New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-30
PRICE THREE CENTS.
SHEEHAN'S WAR ON CROKER
PREPARING A STATEMENT ARRAIGNIN0
THE BOSS
w. BoURKE COCHRAN. Ex-MAYoR GILRoY
AND OTHER LEADERS TURNED DOWN
BY CROKER MAY JOIN THE FIGHT.

Richard Croker may have to mernber this
year as one of trouble. vexation and disappoint-
ment. Attacks upon the Manhattan Railway
Company by departments OF the city govern
ment under his control failed to knock down the
price Of the company's stock in the market
His ten-dollar dinner only made the rival one
dollar dinner serve the purpose Of William Jen-
nings Bryan. Mr.. Croker's temper ruffied
sorely by his examination before the Mazet
committee. He afflicted with boils when he
left this city to look after his horses In England
His horses have not been doinS we'll since he
went abroad. Now open warfare has been de-
clared against him by John c. Sheehan within
the Tammany organization
Just before Mr.. Croker left this city he au-
thorized some Of his lieutenants to make ar
rangements TO turn Mr. Sheehan out OF the
leadership of the Tammany organization In the
IXth Assembly District. The arrangements
were to include the selection Of Thomas b.
Smith, Mr.. Crokers private secretary and clerk
of the City Court. as leader Of the district Or
sanizaton in Mr.. Sheehan's place Mr.. sheehan
had been inclined TO assert his independence Of
Mr.. Croker's leadership and repudate Mr..
Crokers Views upon political subjects, and he
was held to be responsible in some measure for
bringing Mr.. Bryan here to talk at the one
dollar dinners.
Mr. Sheehan has declared that he will make
fight to retain the Tammany leadership In the
IXth District. and that he will carry the night
into other districts In determination TO destroy
Mr.. Croker's boss rule in the organization. He
said yesterday: Il want to have 1t distinctly
understood that have taken up the fight
against Mr.. Croker without any desire for poiti-
cal promotion any expectation OF getting an
Office. would not consent to be the leader Of
the whole Tammany organization II the position
was offered to me, and l have no desire for any
political office. I am in fight which has been
forced upon by Mr.. Croker's orders. Now
that l am in it, am not going to stop until I
have helped to bring about reforms In the or
ganization which will prevent Mr.. Croker from
debating the policy OF the organization. shall
work for reforms which will make the Tammany
organization representative Of the whole Demo-
cratic party in New-York County / shall not
be alone in this fight but at present am not
at liberty to say who will stand with me. There
Is to be a conference in a few days, and later the
public may know the names Of many men VINO
are to aid in putting end TO Mr.. Crokers
rule in the organization. The fight is TO be made
against Mr.. Croker within the organization. and
not against the organization"
sHEEHAN PREPARING STATEMENT.
form Of a political indictment against Mr.
Croker. 1t will not be ready for the newspapers
until the conference Of Mr.. Sheehans allies In
| the Tammany organization has been held II
| will be long document, however. Mr. Sheehan
| exhibited part of the manuscript 10 newspaper
| man In his office yesterday, and they could see
| that II contained many pages. 1t will show how
Mr.. Croker abandoned Tammany and went out
Of the country. declaring that he was 'out OF
politics for good" when the organization had
been whipped and demorazed in the election
that brought Mayor Strongs administration into
control, and that Mr.. Croker was willing to re-
sumo the leadership of the organization only
when It was powerful and victorious again.
Il took charge Of Tammany when 1t was
bankrupt and discredited organization Mr.
Sheehan said "snd raised the organization out
of the disrepute into which 1t had fallen.
raised It in moral tone and general effectiveness.
1 organized the work which resulted in the elect
ton of Mr.. Van wyck Mayor. When the
work was done Mr.. Croker came in and reaped
the fruits OF H. He has tried to drive me out
Of the leadership Of the organization in the Ixth
District Mr. Croker did not make me the
leader OF that district and 1t will be for the
Democratic voters there to say Ii they want me
10 remain. I took charge OF the district organi-
zation when the district had been Republican
for twenty years, and l made II Democratic
district Last fall reported to the Tammany
Executive Committee that my district wouid
give !. 800 plurality for Van Wyck for Governor.
and II gave 1000. Van Wyck would have been
elected IL the other districts had done as well FOR
the Democratic ticket. have been loyal to the
organization and am going to make my night
within the organization
Mr. sheehan and his friends will have to mako
their fight against Mr.. Croker at the Democratic
primaries in September, but they will prepare
the way by getting as large Democratic enroll
ment as possible in June. 1t is believed that
only about 80 per cent Of the Democratic voters
enrolled as Democrats at the registration be-
fore the election last fall Democrats who failed
to enroll on the days Of registration can enroll
by sending certificates TO the Bureau OF Eieo-
tons during June, and they will be able TO vote
at the Democratic primaries In September. Et-
forts will be made to get out large vote az
those primaries and anti-Croker tickets VIII %
run in most of the districts.
While Mr.. Sheehan's fight will be kept ~
nearly local in character as possible the sup.
porters OF the free-silver doctrine and tho
friends Of William Jennings Bryan In the Tam
many organization will be encouraged TO oe-
lieve that they will be lighting for their prin-
ciples and for Mr. Bryan In aiding TO over
throw Mr. Croker's influence In Tarmany. John
D. Crimmns, W. Bourke Cockrsn and a. few
other Sound Money Democrats. who are
strongly opposed to Mr.. Croker. said yesterday
that they had not been invited TO joan IN the
fight started by Mr.. Sheehan. but they peneved
Mr.. Sheehan would have the support OF many
gold Democrats II the silver issue was not MADE
too prominent in the fight against Mr. Croker.
Among the men who were seen coming OUT OF
Mr.. Sheehan's office yesterday was ShArles W.
DAYTON the former postmaster, who was .
candidate for the Office Of Controller on the
Henry George ticket when Mayor Van Wyck
was elected. Mr. Dayton said TO newspaper
men later that while he thought he was out OF
politics ne believed the time was propitious for
a movement against boss rule In the Democratic
party OF New-York County. and that the Pri-
mary law gave opportunity TO the Democratic
voters TO have organization representative
OF their views II the fight started by Mr. shee-
han led to sufficient interest at the primary
elections Mr.. Dayton said. Mr.. Croker might be
driven out of power In the organization.