The times., 1897-12-26
HIS VAULTIhG AMBITION
Richard Croker Fain Would
Branch Out
May Decide to Succeed Senator
Murphy in 1so9--The Up
State Machine.

New yGlk, Dec. 25.-From political
point of view the New Yorkers who, as
individuals, have the best reasons for
making this a merry day are these:
Richard Croker, late Of London, England
now of Lakewood, y. j.
Robert A. Van Wyck, bosS-pres mptive
of the second greatest town on earth.
Tom Grady, adviser in ordinary to
Mr. Croker.
johnny Carroll, sponsor of Mayor
elect Van Wyck.
There arc many more Who follow the
fortunes Of these four, but all Of them
put together will not receive such sub
stantiaI presents (and after awhile, SO
much troubls.)
Mr. Croker finds more in his stocking
than any other politician in the country.
1t is a very merry Christmas TO him
a power greater than ESpressnan Platt,
Mark Hanna, Matt Quay or any Re
publicsn boss ever dug from his stock
ing on n merry Yuletide season.
Two months ago Mr.. Croker was "out
OF politics. Now, everybody except Mr.
Croker is out. Mr.. Croker is very much
in. He Is the absolute boss Of the whole
political game. A Il that power which
EXpressman Platt welded to his own uu'
doing is now Mr.. Crokers, plus a great
deal tfat Mr.. Platt never possessed
Mr.. Croker has picked all the munici al
Officers who are TO manage the new adj
ministration; he has set sail to usurp the
party machinery of the State, which David
B. Hill built up he has selected Grady 20
below the wants of the city to the l. egiS
lature; ms dc Cantor the logical leader of
the party in the state by so doing; patched
up deals with Platt to split the conferring
Of favors upon the corporations at salts
factory terms, and inaugurated scheme
whic h is to give him entire control Of every
part of tile Democratic MAJ hinery in the
state.
Flushed with his success, he has sen:
his ageEts into the COW counties up the
State to tear down the machine which
knew Hill for its leader, Ind is now build
ing one of his own, in the ma manipulation
Of which Hill is to have no voice.
Murphy. anxious for reelection to
the United States Senate in 1899, is with
him, and there can be no doubt that Croker
is anxious to shine as the grea test political
leader the country hasever known. Thena
tional lea ders who remained al home last
year tC fight The hopeless battle of Bryan
ism, may scorn and Scoff at Croker. say he
skulked and refuse to take him seriously,
but Croke is intensely in earnes tand has i'm :
parted his enthusiasm to his followers.
The whole purpose of the boss is to
transfer the controls of larmoniZei
party per the GLIB, process from Albany
and Troy to the little yellow brick build
ing at No III Broadway, where he dab
bles III real estate and practices politics.
His ambition is attracting a great deal
of attention Every State leader of the
with jealous eyes, SIX kepticai OF his hon
esty Of purpose, distrustful of his sue
cess
Croker realized the unfriendlineSs OF the
nationa De Democraticleaders while h e waited
in the residence OF Senator Murphy at
Washington for the Democratic bosses in
Congress to flock to him in homage. None
came. They were even ungenerous in their
comments upon his presence at the capital.
They refused TO deal with him.
But Croker thinks he can bring the ma
tional eaders to his feet by the same
methods he does the district leaders in the
borough OF Manhattan. The idea of being
a real boss SO possesses him that he will
extend his visit TO this country far be.
yond the ordinary length OF time.
lie will go TO London for few weeks