The times., 1898-10-16
GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.


Friday and Saturday were the first days
for registration in the cities of the En-
pire State of over 5000 Inhabitants The
result of the first days registration show
ed decided falling off in comparison
with the registration of previous years,
and the natural presumption is that it
Is unfavorable to the Republicans as the
percentage of apathetic individuals who
do not take the trouble to register and
vote on off years has almost uniformly
been larger among the Republicans than
with the Democrats. A closer study of
the registration in New York by districts
may prove the contrary TO be the rule
this year. but the chances are that 1t
will not. The falling OFF in the registra-
tion in New York is perfectly consistent
with the voting In Vermont and Maine
in September. In both OF those States a
remarkably light vote was polled. but
the decrease was fully twenty-five per
cent greater on the Republican than on
the Democratic side II this ratio of per-
centage holds good In New York the DEM
ocratic State ticket will be elected b. a
very large majority and Mr.. Croker's pre-
diction OF a plurality OF 10000 for Van
Wyck may not be so very far wide of the
mark.
Mr.. Croker has earned a great reputa-
tion as a perpendicular of election re-
turns. In 1882 he predicted Mr.. Cleye-
lands plurality in the city Of Sew York
within small margin. According To In
side reports. Nr. Croker Hon oger gi60L0O
In bets on Mr.. cleveiand's election that
year. In the tuo following years. when Re-
publican tidal waves swept 0y-r the State.
Mr.. Croker made no predictions. and. in
fact, was out Of the country most OF the
time. In 1886 he still found the climate
OF London more conducive to his hea. tn
than that OF the American metropolis.
Dut last year he returned and resumed
the command of Tammany Hall and pre-
dIcted the election Of Van wyck mayor
By 1900 plurality. The official count gave
Van Wyck about 1900 plurality in the
Borough of Manhattan. Mr.. Croker does
not make predictions every year. but
| when he does and advises his friends
| to go out and put up their money on his
| Judgment he is doing this year ii is
pretty safe TO assume that he knows
what he is talking about, or thinks that
| he does at least.
Mr.. Croker's way of getting at the real
| truth of a situation shows how thorough
| are his methods. He does not rely en-.
| tirely on the reports brought TO him by
his district leaders. but goes out and
| makes personal canvass on his own ac-
| count. He will visit every section of the
| city in the course of a week, riding
around at night on the front platform OF
street cars and quietly pumping every man
| that he comes in contact with. II is very
rarely that he is ever recognized except
by some district captain who knows bet
ter than to disclose the identity OF his
chief After week or ten days of these
nightly excursions Mr.. Croker has caught
on 10 the drift of public opinion pretty
accurately. He has also been able 10
locate weak spots in the Tammany lines
in different localities and is in a posi-
ton TO repair them. Many district
leader of Tammany has been paraly=ed
to find that the '-old man knew more
about what was going on in his district
| than he did himself. When Mr.. Croker
learns in his own way that a district
| leader is negiecting his territory and not
| carrying out instructions regarding the
canvass he is dropped forthwith and
| without any ceremony
| The offender is told that the chief
| wants to see him. Mr.. Blank" says Mr.
| Croker How are matters going in your
\ district? l am informed that you have
| lost control of it; that you did not see
| any of the kickers of influence as you
were told TO do and placate them. You
| have not been near Smith, who has 4
| large following. What have you got &c
| say?'
If the culprit begins to make excuses
| Mr.. Croker stops him and says: I'VE ex-
| pect the leaders of this organization u
| attend TO business. How otherwise, may
ask. could we hope 10 win any battles
| Mr. Blank | shall have to ask for YOU
| esignation" That settles 1t; the MAI
bows and retires. He takes his place
back in the ranks again and If he is truly
repentant and evinces a disposition Il
| mend his ways maybe in the due cou-s'
| of events he is restored to mis- old place
| No army has any better discipline thai
that which is maintained in Tamman!
| Hall That is one reason why hysterica
| and emotional tidal waves which periodi
cally sweep over the country make $
little impression on the breastworks o
Tammany Hall. If Mr. Croker can elec
| Van Wyck governor and extend the Tam
many system and discipline all over tn
State it will be perfectly safe to p'ac
New York in the Democratic column il
1900.
Judge William G. Riley, OF Accoma
County, Va. attracted some attention /
the lobby of the Riggs House yesterda
by exhibiting a letter postmarked Oyste
Bay, which he declared was from hi
friend, Col. Theodore Roosevelt. Judg
Riley has become almost one of the e:
tablished institutions of the National Car
ital. He was once, he says, consul of III
| United State at Zanzibar, and was force
TO perform the unpleasant duty of shoo
ing the queen in order to maintain tn
| dignity of the United States Howeve
the queen recovered. and so did Rile!
Judge Riley gave one the impression yes
terday that Col. Roosevelt had summone
him over to New York to take chars
of his campaign. "If I go" he saiC
you can bet your life that l will pl
, some life into the canvass.
Asked what he though of Col. Roos'
velt's chances of election, Riley sait
well. sir. if the Republicans can SUI
press the Raines law. cover up the litt
canal scandals. and fix up one of Nv
.I.F IL i