New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-20
MR.. CROKEP'S MISTAKE.

Many intelligent persons do not realize how
much Mr.. Croker has exposed Of himself and
the objects and conduct Of his organization
Men in this age think it fine 10 be in so great
q hurry that they cannot wade through long
reports even in order to know what they are
doing or ought to do. But when few salient
facts have caught public attention intelligent
and reading men then make haste to catch up
as to the main features Of the business, and
form their own differences as to the rest
Thus Mr. Croker turns down good judge who
will not obey his orders. the judges appoint
referees the referees send auction sales almost
exclusively to one firm in which Mr. Croker
is partner. and from it he testi1es his income
IS about $4,000 year. and he declares that
he Is working for his own pocket all the time
A fireproofing concern has been practically shut
out by the Buildings Department until Mr.
-Crokers son becomes a large shareholder, and
then gets from the Buildings Department more
favors than any other concern, and Mr.. Croker
refuses TO tell whether he gave his son money
to buy the. stock. Knowing Mr.. Croker's con-
troll of all departments. and the control of the
Departments over all kinds of business in the
city. people see what vast opportunities there
are for making money out Of the public. Then
when Mr.. Croker once shows what kind of man
he is and how he makes money and that he
and his associates are working for their pock-
cts all the time, intelligent men conclude that
all departments are worked In the same way,
that the business Of making money out OF the
city is pushed to the utmost. and that it makes
no real difference whether other details Of evil
dence are given or not
That is one side of the matter. but there Is
another. Mr. Croker testihes that the people
have voted for government by Tammany Hall
because they wanted Just that kind Of govern
ment. Repeatedly he filings at the committee
with triumph the statement that his organiza-
ton and its methods are Just what the major
fly wanted because they voted for 1t. This
has a measure Of truth in II. There is great
body Of voters who are so ignorant that no dis
closure by committees will ever reach them. nor
will they ever know how the city is governed
and plundered by Mr.. Cookers organization.
Yet the blind support Of this ignorant mob real
ly belongs TO the organization which secures II.
There Is large body Of voters whose occupa-
lions and associations are vicious or criminal,
and who always prefer the city government
which nurses vice and crime In order to get
big revenue by Matchmaking vice and crime. To
the support Of that element also the organiza-
ton is entitled Then the sharers In the booty
number many thousand-the officers and en-
ployes and hired laborers whose earnings de-
pend upon the organization they uphold at the
polls.
q 1t is Mr.. Croker's belief and insoent boast
that these elements form majority. The ig-
norant, who never will know or care how the
city is plundered; the vicious and criminal, who
want a Matchmaking instead Of a suppressing
government and the hirelinps who share the
plumber, are together enough In Mr.. Cookers