Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-15
BOSS CROKER ON THE RACK.
He Turns on His Inquisltors and Causes
the Hall to Ring With Applause.

II
the Hallto Ring With Applause.
HIS GOOD STRAIGHT TALK-HE
ADMITS THAT HE rs A POLITI-
CAL LEADER OF THE TAM
MANY HALL ORGANIZATION
AND THAT HE STICKS TO HIS
FRIENDS ALL THE TIME-BE-
LIEvES THAT TO THE vICTORS
BELONG THE SPOILS, AND ACTS
ON THAT LINE THROUGHOUT.
New York, April 14.-The Mazet in
vestigating committee resumed its ses-
sions to-day. The investigation of the
city government has so far been con-
!, fined chiefly to the police and building
departments and to direct and indirect
efforts to ascertain the extent of the
influence exercised by Richard Croker.
The understanding that Mr.. Croker
would take the witness stand to-day
created an interest that is scarcely like
ly to be exceeded at any of the future
sessions. Mr.. Croker had been sub
poenaed He leaves for Europe next
week. The anxiety of the curious to
get into the rooms of the Board of
Trade, where the Mazet body is sit
ting, was not well rewarded, for the
committees present quarters are
IL, 70
commodate those directly connected
with the inquiry.
Richard Croker was called. The
Tammany Hall leader was sworn.
"You live at the Democratic Club, do
you not?" asked Mr.. Moss.
Eyes, SIR said Mr.. Croker.
'.You are the leader of the political
organization generally known as Tam
many Hall, are you not?"
II don't know that l am"
Generally conceded to be, are you
not?"
WELL" said Mr. Croker,"I amt talk
ing for myself. If others say l am,
am.
Mr.. Croker agreed with Mr.. Moss
that the government of city and coun-
tt, depeLd.d upon the existence of
political parties. Mr.. Moss asked if the
leadership generally accorded Mr.. Gro
ker was not based largely upon the fact
that he had the reputation of being
truthful man. Mr.. Croker said he tried
to be a truthful man. Mr.. Moss had
asked Mr.. Croker number of SEEM
ingly immaterial questions regarding
the organization of Tammany Hall
when Mr.. Croker interrupted him and
said sharply:
ut is not necessary to bring all that
up, that which everybody knows. There
is no use playing to the galleries; there
is no use of making speeches. We
all know everything that has been said.
We know that / am the leader of the
party and I acknowledge it, and that
all these people are my friends, and
that | am going to stick to them all
the time"
There was roar of applause as Mr..
Croker finished this sentence. Chair
man Mazet raped for silence. Rather
sarcastically Mr.. Moss said the ap-
plause was all right and that he hoped
the chairman would allow it once in a
while. 1t did not discomfort him.
Just give me good, straight talk"
went on Mr.. Croker, when the applause
had ceased. THAT is all. 4 am talk
ing good, straight talk, and that is all
want. All these gentlemen know
that I am considered the leader All
these gentlemen are my friends. You
have taken half an hour for nothing.
What is the use of that?"
I'VE will try to accommodate you,
Mr.. Croker" replied the counsel
Mr.. Croker said that he gave the
prominent Tammany Hall Democrats
"a certain amount of advice and direc-
ton" Sometimes they followed it;
sometimes they did not. Most of them
followed it. Mr.. Moss read list of the
Tammany sachems. Mr.. Croker adj
mitted that all or nearly all of them
held prominent positions in the city
government.
Mr.. Croker admitted that he had
been consulted regarding the selection
of men for Official positions in the city
government, but denied he had dictat-
ed appointments. He conceded the
proposition that he had probably great
err influence with the municipal admin
istration than any other citizen. He
was a believer in the theory that the
party in power should have all the
Offices. He had interested himself in
the Amsterdam avenue and Astoria gas
questions because the peoples rights
were involved, and he had notified the
Tammany members of the municipal
assembly to attend sessions and vote on
these questions because it was their
duty to do so. He could tell nothing
about contributors to campaign funds,
and rendered no account to the fin