The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-04
CROKER IN TOWN INCOG.
CITY HALL EMPLOYEES INTIMATE He
CAME TO SEE TAGGART.
Henry Watterson Reported Here Last
Wcek-Local Tammany Club
an Admitted Fact.

There are very few Democrats who doubt
that there is deal on between the self
constituted leaders of the Indiana Democ-
racy and Richard Croker, of New York. At
the City Hall it is insisted that Mayor Tag
CART has not been in Chicago, and the
evasive replies that he made to questions
OF a Journal reporter, published yesterday,
are quoted in support of this fact. 1t is as
serted that while Taggart admitted that lie
had been in Chicago he did not qualify his
admission with a statement as to when"
he had been there. City Hall employees were
saying, yesterday, that if the Journal had
said Croker came here to see Taggart, in
stead of the latter having gone to Chicago
to see the Tanmany leader, the truth would
have been hit.
1t is pointed out that Watterson was here
from Louisville one day last week, at the
Grand Hotel and that Allen w. Clark, the
king Of the push" whose headquarters are
in Chicago, was here at about the same
time. OF course no one suspects that Clark
would have anything to do with the Croker
conference, especially when it is the pur-
pose of the Tammany cheftain to side
track Bryan. Those who know him best say
that Clark came here from Chicago to
watch events and get a line on what was
going on. 1t was reported some days ago
that Croker intended to go to Louisville.
Mayor Taggart was the authority for this
statement. The fact that press dispatches
do not indicate that Croker appeared at
Louisville, and that Watterson turned up in
Indianapolis, gives color to the report that
Croker was in indianapolis incog. On the
other hand friends of Clark who have con-
versed with him, assert that Taggart has
IN
having a conference with Croker, and re-
turning on the next, so that his absence
from Indianapolis was not discovered. They
assert that the national committee, at Chi
cago, with which Clark is associated, knew
what was going on. The ultra free-silver-
ties, who still keep 16 to 1 for their ''toc-
SIM as Bailey would say, are positive in
their assertion that Taggart went to Chi
cago, regardless of emanations from the
City Hail. which, they say, are inspired by
the mayor himself.
The report in yesterdays paper of an eff
fort at the Cleveland Club the night before
to lay the foundation for a Croker-Tam-
many organization in this city, to be known
as Little reG;niany," created consterna-
who were there. ut is the work of a crude
tearo (tyro)' to quote John H. Mahoney,"
said one of the employees, "to connect the
ment'
WAS he not there?" asked the reporter.
Yes, he was"
so there was meeting at the Cleveland
Club?'
Yves, that is no secret We have been ex-
pecting to hold that meeting for six weeks
long before Croker was around in these
diggings," said Albert f. Gearing the may
ors private secretary, who was one or the
main leaders at the Cleveland Club meet
EDO the Democrats not have number of
clubs now?"
Eyes, but they do not do any work It
has been our purpose to organize club
that would do something
"A sort of Marion county walking club?"
suggested the reporter.
Yes, Cook county marching club, if you
will"
ton, Mr.. Gearing said it would not be
the thing to give the name Cook County
Marching Club" to Marion county organi-
Zation. While Mr.. Gearing profeSSed to be
very wise with reference to the source of
information the Journal had. he would only
admit that there was a meeting at the
sided that a committee on constitution and
bylaws, consisting of John H. Mahoney,
president of the Council, chairman; Albert
F. Gearing, Fred Heller, John Bumfuhrer,
"Cockey'' Shea and William Ousley. were
appointed. The contention of Mr.. Gearing
was that the idea of forming a club had
been considered six weeks ago, during the
late campaign, while Croker was not heard
| of until three weeks ago." Mr.. Gearing
would not admit that there had been written
communications from Croker prior to three
weeks ago.
when is the next meeting?"
Sunday" replied Mr.. Gearing.
The interview of Ex-Criminal Judge Mil
| lard F. Cox in the Journal yesterday, occa-
| stoned a great deal of comment. Some Won
| dered at his temerity in attacking Mayor
Taggart and S. e. Morss, editor of the Sen
| tinel or rather at his attempt to have
| fun with them, and good many wondered
what the result would be. They are await
| ing the appearance of the Sentinel this
morning with a good deal of interest, to
see whether there will be an editorial at
| tempt to read Judge Cox out of the party
for attacking TammanTyIsm In ai this con con
were made by the paper at John J. Roch-
| ford, last spring, when there was decla-
| ration that Indianapolis wants no Tam
many nor Richard Croker Those lose WI who
| that he must have information ready to
spring that would make mighty interest
| in readin" in the event his words were
| taken up and any one tried to knock the
chip off his shoulder It is possible that
| forts of the Indiana Democratic leaders
(self-constituted) to turn the State over to
| Crolxerism and Tammanyism.