The herald., 1898-10-30
CROKER ON CARTOONS
The Tammany Boss Thinks They Are
All Right


'I've been cartooned all my life, and
am still here" said Mr. Croker, as he tilted
back in his Office chair and'looked serenely
into the face of his visitor.
"Candidly, | don't think u cartoon Injuries
any man. continued the Tammany chief
tain, throwing his clenched hands over one
knee, as if to nurse it. They often inlure
the paper that prints them II they evlnce
malice or spite. | could cite several in
stances to confirm this opinion. But the
cartooned man is not injured. As long as
the sarcastic or humorous side of the thought
is treated | see no harm in the carlcature.
You did not sympathize with the Ellis
worth bill, them"
I'VE were in the minority in both senate
and assembly that winter, was the cautious
reply. I'VE did not originate or support the
bill, if that is what you want to know. Fer
sonally, | enjoy humorous caricature-one
that makes me laugh and amuses my
| friends"
what cartoon of yourself have you en-
loved most in recent time!" was the next
question.
That picture of me seated on the ele-
phant-right on his head-was very funny,
was the prompt reply. ''It appeared just
after the last mayoralty election. The ele-
phant was a sckly ludcrous animal and
| looked as if anybody could master it. l
really don't see how the artists or editors
invent such interesting themes for treat
men by the cartoon
Can't you suggest one on the present
campaign" was the next audible thought:
I'm not clever enough retorted MIR.
Croker, smiling in his hearty fashion. "Ev-
erybody has a special gift. Suggesting comic
pictures of any kind Is not mine. But
like to look at them. want to see more in
stead of fewer of them. / have no doubt
that really excellent cartoon is quite an ald
&r lnt
ker?"' j" ~ ''N N
"People see the paper on the stand first
that has clever picture on tho outside OF
the fold. / know that is so, because l
watch everybody who buys newspaper
when l am near a stand where they are
sold
BELIEVES IN NEWSPAPERS
81 believe in the newspaper of today. OF
course il makes mistakes and abuses men
instead of ridiculing them. The former
policy is of no va luee III campaign. Abuse
makes new friends for the man attacked. |
: personally know that to be true. If wanted
} any more friends than have nothing could
better serve my cause than wholesale at
tack,
"The public forms its own estimate of
!, men. The newspaper can direct attention
} to a man and set the people to thinking
about him, and if he is bad egg the pub
J lie will repudiate him and his friends; but
ii he has ability the very fact that he is held
up in the searchlight by the press will en-
public recognize him. No, the cartoon is all
!, right. 1t is good thing, honestly, properly
done And it unquestionably sells papers.
That is commercial feature that the bus-
ness manager of a daily journal must con-
slider and appreciate.
"Do. you think the artists get your like
ness?"
No man is good judge of his own face"
was the reply. Very few of us know Just
how we look. None OF us, l take it, pass
much time before a mirror. l have said
} that the cartoons of me do not resemble my
face; and yet may be wrong. believe |
have imbibed the idea that the artists do not
catch my face very well because | am often
introduced to strangers who say. Why,
Mr.. Croker, you do not look anything like
the cartoons we have seen of YOU
OCARTOONISTS FLATTER?
"Do you believe it,'
"How can l tell whether do or not?" was
the rejoinder. Il have heard it so often
that have got to thinking that way. But
tatter me-that | am Il worse looking citi-
zen that am depicted. Again say, how
can | tell just what they are driving at any
more than | read the intense, jnnermost
thought of the clever artist: Art is one
thing; am another. But say again, they
never hurt me. Let the boys go OH with
the fun, and l will promise to laugh. Some
men ought to be tlattered that they are re-
garaed as being OF enough importance to be
cartooned?'
"Hrve you my favorite among tie ccmic
artists"
None"
do you think the public is surfeited wirh
cartoons?"
Il do not, as have already said A taste
| humOrOI1s iS he
readers of the daily newspaper. The car
toonist can make man famous but not in
famous. Do you really think the picture at
tacks on Mr.. Hanna, socially or politically,
hurt him? l don't. He appears to-be do
ing quite well. New York World.