Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-01

IL is true that Senator Plat and the re-
publican organization cannot prevent the
steals which have ever and always rem
aered Tammany infamous. the revival in
us worst forms of the days OF Tweed and
Croker. But in view of the fact that no
important changes can be made in the
charter OF the city without the consent of
fiatt' IN View OF the fact that not even
tne much-disiiked Raines liquor law can be
altered without the consent of the ren,,h~
ncan organization of the state of New
iork, II can easily be seen that the Platt
FORCES sun hold the balance OF power in
Greater New York matters
True, there is nothing TO preyant N-a,
WICK ana MS subordinates from violating
their oaths of office and neglectiny or re-
Iusihg 10 execute the Raines liquor law.
But the odium Of this refusal cannot fan
10 recoil upon the head of Mayor Van
Wyck- All the forces OF law and order.
the pastors and members of the churches
VIII confront him on the one hand with a
copy OF the law I'm their hands IL he dis
eliminates against Sunday closing The
same thing may be said of the enforcement
OF the other laws which have made the ad-
ministration of Mayor Strong so unpopular
with the more liberal portion of the COM
munity.
Mayor VAN Wyck'a Opportunity.
III the tiger changes its spots, the laws
will be enforced without fear or favor
Ihen Mayor Van Wyck will be simply fol-
lowing in the footsteps of Mavor S,ror,
and the new mayor cannot be expected 70
become more popular with the liberal OLE
ment than the ex-mayor. ON the other
hano' III the tiger does not change his spots
Inc most reasonable hypothesis-then
there will be a revival of the good ola
times OF Tammany.' when there Was a
saloon on nearly every corner and a brotheI
IN the center For IL will be remembered
tnaI tne Lexow Investigations at the close
OF the Croker-Gilroy regime showed that IN
was the saloon keepers who violated the
laws VINO were blackmailed: not those who
in spirit " o'
There is no doubt that Mayor Van Wyck
mas an opportunity seldom afforded any
young man in this country. Had he the
nerve.the sublime audacity to break
away from the baser elements of Tam
many Hall, Cleveland broke away
'om the politicians of Buffalo, he might
possibly TO some extent duplicate Cleye-
Ia ma Wonderful political success in the
early Gays OF his career. But nominted as
ne was by the worst clements of Tammany
II ali-elected BY the swing of the pendu-
lum democraticvard-to most of the people
oil Greater New York Van wyck comes as
an unknown quantity. And as propinquity
counts for something as any man is to a
greater or less degree Influenced by his
environment, business men and conserya-
tive interests generally argue that the
stream cannot rise higher than its source
that the Van Wyck administration will be
precisely what the men who nominated and
elected Van Wyck, decree.
That this is likely TO be the case is found
In the fact that II was Croker who was
responsible for the nomination of Van
Wyck. The New York World, ii will be
remembered. before the campaign offered
a hundred dollars reward for the man or
woman who could guess Cookers choice
Tor mayor. OF all the guesses made by the
mlliions of the greater city anxious TO win
IRIS prize not one picked out Van Wyck
Nothing could possibly demonstrate the
af inls ..f.n
or the city courts more than this. Yet by
strange combination of circumstances by
a unique combination of influences he is
elevated to position second only TO the
presidency OF the United States or the lord
nayoraity of London. and all through the
Will of ole man-Richard Croker If Judge
Van Wyck turns his back on Croker he is
open to the charge of ingratitude to the
man who is responsible for his official sue
cess and hi; official being Yet, unless
croker experiences change of heart the
democratic administration in Greater New
York will eventually drift ION the rocks"
Croker the Real Leader.
During the campaign no man thought of
consulting Judge Van Wyck. the demo-
cratic nominee, either conc srning the course
OF the campaign the division of the
spoiE in the light of a probable victory
The boys" all went to Croker for their
orders. Van Wyck refused 10 make his
appearance-he declined to even make a
speech. The campaign over, Croker held
high court AT Lakewood, though no man
to this day knows by what right he die
tated the appointments and the policy of
the new administrat Perhaps IL has
been d game OF pure nerve and gali-Nhat
the poker players call bluff" but If this
is the case croker has been playing his
hand ii faagnincent style In the words
OF the slang writers and the would-be Bow
cry rnmcrists, he has made the people be-
heve he is de whole push In nothing is
ma ff.fxt y1a,, HI,
n ent that the Democratic Club and not the
Ianhattan Club is to be the official demo-
cratit club of New York city.
BrtoNyn and Tammany Hall politicians
have been tumbling head over heels ever
Sir &c 10 get into the Democratic Club. AL
READY there is talk OF remodeliny the
building. adding on new stories and taking
out . genuine liquor license. Croker has
branded the Manhattan Club as a gang u
muswumps."
Inasmuch as Ex-Governor Flower. the de.
fencer of trusts and monopolies is at the
mead OF the Democratic Club; inasmuch as
the Democratic Club in the last Dresiden-
ual rampa.gn. expelled all of the free sill
yer men and friends of Bryan, it is difficult
to tell which is the more democratic-the
Man attan or the Democratic Club. Posi-
bly, the Manhattan Club had no followers
of the Chicago platform to expel from that
Organization. But the decree of Croker that
the Manhattan Club is tinctured with mug
wunpery and the belief that the members
Oh lie democratic CluD Will nave the ''t1rSt
chance" at the offices of the greater city,
has PAUSED stampede in the direction of
the pet club house of the boss" Natur--
ally the head men of the powerful Manhat-
tan fare offended, and they have taken
pain, in spite of the exclusive air which
surrpunds clubs in New York city, to an
nouice that Judge Van Wyck, who is a
menber, drops in there every day. But
NanIWick's presence or absence counts for
nothing
Also Interested i'm Base ball.
As in the matter of clubs, SO In other
thints. Croker controls the New York base
ball club. Sunday ball games are profit
able. hence Crokers fat that Sunday base
ball Is to be the thing hereafter. And Van
Wydz has not a word TO say about this.
PERKINS, the representatives of the
chuthes and the Sunday schools, the law
and border leagues will have something TO
say hater. But this will count for little or
nothing with Croker IL he can have his way
with Mayor Van Wyck. Croker is the pow
er khind the throne in the new security
COMPANY. and Tammany office holders and
otha Office holders in the greater city VIII
Obtain their bonds from this particular
COMPANY True, this differs from the old
idea of tribute levied by the pirates or by
theibaron of some feudal state in the letter
Of a., law huf n does not greatly uifler in