Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-29
VAN WYCKS GRAFTON
Thirty-One Words Long, Delivered in
a Back Room.
JUST EQUAL TO his AUDIENCE
Big Blowout at Tammany Hall
Last Night.
TREND OF THE BETTING
TREND OF THE BETTING
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

press agents, Candidate Van Wyck has de-
livered himself of a speech, consisting of
just thirty-one words, and his audience
was composed of just thirty-one persons.
Diligent search had to be made by report
ers to find Mr.. Van Wyck and to hear his
speech. 1t was not delivered from the
forum of Cooper Union, from the platform
of Carnegie Hall nor in any of the great
halls where people have assembled nightly
to hear the other candidates proclaim their
principles.
Mr.. Van Wyck's speech was delivered in
little bed room on the third floor of the
Bartholdi Hotel. The audience consisted
of the twenty-three members of the indie
pendence Hall Democracy, five newspaper
reporters and the campaign manager, as
sistant campaign manager and press agent
of the candidate.
The Independence Hall Democracy had
called in a body to notify Justice Van
Wyck of his nomination by themselves and
to assure him of their support. Mr.. Har-
vier made the notification speech and be-
gan by saying that this is not a speaking
canvass. Everybody grinned except Van
Wyck. who flushed scarlet. Harvier saw
he was dealing with a delicate subject, and
speedily brought his formal speech to
close. Then the ''muzzle'' was removed,
Cookers man was delivered of those thir-
ty-one words. the ''muzZle' was replaced
and the party was bowed out. They wan
dered downstairs, where they found a fresh
bundle of printed copies Of Van Wyck's
letter of acceptance had been opened, and
each one of the faithful twenty-three was
invited to take along as many leaflets as
he could carry. Emboldened by this sue
cess, it was said Van Wyck might say a
few words at the Harrison-Croker meeting
tonight. He did not put in appearance,
however.
Tammany's Great Blowout.
1t was undoubtedly large meeting. Van
Wyck was not needed to add TO its festiv-
ity or enthusiasm. There are seven stands
erected outside OF Tammany Hall, and
there was a crowd at each stand. The
stands We're decorated with The flags of all
nations. The auditorium in the building
also presented gay appearance. There
were flags AMI bunting everywhere AL
together Tammany Hall had taken on a
holiday garb to welcome the members of
the Cook County Democracy. Richard
Croker had given orders to ''whoop things
up and there was plenty of ''whuop.'
1t was possibly necessary to give such
an order. for New York people don't like
these Chicagoans. and il is said that even
the toughest of The ward heelers in Tam
many holds himself superior in every
sense to this delegation of citizens from
the Lake Michigan town. But Mr.. Croker
said that Mr.. Harrison and his fellow
narauders should be made welcome, and
mis- orders were obeyed. The speeches to-
night were models of discreetness and cal
oulated to warm up a Tammany audience.
Croker Kissed Again.
The demonstration as a demonstration
for Van Wyck was a success, but there
happened one thing not down on the pro-
gram. Eustis was cheered; the Chicago
men were warmly greeted by the crowd;
there was renewed cheering when Mayor
Harrison appeared on the platform. Then
came the frost, and it was one of the most
chilling things that ever occurred at a
Tammany Hall meeting. Some one called
for three cheers for Richard Croker In
stead of cheers there was a storm OF
Kisses. They filled the hall, and Croker,
who had accompanied Harrison upon the
stage. looked astonished. Not cheer or
sound of approval was heard. The indi-
vidual who called for the cheers thought
he would try again. In louder voice he
called again for three cheers for Richard
Croker" This time there was feeble
Spouse, but the cheers We're soon drowned
by Kissing Croker heard the expressions
of disapproval for himself and he retired
10 a seat away back on the stage. In the
house of his friends. in audience
lected, it were, for second time has
the wigwam expressed disapproval of
it's boss
The fact that Harrison was rafting over
the rails to New York and would soon he
in his custody did not keep Croker away
from Tammany Hall today or prevent
his stirring things there into a boil. He
had everybody on the go. and in ten min
utes heard more reports of the progress of
the campaign in the various districts than
he has heard in the last ten days. He was
in excellent good hUmor, and declared for
publication that he couldn't see anybody
in the mayoralty race except Van Wyck.
Uneasy About Low and George.
Privately he is said to have expressed
concern at the spread of the Low move
ment and the damage being done to the
Tammany cause by George. Asked if he
thought Mr.. George encouraged the action
of his sympathiZers in interfering with
Tammany meetings, he said he did not
believe Mr.. George personally encouraged
his followers to make the trouble, but he
expressed the opinion that there is an Or
ganized movement by the George men to
make trouble at the Tammany meetings.
One of Mr.. Cookers orders today
for meeting of the committee on organ
ization on Saturday to receive reports from
leaders from every election district in the
Greater New York.
Croker, Sheehan and the most influen-
tial district leaders of Tammany Hall had
long conference this afternoon. Mr..
Shee han said that the purpose of the gath
erinS was to make arrangements to meet
Harrison on his arrival in this city, but
1t was learned that the Harrison business
was disposed of in fifteen minutes and that
then Croker called for detailed reports
about. the Tafnmany outlook in all parts
of the city Just what the district leaders
reported could not be ascertained, but the
character of their reports may be inferred
from the fact that after the conference
Croker and Sheehan refused to make the
Usual ante-election predictions. The
Thursday before election was the regular
day in former campaigns, and pages of
figures were usually given OUT but TODAY
all questions by reporters concerning fig
ures elected a surly nothing to say"
District Leaders Anxious.
The district leaders are clearly anxious
about the situation. One of them, who is
very close to John c. Sheehan. said: Il be-
lieve that Van Wyck will win, but Low is
gaining. There is use denying that 1t
locks as if he would be second" This adj
mission is significant in view of the fact
that up to today every Tammany man was
proclaiming that the race was between Van,
Wyck and Tracy. 1t was said at Tammany
Hall this afternoon that what alarms
Croker and Sheehan most is Henry
Georges frequent appeal to voters to sup
port Seth Low if. for any other reason
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