The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-11
CALLS CROKER 4 TRAITOR.
otate1ent Issued ~ De0oeratie
Lawyer Rev1ewing raRty Manage.
nent asa Deneunciag the Bsss'
MetAoas-neeaIls Creker's Talk.

NEW YORK. Aug. N.-John c. Sheehan.
the Democratic leader. IN out with state
msnt. which. though not made directly
over the signature. v more bitter than his
answer to the charges OF diaoyaity made
against him.
The statement II most remarkable. In
that It gives the inside history Of the
mayoralty campaign OF 1897 and tells Tor
the first time Mr.. Croker's attitude toward
such prominent Democrats as ex-Mayor
Grant, Charles w. Dayton. William Sob
mer. Amos J. Cummings. and Charles II.
Knox.
1t freely applies to Mr.. Croker the epithets
.traitor" and migrate" 1t Is prefaced By
this paragraph:
.sThe following has been submitted to
John C.. Shsehan. who states that IL -
substantially correct. but that II 10 only
half the truth and - capable Of elAbora-
Gion."
The abatement continues:
.sRichara Croker confessea that he h not
q Democrat but a traitor to his party and
o usurper Of the powers he now exercises
in such high-hansied way solely for his
profit and the benefit OF few fatcritex
who have no standing In the Democratic
party.
Conspiracy 20 Reinstase Croker.
Croker was willing that John c. Shee-
han should do all Of the work In the ~
campaign. while he tCroker) lived In
princeiy style at his home In England.
Croker was out of politics when there WAS
nothing IN Il. but when he saw chance
OF Tammany again returning 20 power he
- yfs m n II srrfns a nd
fathered the conspiracy that resulted In
Croker's being reinssated as leader after
the victory had been won by otherA"
The statement goes on 10 say that in the
spring OF 1891. before Croker sailed for
Europe. In q conference over political mat
terra Croker assured sheehan that he was
out Of politics forever.
The availability OF mayoralty candidates
was discussed Croker agreed with Shes-
han that sohmer was a strong man. but
he advised him against having anything TO
do with Amos J. Cummings. Croker said
II would be wen 70 keep Robert A. Van
Wyck In view.
Croker returned from Europe In septern-
Der OF 1897. when the polisicai machinery
was In active operation and victory was
assured. In the opinion of the best judges.
~
had another talk about candidates for
mayer. The statement goes on:
Croker then, for the FIRST time. intimate
ed that I, would be unwise to take up
sohmer, as he was . German. ard. as Gro
ker stated. could not be trusted. When
told that ex~Mayor Grant would be al
available candidate he Croker, said that
ne would not do. as the labor orgarixa-
lions would oppose him.
Croker then asked Mr.. Sheehan what
re thought Of Van wyck. and The reply
was that ns knew nothing detrIrs atal to
Van wyck."
s~ufim~nt AEsinat th~ BOSS.
In the meantime the feeling within Tam
many Hall against any Interference upon
the part OF Croker was becoming bitter IN
The extreme.
I; Ia set forth that Shehan was told that
he was hlanderinx In having anything TO
10 with Croker. ard thar ne coul8 have
nominated any persoa he desired AL OF
Croser's naass intimate friends IN former
campaigns being On Shsehan's ssas.
All wen, wsIi untiI II became known that
Croker WAS quietly inviting district isaa-
srs 70 meet hirn. Thirteen responde. Tne
meeting was he'd on Sunday two weeks
before election. A comns.sts. % which
panssl ~ MeManon was chairman, was
: appointed 20 request sAeahan 20 Invite
Croker 10 Tamnsany Hall
Thse Sneehzn refused 10 %. having In
mind what Croker had fesi htm about SsH-
pressing al efferss to drag him back into
rNofssfcal lie unlsss BE was sure II was
cruksr's personal desire. Beng satisfied
u.sas ssIs r1lnt he addressed al cFesai
sst.s- - ss-Ng@~ saylf4rsS hsvs - T2rrrsaFs,r
i Han to take part Ia the councils o. the
otEanixatsea-
pcw~p 10 Depese the Chief.
TIL. fellows Sc the statement:
-Hsa Mr. Sss~Asn believed tas sscrssa
tia, we're eoss hsTn asoNt s,soks-ss sreach-
1 cry ne srnssad easily have disposed - hsna
4 sesr ard sAerw. far a. any ffsns rF1sy TO
Van wvsass rNrsinsssa<s Croker cszass n9s
hxse <sarx.yssa ss&ses Eve votes in fAs sxeeu-
tive committee Ss~*hxa Mas Sroksrs