New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-23
CROKER'S DISAPPEARANCE.
SEVERE CRITICISM OF HIS RUNNING AWAIT
AT THIS TIME.

Some ugly things being said about Richard
Croker in his present absence This is not SO IN
usual because Mr.. Croker is always under fre
from some source but in this instance Il is worth
mentioning especially the criticism comes from
the men who are the strength Of the Tammany
organization They will not allow themselves 70 be
quoted for fer Of getting into trouble with the
boss but they are growing in ugly manner,
and there Is telling when they may go over the
line and join the constantly growing force Of
Tamnany Hall Democrats who now fighting
the leadership Of Croker IN that organization.
The Tammany men have borne blandv Mr.
Croker's treatment Of them and the Organization.
When he fed 70 Europe after the Lexow Commit
tee had unearthed enough evidence 70 rout effectu
ally the Tammsny leaders and left his subordnates
10 bear the brunt Of the battle alone they for
gave him When he came back after the heat
and toll Of the day and appropriated 70 himself
the fruits OF the victory in the struggle for Mayor
Of New-York they resigned II unquestoningly
When he went abroad this wear and left sub
ordinate 10 run the satrapy they accepted the
rule BY proxy AL Of this they have stood. and
more. but slur after slur selfish move after sell
fish move and cowardlv desertion after cowardly
desertion have told and after another old time
supporters Of the organization dropping away
from him
Mr. Croke-'s disappearance this time IS viewed
by many stawart men in the organization as the
gravest political mistake that he has ever made
Many believe that II he doe. not in brief tins
come our Of his hiding place and declare himself al
Of Tammany's power and all Of Tammany's elo-
ouence cannot clear him Of the suspicion that has
settled upon him.
Mr. Croker mvstertously disappeared the day
before the Rarapo water steal came up Two Of
his faithful followers advocated the passage Of
the bill Opposition did not come from his friends
The opposition came from Bird 2 Coler, the Con
troller Mr. Coler has on other occasions shown
himself fearless and efficient official He IS not
OF the Tammany crowd. and. anyway the Crook
lyn organization is not any TOO friendly 70 Tam
many Richard Crokers attempts 70 Tammany
ize Brooklyn 10 undermine the strength OF Hugh
Mclaughlin and 70 crack the whip over Brooklyn
Democrats have been resented by the men across
the Bridge. and while policy drove Mclaughlin
ana Croker 70 go hand in hand into the last State
Convention vet to-day they far apart po-
Nticaly as ever and the veteran Brooklyn leader
is waiting for an opportunity 70 break away from
Croker The fact that opposition 70 the contract
ca me from fearless Official ard from members Of
an organization opposed 10 Tammany and thai
Mr. Croker's most trusted heutenants stood as
sponsors for the Transaction. has placed Mr.
Croker in a bad light. They say that John Whalen
and Maurice F Hoahan would never have pushed
the proposition 70 the front had> not Croker Or
dered
That NJ Croker disappeared Just betore the
deal was brought up IS regarded With suspicion
That he has not appeared 70 say word in his
]
natural thev ask than that Croker should have
dropped out Just the time the job was 70 have
gone through and relied implicitly upon his support
ers 70 DO H. and expected 10 be dragged up, as
[ II was3 They ask persistently why. when the deal
was exposed has Mr. Croker remained silent They
point OUT that his is indssolubly linked with
the whole transaction until he says something
They fear that denial this date will not be as
| conclusive as II would have been the start
When Nh Cookers own friends reluctantly accuse
him the general feeling OF the unbiased citizen
oppose him can be readily Mr. Croker is in a
bad light before his own people to-day. as well
as before citizens generally
This comes al an unfortunate time Tor Nj.
/ Croker tor in the history OF mis- control OF
the organization has there been rebellion Of the
magnitude OF the that is on and his
/ leadership is seriously threatened by H. Instead
against him about the Ramapo water deal. he Is
acting ike a who is afraid 70 face the thou
lands OF accusing eyes that turned toward
rim Instead OF being here 70 night TO retain his
control OF the Organization ne is cruising IN a
Yacht somewhere on the Jersey and leav-
The fight against Mr. Croker in the fXth District
which is being carried on by John C Sheehan will,
A. ts generally believed by politicians be success
mi This Will that In one OF the largest
and most influential districts In the city leader
y,iIi b. named that is hostile 70 Mr. Croker. and
mat will mean a whole lot. Ii will mean. more
over that the leader In question Is the most re-
forces and he is working for rev4ge, which is a
now errll Incentive His success would encourage
ntbers and IN d iozsn districts In the city the
| indictments only waiting Tor a word 10 start