New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-29
THE SILENCE OF CROKER.

Two weeks ago tomorrow public ofhcers
standing close to Richard Croker endeaVoreu
N force through the Board Of Public improve
mcntS n water supply contract with n private
company involving S2OO,O00,O00 of public money.
They failed. and their failure Is likely 10 De
permanent for the INDUSTRIOUS job that they are
promoting has been the subject OF uniVershl
discuss sion and Of almost universal eXecrauoh
over since But while rs chief promoters nave
been stubbornly defending their conduct ana
vownG TO persevere. while some others VINO
originally gave il direct or indirect support have
been explaining and apparently getting ready
10 retreat and while the whole town has Deen
talking. one man OF The first Importance mas
kept himself out Of sight and refused 10 say
word For this reason and because II is scarcely
possible to suppose that MesSrs Dalton ana
Holahan would have dared 10 embark IN such
an enterprise without the positive approval oil
Nr Croker, IL il naturally, indeed inevitably
assumed that Mr.. Croker has an interest IN II
which he IS afraid either TO expose or to deny
The latest guess is that he will return in day
or TWO and give orders which VIII put an I'M
mediate end TO the job, but even If he should
take that course few persons. and least or all
his own followers would be able 10 persuade
themselves that he did not originally sane
ton It.
Nor Is there any good reason why Mr..
Croker should resent the assumption that
Dalton and Holahan had MS consent, or the
inference naturally drawn from that belief.
Only n little while ago Mr. Croker explained
in considerable detail under oath as witness
before the Nazct Committee. that Tammany
Hall whose absolute ruler he acknowledged
himself 10 be- expected when In power 70 de-
rive pecunlary advantage from IT'S opportuhl-
ties. II was shown that the judicial sales
awarded on demand 10 his real estate firm were
exceedingly profitable He saw no reason why
such an Arrangement should not have been
made for his benefit. lie expected Judges IN
distributing patronage 10 remember who raised
then, 70 the bench and departments 70 take
caro- Of the faithful including his own son. who
had seasonahlv engaged IN the freproohng busl-
moss In the light OF Mr. Crokers testimony
r.bo+ could he more reasonable than the belief
that = 5000 600 600 water contract would pay
something very handsome TO men who were in
q positon TO minister 10 the necessities Of the
pcople? Why shouldn't Mr. Croker say frankly
that IN his opinion the Ramapo companyS re-
sources ought 10 be utilized? 1t would be i'm
possible TO prove that he holds contrary
oninion. And then. why shouldn't he add that
in this case as in other cases concerning whlch
he is already on record. members OF the organl-
cation expect TO profit by their authority?
1t looks as If Mr. Croker realized that the
lob was TOO colossal and too odiouS to make
such blunt avowal safe or even 10 warrant a
r4petitlon Of his famous rejolnder, That's my
private business" Under the protection OF Mr..
Movers dogs he has had an excellent opporlu-
nitv for reflection, and when be energies into
public view. If he speaks at all, he will proba-
bly, speak discreetly. But We doubt n he VIII
furnish satisfactory explanation Of the recent
proceedings Of his obedient servants.