New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-06
CROKER THE ABSOLUTE.
OUT IN THE OPEN AS DIRECTOR OF
TAMMANY HALL.

| Richard Croker, absolute master OIL 1dhl-
many Hall. whether in or out Of politics. yes
terday removed the disguise he has been wear
ing OF a retired statesman simply on visit to
former friends i'm New-York after his customary
annual stay on his English estate. Mr.. Croker
Is longer "out of politics" Some OF the
Wigwam minions became restive over his in
reference with the conduct of their affairs and
found fault with the slate lie was preparing for
to-rnorrow's County Convention. There was
such hubbub raised over Croker's selection or
| Thomas f. Grady for District-Attorney, Patrick
keenan, for Sheriff. James 2. Keating for Coun-
~ Clerk. and others, that John c. Sheehan.
who in charge of the Tammany ma
| chine by Croker himself after its Waterloo OF
| 1891. became alarmed
| "You are the leader. ostensibly at least. the
! irate Wig wamltes said TO Sheehan. yet we are
| told that Croker who says that he is only an
outsder-and A rank one at that's making a
| list OF people he is getting ready to Jam down
our throats.'
"You kno~ as we'll IS / do" Mr.. Sheehan
replied that Croker Is the real leader, and that
| lie put me here to act in his place Whlle ne was
| away. lie is here now. isn't he?"
So the plan to make Croker come out and de-
clare himself and take command again was
| started Croker pref erred to remain as he pre-
|
| the scenes. But he saw that the game was
| up. His role Of visiting statesman, with no
| cspecial interest In politics. vas played out lie
| accepted the situation and will resume his ola
| place again at Tammany Hall.
| "I will be with you now" he said 10 old-time
warriors who used to delight in taking his or
| ders; "at least. will drop in every day or so
| to see how things are going.
| So Mr. Croker appeared at the meeting Of tile
| Tammanv Hall Executive Commits yesterday
afternoon.
BIG CROWD on DECK.
Long before the hour for the specially calico
meeting Of the Executive Committee tn ground
! floor Of the Wigwam was crowded with district
leaders and their underworkers. all of them IN
q state Of suppressed excitement and anxiety
| over tie troubles between Crok r ana Shcchan.
OF which the air had been full for several preVl-
Gus days More than half the men vino hud-
died In gr pups I'm the big rooms and tho corrdois
or who net and Gcsticuated on the sidewalk
in East Fourteenth-st expected mat nsht
of large proportions and far-reachlhs c"hs'-
ouences was impending Those who desired To
! witness n scrmuase--and they were largely III
the majo-lty-were grievously disappointed In
place OF a battle Of political giants. they were
compelled to witness what was called. for want
| of bette name. love feast.
II anybody went t. the Wigwam yesterday to
fight Croker his courage forsook him before the
| door Of the meeting room closed behind him
/ Not one u the bold. brave men who have been
! furnishing the newspa oers for Il week past with
| ror,r,e Of the disagreements and dissensions
| ~ Croker and Sheehan and their respective
Sounds OF followers. and with prophecies of
rloodcurdling scllping match. showed hight
1.bcv law down as ono whipped cur at croker's
feet and licked the dust from his boots.
NONE DARED TO PEEP"
4 Tammany man who ia not member of the
committee but who went to the Wigwam yes
terday hoping to see the supposed leaders who
have spent so many days In shouting their de-
,unciations of Croker's slate stand up to the
rack said
1T was the most humiliating sight ever
-.unessed Not n terrier OF them dared 10 raise
| = nrotost II there was n man with nerve
| erouph to speak his mind. Croker could he
| dovned But he knows how to treat them lie
lords II over them just hs the dukes and earls
Of the country he lives in now used to lord it
| over their vassnls
WHAT sHEEHAN WANTED
A. cho.bar,s friends explained yesterday
| ,ba, he had accomplished his object when he
succoedcd IN bringing Mr. Croker TO Tammany
nan and forcing him to assume all responsible
a., for the campaign They said that the notes
which passcd between the two men on Mo''uaS
made this plain. Mr.. Shcehan, hndng MS oo-
| toctious 10 the proposed county TICKET III"
needed sent a letter to Mr.. Croker insisting
that the latter should shoulder the odiuth OF '''s
turning down Of such men as Sohmer anu
| Dunn ana the nomination OF characters Inc
| Grad, ana Heating. Croker agreed, the meet
ing was called Croker appeared oFoPpVu '''
"out-of- politics mask and resumed ue lam
many leadership with all that this implies
Five minutes before 4 .. m. the hour set FOR
Yesterdays meeting. Mr.. Croker walked Jauh'-
uv up the Wigwam steps accompanied by OK
| po,icc COMMISSIONS. James J. Martin. chair
man ~ the Executive Committee. Croker was
| dreesca ,u a black frock suit and wore high
silk hat with a broad band. OF the English type
| lie ond Mr. Martin entered the spacious COM
mittee-rooln to find it filed with members OF
| the Executive Committee-mostiy ex-oHiciais
of departed TammaEy administrations Ihey
| look d on In awe-stricken wonder as tNe great
| boss slowly took seat beside AlE. Sheehan'
ub,le chairman Martin picking up his gavel,
| raped for order.
SOMETHING OF JOKE
ur Martin said. after the preliminary roll
| cali that they had me. FOR the purpose OF re-
| ce,v,ng the names OF speakers who would go on
| the stump during the campaign ana 10 arrange
FOR massmeetings. This explanation OF Mr.
ver,in was so much of a Joke that laugh
would have been raised II most OF the members
nod rot been dazed and frightened AS 1t was.
those who had been making an outcry against
the yellow dogs" on Crokers slate began-to
realize the enormity OF their guilt ana doubted
ubether they really ought to be alive. croker
looked at them sternly, as II he read theif
thoughts. and some OF them Undoubtedly pe
| uaved that he did Then. as the districts We're
| called the leaders silently handed to the Sec
80, ,sts OF the names OF such orators AS
.,,o had been able to corral. Counsellor James