Arizona republican., 1899-08-20
Explanation Of CrOker's Anti
Expansion View.
HIS DECL FOR BRYAN
The EarmarkS of fhe Speakers Well.
knOwn Anii.ImperiaIiSt ThorIeS
Discovered in the New Doctrine
Being Promulgated by the Tam
many Boss - He Is Playing
Safe.

Washington, Aug. 10. The impress
sion here is that Croker is a convert of
ex-Speaker Reed on the expansion
question. Reed is one ce the original
anti-expansionists, beginning with op-
position to the annexation of Hawaii
His principal argument has always
been based on the theory that annexa-
tion meant the absorption of an un-
desirable population, and that it was
Inconsistent with the public demand
for restrictive Immigration laws
The new views attributed 10 the
converted Croker are in line with
those of Reed, his argument bearing
the earmarks of the Milne man. Com
ing back to America on the same
steamer, and being thrown together as
both confess they were, 30 a greater
Or less extent, it is not regarded as
surprising that Reed should impress
the New York boss with his views.
This impression might be the more
easily made by reason of tie fact that
Croker probably sess in Reed a man
destined 30 be a power in New York
politics in the near future. Croker
has always had a theory about cult
waiting the friendship of the boss of
the other party. He and Platt have
had a prstty good understanding, and
he is likely to try to reach IN under
stanGtng with Reed, since he is TO
move to New York There is no
speedier way to get mans confidence
than to be converted by him. This
consideration may have made an easy
convert of Mr.. Croker.
The suggestion that Mr.. Reed may
not go to New York, but may yet de-
eide to remain in congress, is not
credited by people who know him and
are familiar with his methods.
Croker's declaration for Bryan
however, can hardly be credited to the
influence Of Mr.. Reed, though the dis
oovery of how earnestly Mr.. Reed dis
Ct che policy of the McKin-
ley administration may have inspired
= belief in the mind of Croker that
Mckinley could be defeated by what
ever candidate the democrats might
nominate. Such a belief would hasten
Croker to make fnends with the man
whose nomination he Shought was
inevitable
But this declaration for Bryan is
new only in its public character. Sew
eral months ago he declared to some
very earnest supporters of Bryan that
ne regarded Bryan as a great man
and was as friendly to him as any one.
Since thac on several occasions he
has declared privately his loyalty to
Bryan and intimated that BRYAN
Would have the New York delegation
II the democratic national convention.
The Bryan people, as a rule, have not
put much faIh in these protestations.
out have heard of them with a tongue
n the cheek and asked each other
'uspiciously what it was likely Croker
was up to- 1t was prstty hard for
hem to believe that Croker was sin
,erely friendly 20 Bryan, and thev
ill have their doubts.
The most generally accepted theory
5 that the Tammany boss recognizes
hat Bryan is going to be the nomi-
lee and that regularity will mean 10y
lty . Bryan. By being quick to see
his and to accept it, Tammany will
'e in position to claim reward in
'ower in the possible event of Bryan
sing elected president, and will not
uffer any heartbreaking pangs if he Is
efeated.
1t is imagined that Croker goos this
1ea from the touts at the race track.
lie gives a straight tip for a long
hot; il it wins he will claim reward;
it loses-as he expeets-he is not
nyshing out of pocket.
AN INDIANA FESTIVAL.