Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-29
Boss" Croker Reflects at Lakewood
a Glitter of Royalty.
HEAVY PUNCflLIfY PREVALENT
lammany Headquarters Will Move
Over to Fifth Avenue.
ID ILLS SCALP WANTED
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star

special correspondence Of The Evening Star
NEW YORK. December ~, 1897.
Christmas day brought very little rest
10 Richard Croker and Robert A. Van
WICK. They talked politics with a num-
Der OF callers during the morning and
carry afternoon, and then the former left
ior Rosebank, Staten Island, where mis-
orotner lies awaiting burial, and the lat
Ter hurried to Brooklyn, where he ate
Nhristmas dinner with his brother Justice
van "yck- After Mr.. Croker attended his
brothers funeral Monday, he, with Carroll.
van Wyck and Grady. returned to Lake
wood to put some finishing touches to the
slate
Inc boss likes Lakewood for there
ne holds complete sway. and there vassal
age vas never more low and seryile His
apartments are the envy of men who hav.
visible means of support and in them
with Van Wyck. Carroll and Grady. he
holds court as did the French kings who
lhoNeu the capital about with their august
persons at Will Like other monarchs. he
begins late with his business He break
iasts with the big four while the Others
breakfast at tables correspondingly remote
as tne positions to which they aspire.
Commissioners-to-be are generally AT the
next table. Then in rapid succession come
tapies where sit the heads of departments
chlef clerks. state senator's assemblymcn
ana aldermen and contractors
The After-Breakfast Walk.
After breakfast Croker walks; the big
Tour walk with him. Sometimes ali hands
are missing: then there is talk of a con-
ference. Curiosity is still rampant about
the doinss of the man who controls more
patronage and power than the President
OF the United States. Then there is the
al hn,I
suite, Respondent in claw-hammers and
SILK hats. After dinner, big cigars wine
and more homage. This is the daily life
OF the government which is to take charge
in Greater New York on New Year Gay
Its complexion changes daily. One day
sees one batch on hand to see the king;
the next day sees them depart gripsacks
in hand, for the little railroad station.
Some stay on week after week waiting
for the cheering word that never comes.
One thing is all they are here for-patron-
age and place.
Tnmmany Moves to Fifth Avenue.
And Cookers court at Lakewood or pos
sibly very distant contact with royalty
abroad has caused him TO lay the founda-
ton for court in this city. On Monday
at o'clock will be held a meeting pre-
liminary to the establishment of the lair
OF the tiger in .aristocrauc 5th avenue. The
big beasts and cubs will leave the wigwam
on 14th street for the Democratic Club on
9th avenue. The Manhattan Club. prior to
this second coming of Croker. has been re-
garded as the wet nurse of Tammany
Now Mr.. Croker has denounced II as the
hotbed, the nursery of mugwumpery. He
resigned from IL in 1895 and Joined the
Democratic Club, and now he wills that 1t
shall be the incubator of democracy in this
state city and nation, and from its cham
bers he will dictate the course of the
mayor-elect.
In some quiet corner of the club rooms
hara lNn rla
Hills scalp. and there deals will be ar
ranged and campaigns opened for the con-
troll OF the legislature. From this head
quarters Croker will reach out for that
commanding influence in national affairs
to which he aspires; perhaps for the United
States senatorship. The boss expects the
club to overtower in political influence not
only the Manhattan Club but the Union
League. to which belong SO many respect
able men in republican politics. His ex-
pectation will be a big thing for the DEM
ocratic Club. First of all. II will add three
stories to the club house. and next il will
add number Of members to the roll.
Every district leader, every prominent
place holder and place hunter will apply
tor membership i,5 To such applicants the
doors will swing wide open. The commit
tee on membership have been given their
instructions by Croker, thus: 1.-The Demo-
cratic Club is party organization, and
the Manhattan is not; it is made up of
mugwumps."
Will IRfOrce "Regularity."
1t is believed that Croker will endeayor
to make the Democratic Club regular
that is, representative of that element of
the party which insists on loyalty to its
candidates, even If the platform be ob,ec-
tionable. This is possibly i'm line II is
pointed out. with evidence which is accu-
mulating, that Croker contemplates pur-
suing the same course in the state cam
paign as was followed in the municipal
contest. e., putting up a candidate of
uhtalnted regularity who could be
claimed by the silver men on a pIatform
non-committal as to the financial issue.
which would be satisfactory to the sound
money element. This plan, IL followed,
would undoubtedly put Mr.. Hills head in
eXcehent position for the scalping knife
1t is remembered however, that the Dem
ocrntic Club was unfriendly to BRYAN In
the last presidential campaign. when it re-
expelled at least one of Bryan's friends
from membe rship: and IT may also be OBJ
served that Perry Belmont mas been named
as Cookers choice for gubernatorial candi-
date Belmont, obviously, would not be
accepted by the Bryan men as a candidate
of untainted regularity. Croker 1t would
appear, will have to not only doctor the In
clinations of the club, but pick out a new
candidate.
Personal Feeling in the Matter.
Possibly there is a good deal of personal
feeling, as well as politics. in Cookers
the Tammany leaders, including Croker,
Martin, Grant and Gilroy, found themselves
unpopular among the Manhattan clubmen
in 1884. The Independent element of the
Manhattan Club at that time were on top.
Nearly every democratic Judge, congress
man and head Of department were MEM
bers. and large majority of them went
against Tammany Hall in the municipal
campaign. Mr.. Croker found the air of the
old Stewart mansion too chilly for him.
and resigned his membership. Almost i'm
mediately he became a member Of the
Democratic Club where the Tammany men
were a powerful minority. The sights and
sIUbs that Croker and his followers re-
ceived in the Manhattan Club were never
forgotten, and now ii is believed he pro-
roses to even up matters by snubbing the
Manhattan Club. This institution within
the past year has been credited with con-
siderable financial embarrassment This
caused, it is said, recent attempt to con-
solidate with the Democratic Cuba
scheme which fell through. Now the Tam
many men have the ascendency I'm the
Democratic Club. and with Croker opening
his court there boss of the wigwam and
general dispenser of patronage for Tam
many. 1t is believed that at least three hum