Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-08-15

Richard Croker. leader of Tammany
Hall. came back from Europe yesterday
on the steamship ST. Paul as complete
q Bryan man as any who ever shouted
for the advocate of free silver.
Before he sailed away in May, to
spend n few months with his horses at
his estate III Vantage. England, he de-
| c!ared that Bryan was one of the ablest 3
men in the United States, but that he
was not the best man who could baN
found for the Democratic Presidential
nomination. ON the steamship, coming
up the bay. and ut the Democratic
cub last night he stated his opinion
that Bryan is one of the greateSt men
America has produced, and that no
American has ever been so close TO the
masses.
Mr. Croker II few months ago said
that the United States should not give
up an inch OF the territory won by the
blood of its soldiers. In an interview
yesterday he denounced the lmperEalis-
TIC policy of the Mckinley administers
ton and went so far rs to practically
declare that the President is willing to
destroy thousands of homes and take
thousands OF lives in the Philippines
with the purpose of keeping himself
and his friends in office.
Mr.. Croker's closest friends are com-
the change they ask. What has
swung him from one pole to It's OPP
poslte?' AT the Democratic Club last
night there WAS absolute amazement.4
/. The Van Nyck honm has perished be-
| fore 1t ever was II bud. Every word
/ thai Mr.. Croker uttered with reference
| TO Bryan showed that If he can bring
1t about Bryan will have the support
of New York state in the next con-
Nention. What produced the change
nobody seems To know. Tammany, OF
course, will follow Croker
Croker will so TO Long Branch to-
morrow TO consult former Senator MUIR
ply. He will go To Saratoga Tuesday
and meet the national leaders who arc
there and others who will be sent for.
HIS CHANGE OF MIND.
At the Democratic Club last night I
asked him why he Ind changed hia
mind as to the most available Demo-
cratic candidate and the NEST vital is
sues of the campaign.
Il haven't anything TO say on those
points, said Mr.. Croker My senti.
speaks Cor itself. So does what l say
about what should be the issues.''
ON the steamship. when asked him
| MS opinion of Bryan. he contented him
self with the brief statement that
iiryan was one of the greatest OF Amer
leans of all time. At the club he talked
a length on the subject
BRYAN'S GREATEST STRENGTH.
MIR. Bryan's greatest strength" he
said lis with the plain people He
knows them thoroughly. as no other
American has ever known them. No
other American has ever been so close
to them as is he, and they trust him
absolutely. l regard him as one OF the
greatest men America has ever pro-
duccd
Il believe that in the next campaign
the Democratic party will be n unir
and that it will be victorious. TO win
we must have platform that will de-
clare against trusts and imperialism.
As Il New York Democrat want to sec
IN the Platform planks that the Demo-
Gratis OF the State want. planks that
VIII make the party united throughout
the State, which believe we can carry
next year.
The silver question can safely be LEFT
10 Congress. which in time will fix the
ratio on safe basis.
AS to the Republicans and their
present position, there never has been.
TO my knowledge. time when they ex-
posed so many weaknesses-criminal
Weaknesses. President Mckinley has
turned the war in the Philippines into q
scheme which he hopes will result in
ms return to office. The struggle ia
being prolonged for no other purpose.
Million after million is being poured out
In this Mckinley campaign Of slaugh-
Ter. and everybody who has eyes to
read with must know that no serious
effort has Yet been made to bring the
war 10 a close.
SLAUGHTERED FOR GREED.
TT is almost beyond belief that
President OF the United States should
bc willing to destroy thousands of lives
and thousands of homes and put tha
fllipinos TO the slaughter to further ths
greed for office of himself and his
friends but. horrible as is such q
thought the facts speak for themselves.
The people who are being taxed 10
pay the cost OF this infamous sleuehten
fror+,rroa :. c,--.,. u