New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-21
MP CROKFR'S DEFEAT.

/ n. '''-'
II would he quite beside the mark to describe
John c Sheehans success in the lN'h AS
semhly District as a reform victory WI
Sbooban IS far from being a reformer bolh
in Buffalo and in this city his record mas peen
that of a spoils politician or something WORST
The forces which he has led and WIN "h'o"
no has CONQUERED are men Of the accepted ram
many tvpe. who are engaged in hght win the
dominant power Of Tammany, hut nave 10
higher ideal Of personal and political moraH!
than have the supporters of Mt croker let
intelligent and honest citizens who nave no
moro svmnathy with the aims OF Mr.. Sheehan
than with those of Mr.. Croker VIII rejoice IN
the formers success. for circumstances nave
made him. almost in spite Of himself, the rep
resentative of a movement from which New
York may hope for decided advantages.
Mr. Croker stands for the consolidated power
of nubllc plumber He is a gigantic spolls ruS'
and under him the trust is largely managed loT
Tho benefit of himself and his personal friehdS
as he hardly affects to conceal Whether OF not
his government today is worse than 1t was ii
tho old times when he was less absolute. il
is certainly far more impudent and hrutaIy
ovnical II * this assumption Of private owner
ship Of the organization and of the CITY uhoer
IT'S control which has provoked the Sheehan
revolt and the opposition to the regular leau-
ers in other districts. So long as the rank ana
file Of the spollsmen recognized MT croker no'
only rs their ahlest spOils hunter but as idI
man. who would equitably divide the fruits or
victory. they presented a solid front 70 decent
neonle II was only his own egotiSm and avarlce
that split his following. and Mr.. Sheehan as the
most conspicuous victim Of the personal graD
Motley became the natural leader Of the rebels
In 60 doing ne became practical leader against
bosssm. an advocate of popular rights III party
nianagement. and an effective instrument TOT
weakening the power of the despotism under
which New-York suffers.
TUESDAYS reverseS at the primaries are
serious blow TO the Croker system-much more
serious than the importance Of the two dis
trjct leaderships in themselves would Indicate
Mr. Croker's strength has been largely built
unon The conviction Of the rank and file that
nobody in the organization could oppose him
and live politically. The prestige Of unbroken
success and undisputed power has been worth
everything 70 him If he were merely
majority leader. with opposition districts here
and There 2 recognized feature Of the system
an unwelcome result 10 two primaries would
Croker starts ont 10 dragon every district
into personal allegiance, and punish every
nolitician who is not of his circle, then
inability TO carry out that purpose becomes
q serious defeat All the power Of the
Croker faction has been put forth for the RUIN
Of Mr. Sheehan. the bosss own private secre-
tarv led the fight the central authority or the
organization set up a boiling machine in
ha
m,ttodlv the regular" leader there, refused
to accept his list of election inspectors II
sought 10 drive supporters from him by
turning them out of city offices, ana az
the end of the contest apparently attempted TO
carry the primaries by fraud. Under such CIR
cumstances It's failure reveals a menacing OPP
position, especially as Mr.. Sheehan VIII nave
the silent. If not active, support Of another
district leader. who was elected in spite or
the organization. namely Isaac A. Hopper, Of
the XXXIst District They, Of course, are
bolDless 10 interfere with Mr.. Cookers present
domination. But the spell is broken. The tmld
ones are now invited to come forth and Mr..
Croker cannot be sure they will not accept the
invitation.
There are many elements In the Democracy
ready TO throw Croker overheard In addition
10 the spoilsmen dlsgruhued py Ills gIdspins
selhshness there are some men who would be
glad Of less disreputahle leadership Some
honorable men cling to the party from prejudice
or old time feeling who would be glad to have
a voice for dccencv in it. Then, too with the
next primaries determining the composition Of
the citys representation in State and National
conventions, critics Of the Croker policy may
think It worth while to make fight against
giving the New York delegation 10 Bryan These
of course. are only possibilities But they are
the natural possibilities Of such break IN the
solidarity Of Tammany Hall as Mr. Sheehan
has succeeded in making But for that break
Mr. Croker would have been a master whose
sway nobody would have dreamed of dsputng.
Now he is mere politician. whose whole power
could not put down one insurgent. He has been
beaten, and can he beaten again.