Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-24
TO KILL OFF PLATT
Enemies of the New York Senator
Planning Against Him.
CROKER'S FIGHT DISfURBS MURPHY
Tammany's Ideas of Retrenchment
Beginning to Be Apparent.
DEMANDS ON THE TREASURY
Special Correspondence Of The Evening star.
NEW work. Jau,rar,, o2 1919


On Wednesday night thirty representa-
tive anti-Platt republicans met here III
caucus and planned to fern a state
ganization and nominate full set of
oidates for state officers in the election
next fall. The motto Of this interesting as
semblage is Anything to XIII Platt." L,
was announced through the spokesman for
the meeting that il the determination
to ruin Plat and break the republican ma
chine if the republican party in the state
went to the demnition bowwows and there
wasn't a single republican Candidate elect
ed in the state. 1t was decided to issue
within four days call for convention of
two delegates from each county. and they
viii be asked to assemble in some city III
the interior of the state within month to
ADOPT plans to effect a state Organization.
Candidates for Congress are to be voted
for this fall and with tvs sets of republi-
can candidates in the field almost d solid
democratic delegation probably would be
sent to Washington Then there is the
senatorial election, and it is believed that
the possibilities of a republican split has
Induced Senator Murphy to throw himself
h.tO the gulf between Hill and Croker to
make solid the democratic lines. There is
where Perry BelmOnts candidacy would
tit, and ii is believed that no stone will be
left unturned to Stave off the inevitable
HIll-CrOker conflict until after next falls
cleo tons at least by the brewer senator.
Murphy Mach Disturbed.
That Murphy is much distuIbe in mind
by Cookers attack upon Hill is evident
when it is known that has called upon the
Sage of Wolfert's Roost at Albany within
the past week. The senator, it is said,
fears that he may be involved in their quar-
rel, and thus be disappointed in his ambition
to become reelected He wants Hills aid
and yet he will not indicate to Croker that
the thinks his recent proclana ton of hos
uhty impolitIC. Politicians think he visited
I1lll TO assure him that he did not want to
Join IN Cookers war upon him. If Frank
Campbell of Bath. the New York member
OF the democratic national committee is to
be believed Hill favors Murphy's re-elec-
ton.
MIR. Hill earnestly favors the reelection
of MIR. Murphy as United States senator.
says Mr.. Campbell. MIR. Croker pretends
to have the same purpose. Why. then. does
he violently assail Mr.. Hill and thus excite
dissension in the democratic party? Does
he think that by promoting party quarrels
that he will improve MIR. Murphy's chances
of reelection"
With the threatening aspect for the re-
publican party in the state, Murphy fore
sees an excellent chance for reelection if
he canSStave off the fight, and he is evil
IDENTIFY endeavoring to keep Hill quiet pre-
vent him from airing his quarrel with
Croker; gain time and a possible guberna-
torial arrangement that will be acceptable
to both parties. And there is where Bel
mont comes in again
CrOker's Grudge Against Hill.
A great deal has been said about the bit
terness between Hill and Croker but very
little as to the primary cause. The boss's
hostility to Hill dates back several years
He sas always held the former senator
responsible for the snap convention of
Cleveland and Hill factions and for Hills
action in grabbing the state senate the fall
before to make good his boast that before
he left Office the democrats should have
control of both branches of the legislature
and have charge of the entire state gov
eminent These two incidents resulted in
the tremendous reverses TO the democrats
in the fall of 1898. which left the repubIi-
cans in complete control Of the state and
gave them big majority in the contsitu-
tonal convention of 1894. upon which the
democrats had fondly counted.
These charges from Croker nave made
Hlll very bitter, and ii is not through any
lack of inclination that he has not al
ready begun war upon the Tammany boss.
Should Senator Murphy'S conciliatory pol
icy fail to influence Croker and should ths
latter persist in his present policy of ex-
tending his power up the state. Hill is like
ly TO figure in one of the greatest struggles
IN the history of the party, but he will be-
gin as a passive factor. His own efforts
cannot win for him the leadership in such
a tight; he must wait until the fight begins
and the anti-Tammany forces need him.
Croker Seeks Control.
Despite the surface indications that MUIR
rhy is trying to bring about truce" for
the present at least, between these two an
tagonistic spirits, Croker appears to be
pushing right along toward securing state
control A significant incident in this con-
nection was the posting of the name OF
John Flanagan as a candidate for non
resident membership OF the Democratic.
Club. Flanagan is local democratic
leader in Canandiagua, and has always
been regarded as one of the Hill ..oid
guard Flannigans action is regarded as
emiunous. and he is said to be the first OF
great many accessions to the Croker
crowd from the ranks of ex-senator Hill.
Flanngan has been a member of the
democratic state committee for many years
and his contIOl extends through many of
the interior counties. His following is d
potential one. and he is generally known as
a man who can deliver his delegation.
simultaneously with the announcement of
FlanniSans accession comes the statement
that Richard Croker, as the new chairman
OF the Tammany finance committee. has
again assumed the actual leadership OF
Tammany Hall There is now nothing am
biguous or anomalous in Cookers position
ne Is now in name what he was in fact.
Tammany Getting the Spells.
In Greater New York Tammany is carry
ing matters with high hand. Mayor Van
Wyck has formally removed the members
of the new East River bridge commits
sion and appointed in their places six DEM
ccrats This gives the enormous outlay for
construction to the 'boys"-keeps 1t in the
family. IL were. The Croton aaueduct
commissioners were disposed OF in a similar
manner-the bridge commissioners being
treated as city officials. 1t is almost GER
tain that the latter will fight to retain their
positions. Tn. Is only one of the many
grabs" The voting of the big city's
treasury is proceeding diligently Tam
many heads Of departments running
UP the new budget to an alarming figure
despite Mayor Van Wyek's blur that his
administration was to be one of economy
and retrenchment.
The mayor started the cry for spoils him.
eelf at a board of estimate meeting, when
he asked for an increase of $1,000 above
the sum requested by Mayor Strong for the
mayors Office The board granted this APP
preparation. of course-$36 200. Mayor Van
Wyck's salary is $4,000. 5000 more than
Mayor Strong's was. The mayor told the
board that he had made an increase in his