New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-25
SHEEHAN'S VERSION GIVEN
LEADER OF THE NTH on THE TELE'
PHONE CONVERSATION.

ANOTHER ARRANGEMENT OF RICHARD
CRoKER-THE LATTER's WORK IN
THE RECENT BATTLE-THREATs
MADE TO BUSINESS MEN.
John G. Sheehan last night replied to Mr
Crokers statement about his conversation Win
Mr. Sheehan the telephone concerning the
filling of the post OF Deputy Sheriff. Mr. Shee-
han said:
1t is now generally believed throughout the
city Of Newlork that it is hard to hold Rich-
ard Croker to his word. his promise or his agree,
ment. II he wants to evade it. have not founo
II necessary to use the services of press ou
reau to proclaim continually TO the world that
l am a truthful man. Those who have hau
dealings with me know that | am not given 70
uttering falsehoods. The man does not exist that
can say | wilfuy lied to him.
| satisfied that the public will take my
word as readily as they will that or hicharu
Croker ] had short conversation with Mr.
Croker over the telephone on Thursday AFTER
noon last. The Croker version Of 1t Is incor-
rect. In many respects it is absolutely false:
/ called I'D the Democratic Club, and asked II
Mr. Croker was there. The young ing man M nov VINO no
Mr. Croker that Mr.. Sheehan desired TO speak
with him. Mr.. Croker came to the telephone at
once. l said:
Hello, Mr. Croker He said, Hello. Shee-
ham,
I then said. "Mr Sullivan. who lives in the
IXth District, and who was employed as deputy
sheriff, was removed from office few days De-
fore the primary election. | understand that
party has been selected for the vacancy, that ne
was to qualify to-day; but this party is not a
member OF the Tammany Hall organization or
the district he identified with the
organization just selected by the people, and In
behalf of the organization l protest against his
appointment"
Mr.. Croker said: II will not interfere in the
district | cannot interfere In the district. You
and your speakers have been attacking me and
charging me with interference In the dlstrct'
which was untrue"
I said that so far as concerned made
no personal ausion to him during the canvass.
but that we had positive proof OF his inter,
ference in the district In the fact that he had
ordered the fight made. further said that this
information was communicated by Thomas Z,
Smith, his private secretary, before the hght
started He replied: Smith denies II. l would
like 10 have you furnish me with the proof. L
said that the proof was abundant and could be
easily furnished.
removed for political reasons" and with few
more words about Sullivan the incident ended
THE CAMPAIGN IN THE DISTRICT.
Mr. Croker is persistently saying that he did
not interfere In the district during the recent
contest. The fact Is that his voice and hand
were recognized and seen from the beginning
to the end. Mr.. Croker must think the people
OF New-York very gullible indeed, II they take
any stock in his denals. He knows that the
whole power OF the city government was used
against the organization in this district Tie
inspectors Of election selected by the regular
organization were rejected, and others who II
vas believed would execute work that would be
required Of them appointed. The regular bal
lots Of my opponent and fraudulent ballots rep
resented as mine were delivered at the different
Voting places by the police. The inspectors said
that the ballots were delivered to them by the
police and they refused 10 recognize any others.
They for come time positively refused TO accept
my regular ballots.
nected with the Police Department went from
place to place throughout the district impor-
tuning citizens TO sign papers In favor OF my
opponents, or TO support the ticket placed IN
nomination by them Men engaged In all KINDS
Of business were intmidated and told that they
would be driven out of business II / succeeded
The district flooded with repeaters. many
Of whom succeeded in voting, Notwithstanding
the vigilance OF the watchers. The inspectors
passed to the voters two Goodwin ballots ana
one of the fraudulent ballots In many dls-
tricts they refused to count and rejected a num-
Der Of the regular Sheehan ballots, saying in
some cases that they were lighter in color and
in others that they were torn. In one election
district fourteen Of my regular ballots not de-
fective In any way, we're rejected.
The inspectors believed that they would be
protected. and that they could, therefore. tram
pie upon the law with impunity. More sig
nifcant than all was the fact that the Croker
orators so called publicly proclaimed that Mt
Croker and the Tammany organization were
against Sheehan and desired his defeat. In
canvassing the district they said they were
plentifully supplied with aid and with money
by Mr. Croker. In public interviews Mr.. Croker
ea i'd that If / did succeed / would not get a
seat in the Executive Committee knowing full
well that the law settled that and not his COM
mittee. Thorough going Tammany organiza-
ton men removed from ofilce, ana tnose
who could not be removed received orders
10 oppose me. In striking contrast with thls
position mine was 10 instruct all parties hold-
ing office In the district to Join my opponents.
] did that because ! did not want TO be the
means of causing them TO lose their places:
Some took my advice. Others did not ana
were removed. 1t certainly did not take much
courage TO stamp on Mr.. Croker's pictures and
Il did not take much courage 10 remove loyal
Democrat from office for opinions sake. Free
dom of action thought and speech is guaranteed
to every man under the Constitution. but they
sought to deprive us Of 1t in this district
HOW THE FIGHT WAS MADE.
However, in spite of efforts heretofore un-
known in political warfare the regular ticket
was elected. The fight was made fair and square
against Mr. Crokers interference and against
the interference of anybody who ala not re-
side in the district and had no right to dictate
10 the people As | heretofore have said, /
made no personal ausion to Mr.. Croker In my
talks throughout the district. 1t would appear
from Mr. Croker's version OF the telephone
story that he charged Senator Munzinger and
others with attacking him. and that ne had
secured Munzingers nomination and such other
places as got for the district. Mr. Croker for
gets that this Is a contradiction of his state
ment that he never interferes in the district.
Munzinger nominated and elected Senator
in 1896 when Mr. Croker was in no way con-
nected with the Tammany Hall organization.
having resigned two years before that, and be-
ing at the time sojourning In England Nun
Finger was renominated in 1898 were the
other Tammany Senators. because he was en-
titled to denomination.
While on this subject OF patronage. l might
sav Mr. Croker made promises to about
places which were to be given To the district
and made similar promises TO the applicants
not one Of which was carried out.
NV talk with Mr.. Croker about Sullivan may
he considered unwise by many; but the fact is
that Mr. Croker is the leader of Tammany Hall.
] am the leader Of the lXth Assembly District.
and I will not permit the rights OF the people
OF that district to be interfered with without
Irotest from me. 7 take II that II is the dlhy
OF the leader Of Tammany Hall TO look after the
welfare Of every district without favor 10 one as
against another
Regarding Mr. Sheehan's denial that he had