Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-08-14
TAMMANY LEADER SAYS HE HAS M
PRESIDENTIAL CHOICE,
PRAISES BRYAN TO THE SKIES
SAYS THE NEBRAsKAN IS A GREAT
AND A GOOD MAN.
Contends, However, That His Indorse.
ment Does Not Mean That He
VIII Work for His Nomina-
tiOn-"There Are 9th
ers" as Good.

NEW YORK. Aug. 13.-Richard Croker,
referring to w. ]. Bryan, said: Bryan
is one of the greatest men the United
States has ever produced He is closer
to the people than any other man, and is
trusted by the masses, who understand him
and appreciate him."
This is supposed to mean that for the
present at least Croker has concluded to
kill off New York presidential candidates
for Democratic presidential nomination.
He starts comment on whether or not he
will adhere to the plan of supporting some
Western man like w. J. Stone against
Bryan. 1t is believed Croker will soon tell
his workers what he wants DONE Among
these will be found John Y. McKane. the
election crook, who recently got out of the
penitentiary, and Is rapidly improving in
health.
NEW YORK. Aug. 13.-The Herald to-
morrow will say: Richard Croker, at the
Democratic Club last night, said: 'I was
wrong in the statements I made before
went away concerning the Philippine
Islands. l based my belief that we should
not give up foot of soil our soldiers have
won on information that was not complete.
l would not give cents for man who,
when he found that he had been wrong,
self right. Such man would not be fit for
either politics or private life
Publicly 1 made the statement that I
did not believe we should give up the Phil
ippines, which had cost us so many lives.
l am not ashamed now to- say to the public
that l was wrong.
Il am not playing a political game
through that interview. No one man was
responsible for my change of mind. While
l was in Europe talked with some of the
best informed men there or anywhere else
on the subject of colonial conquest. 1 made
investigation for myself. reached the con-
clusion that we had no right at all to keep
the philippines. We We're wrong in the
first place to pay s2OOOO,OOO for them.
ION a question like this there would be
no dividing line between Democrats and
Republicans. Humanity, not politics. is in
Volved and 1 am convinced that humanity
as represented by the votes of American
citizens at the next presidential election
will record its horror and execration Of the
men and the party who are for private gain
putting bloody pages into history. Be-
lieving these things now 1 go straight to
the pubic and frankly say that I was
wrong.
II said I believed William ]. Bryan was
ore of the greatest men America has pro-
'ouced DelleVe that very thing now. But
that does not mean that I shall work for
the nomination of Mr.. Bryan or that
think he is the only man fitted for the
nomination. He is as good man and
leader as could be found. But I have no
candidate
1T is for the convention to name the
man and the convention will not meet for
at least ten months. 1t would be a travesty
on popular suffrage to pick the candidate
before the peoples delegates meet, and
shall have no part in making such selec-
ton. / shall not even try to influence the
New York state delegation for anybody"
VIII Tammany make another fight
against free silver as 1t did at the last
election?" was asked
II don't know" said Mr.. Croker. There's
lots of time and every issue may change
except the ones against trusts and against
imperialism and Slaughter"