The sun., 1896-02-10
CROKER BACK OF SHEEHAN.
THE BIG CHIEF MAKES LIGHT
or THAT DINNER EPISODE.


Others Say That All VIII ne Harmony In
the wigwam So Long ns He IL Leader.
but That Several Faetaens would Arise
to Dispute the Succession ir He Retired.
Had Richard Croker stuck 10 tho text OF his
prepared speech at tho dinner given In his honor
by his Tammany friends At the Hotel Savoy
Saturday night, the general public would have
been kept In ignorance OF lack Of harmony
which exists among the leaders Of the wipwam.
When he turned from the printed page, how
ever, to praise ex-Polioe Commissioner John c.
Sheehan as the new leader of the organization,
he touched sore spot. and the secret was out.
Ex-Register John Reilly asked who had
elected Mr.. sheehan to the leadership of Tam
many Hail. and Mr. Croker, who was taken by
surprise. declared that tho majority Of the dis
trct leaders had done SO. Some ono shouted
out. "We did not want him."
This was attributed to Surrogate Fitzgerald,
who used to be the leader In the First Assembly
district. but Mr.. Fitzgerald denied that he had
made the remark. Whoever It was who did
make 1t, he voiced the sentiments Of several
district leaders, who have Rrumbled not little
because Mr.. Sheehan has been elevated to tho
ChRlrmanshir OF the Finance Committee, and
as such Is the oStensible leader of tho organiza-
tion.
Few OF the Tammany leaders would discuss
tho incident yesterday. Mr.. Reilly kept out of
the way of reporters, and Mr.. Sheehan declined
to be interviewed on the subject. Mr.. Croker
himself made light OF 1t. He said
"oh. It didn't amount to anything and will
have no effect on the organization. Everything
was harmonious at the dinnor. John Reilly Is o
good fellow and good leader but he will say
things sometimes that arc not exactly oppor-
tune"
Asked II he thought that there would grow
out OF the incident factional difficulties and an
effort to depose Mr.. sheehan. he answered with
~ guess not The whole matter amounts to
Despite Mr.. Crok er's statement and the silence
Of other leaders It Is known that there is feel
ing of opposition TO Mr., Sheehan In the Execu-
only because It is recognized that Mr.. Croker is
thesctnal leader that those who object 70 the
Es-ResIster Reilly has retired from the lead
Eseop,ivs com%ittee. He put Aiderman John @
T. Oakley In his place. In fact Mr.. Reilly has
not not been been IL L. Tammany Hall since Mr. sheehan
County Clerk Purroy in his speech at the or
recently. spoke OF Mr.. Croker as still the leader
OF the wiRwam. and announced the possibility
shi1 This 1' was | taken to be q notice that
SO long rs Mr.. Sheehsn, was the representative
OF MIR. Croker twas all right. but ahould he as.
pire to the control Of the organization he would
not be supported In some quarters.
Then. too, Senator Grady. in hi. speech at the
banquet M said Of Mr.: Croker, "he is our leader"
mistaking his Intention 70 give notice G that the
ence was loudly oheered. and ex- Register John
Reilly's voice was ono OF the loudest In tho
chorus.
In fact the situation 10 we'll understood by
tho district leaders. and It is this: So long as
Richard Croker remains ths aetnal leader % r., OF
, tee Will work n perfect err har%@ony; pony Should a he
testing for ths succession. ..s.-,
Some notioh of the situation can be gained by
reference to the events attending the reorgan.
that time John @. Sheehan was on the slate for
election as Chairman of tho Committee on Or
~
BY Mr.. Purroy m and his friends that at the Very
s and
opposition At that time Mr.. Croker was in
and Mr.. sheehan was made Chairman Of the
MIR. Croker would be tho real director Of the
Had the leaders Of Tammnny been willing to
ouGh generalization in 1898 the ex-Mayor
relieved OF the responsibility.
MIR. Grant would not consent to take the lead
s' as olsr ns
leaders would not hear Of such reorNn nization.
because they were bound to keep him in politics
Mr.. GROCER said yesterday that he has not yet
decided when he will return to England to look
after his racers. He will not sail this week,
until he is perfectly sure that a modus vivendi
has been established In the Executive Commit
tee to last until he can get back.