The evening times., 1898-09-09
DEMOCRATS: IN COUNCIL
Croker and His Friends Dis
cuss the Situation.
CONFIDENT OF VICTORY
oucstions Concerning the Leader
sbin of the Coming Convention Mt
Syracuse Under Discussi"h-"h''
supporter of the Chicago fiat-
form Can Be Nominated.

New York. Sept 9.-Richard Croker and
Senator Edward Murphy, jr, yes
terdav held a conference with Sen
ator Patrick H. McCarren IN the
HOFFMAN House that may nave
a most important bearing on the Demo-
cratic situation in New York State.
Senator Murphy came up from Elberon
on an early boat, met Mr.. Croker ana
Senator McCarren at the Hoffman House
headouarters soon after 10 o'clock, ana
returned to Elberon in the afternoon.
More than an hour was spent by the
three Democratic leaders in discussion
of the situation. In this conference SEN
ator McCarren undoubtedly represented
Hugh Mclaughlin, the Kings County
leader. He laid before Mr. Croker and
Senator Murphy the reports sent to him
from Steuben, Oneida, Tompkins, Otsego,
Yates, Niagara, Allegany, Chautauqua and
Cattaraugus Counties. The reports indi-
Gated that the Democratic organizations
were being much strengthened in all Of
those upstate counties, and Mr.. Croker
and Senator Murphy agreed with Sena-
tor McCarren that the party fences We're
in a promising condition north of the
Bronx.
None of the leaders would discuss the
details of their conference, but it was the
belief about the Hoffman House last
night that Mr. Croker and Senator Muir
ply had taken up the question of State
candidates, and that they had discussed
the policy that should be followed by the
State convention in Syracuse. Senator
McCarren, when asked about the con-
ference. insisted that only matters of
party organization had been discussed.
He denied that the contest for leadership
between Mr.. Croker and former Senator
David B. Hill had been taken into con-
sideration sT-}'
1.-The reports that we took up" said
Senator McCarren, IAN showed t,,at the
Republican organization is IN bad condi-
ton; that the canal and Adirondack
scandals have incensed the people very
much, and that they propose TO vote
against the party responsible for these
matters
Mr.. Croker's friends, particularly those
who were inclined to attach Importance
TO the conference, regarded as significant
the fact that Senator MeCarren was one
of those present. They declared that it
showed which way the Democratic wind
was blowing, and were more confident
than ever that the sixty-three delegates
from Kings County would follow Mr..
Croker's standard in Syracuse, and that
they would make him master of the situ-
alton.
Gossip certainly will spring from the
fact that Elliot Danforth, chairman CT
the Democratic State committee and one
of Mr.. Hills closest friends, was not at
the conference. Chairman Danforth was
In the city yesterday, and the Hill wing
was the only important faction of the
party not represented.
There is a wide difference of opinion
between the friends of Mr.. Croker and
Mr. Hill as to the relative strength of the
two leaders among the delegates to the
Syracuse convention. Mr.. Crokers
friends are confident that the Tammany
chieftain will be supported in the con-
vention by Kings County and considera-
| bly, more than half OF the $50 delegates
| They feel certain that, If show of
hands between the Croker and Hill forces
! should creep into the convention, Mr..
| Croker will be supported by the LES dele
gates from New York, Kings, Queens,