParKhurst'
Of the Madison square Presbyterian Church:
preached some startling sermons He charged
the city government with being IN hdeous
partnership with vice and crime and with derlV-
ing "A vast revenue therefrom. The rafnmahy
leaders met these charges with deniais. sneers
contempt But he preacher persisted. prousht
some cases into court. revealed beyond doubt
horrible state of affairs. Then IN lN)4 the Legis-
lature sent down another committee 10 inVesu-
gate things. with prodigious results III was
shown that the preachers charges were more
than justified. The city government was honey
combed with dishonesty wee ana crime TIM, "eIe Sr
partnlent in consideration of hush money"
Wholesale extortio and b.,ckmail were rrac-
tised. all over town. goOJ and bad, rlch ana
poor alike. Millions of dollars were thus taken
in by Tammany office holders every year NO
further need To ask Where did he get it, the
crash came at that falls election. when Tam
many beaten all along the line ana a he-
nI,hIican Mayor and other Republicans and anti
Tammany Democrats elected. MIR. Croker. ~
the way had conveniently gone to Europe during
the Investigation. and announced his retlrement
from the leadership of Tammany Hall. to lead
the life of a private citizen of Independent fort
ure devoted To the turf.