Arizona republican., 1898-03-14

malcontents to go and see MT. Croker
 CroAer is queer nowadays His dis position has changed. The needs of the ordinary mortal find no longer the sympathetic response in his nature accorded in the old days when he was not so powerful as he is now. He de- clines to offer explanations or give sat isfaction. He is the ruler not only of the organizations but of the city, and aspires to guide the destinies Of the state and even of the nation. Why, then, should he disturb himself With the personal troubles of ordinary nor tals? Why bother him with questions of civil service? His duty is to lead; the duty of others is to follow. It is this attitude, perhaps unconsciously as stunned, that furnishes the prognOstica- tions of trouble with material for fore bodings.
 Croker is drifting away-has drifted, in fact-from the people he leads. He has assumed aristocratic tendencies, grown exclusive. He wants to form a Tammany aristocracy and surround himself with a coterie of personal friends who will become an impene- trable barrier between himself and the masses. His every action indicates this policy. The days when his cro- nies could address him as Dick" have passed, and he is now the great lead CT, the owner, in short, of a powerful political machine. He permits no one to dispute his will. He is the dictator and he insists upon absolute obedi- ence.
 This is why the Tammany leader ship is called a close corporation these days. This is why there are suppress ed murmurings. The murmurers are only awaiting an opportunity to give vent to their feelings in louder voice, and there are men in Tammany who are making careful observations of what is taking place and who, at the proper moment, will not lose the op- pOrtunity which the situation affords them to improve their fortunes. Some who regard Croker's position with envy are not averse to stepping into his shoes, and they find it consistent with their schemes to covertly encour- age the signs of discontent which they perceive around them. They are con vincing their own immediate followers of the theory that there is large amount of selfishness in Croker's na- ture and that he has little regard for their wants as long as his own ambi- tion is satisfied.
 Meantime, however, Croker holds the whip, and if any leader dares dis pute his authority or judgment, he receives the punishment his crime calls for. But the Wigwam's supporters have a fair idea of the situation, and when the time comes for them to re- taliate they will do so without mercy. Already it is known that several lead CTS are ensconcing themselves in power in anticipation of the coming storm. They are taking care" of their per sonal friends as well as they can, and are intrenching themselves in the or ganization in such a way that Cro- ker will find it impossible to drive them out when he perceives the first indications of rebellion against his au- thority.
 The mayor and Croker are said to have parted. The mayor has already had the temerity to dispute Croker's power. He did not act without ad- vice. His political packer, John F. Carroll. always at his side, has whis- pered in his ear that the day will come when Croker will not dominate Tammany as absolutely as he does