New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-20
CROKER AS A STATE LEADER
HOW HIS FEELING AGAINST EX-SENA-
TOR HILL LED TO DEMOCRATIC De-
FEATs IN ALBANY AND TROY.


KNITTING AND CoUNTER-KNIFING OF CAN
DIpATEs IN THESE TWO CITIES
THE sur,zER PROMINENCE RE-
sENTED IN BROOKLYN.
Albany, Nov. 10 (specaD.--A prominent Dem
ocrat here said yesterday: Mayor Van Alstyne
was defeated In his canvass for reelection as
Mayor because he gave his proxy as member
o: the Democratic State Committee to David b.
Hill"
How did that influence the election" was
asked.
1T Influenced II In this way: Richard Croker
had expected that Anthony \. Brady woulo
have that proxy, as he had had 1t for severai
previous years. When Mr.. Hill had used IT, MT
Croker told Mr.. Brady that he must nave
precious little influence in Albany to permit Mr..
Hill to get hold OF the proxy. And croker
added Why did you permit Hill to have that
proxy and come down here to New-York TO
make an attack me and bother me at the
meeting OF the State Committee? AS for Van
Alstyne, in view Of his action don't think he
is entitled to any support"
Edward Murphy. tr, another ally OF Mr.
Croker owns. in company with Mr. Brady and
the heirs of the estate Of Roswell p. Flower
the chief Democratic newspaper here. THE
Argus" Mr.. Murphy also attended the meeting
Of the Democratic State Committee. as proxy
for Mayor Francis j. Molloy of Troy. and wit
messed the contest between Mr.. Croker and Mr.
Hill, which precipltated by the latter OPP
posing the admission Of William II. Tracy as
member OF the committee from the XLIVth Sen
ate District and intensified later by his opposl
~ ha o
that William Jennings Bryan is the natural
approved leader of the Democratic party in the
Nation"
Sympathlzing with Mr. Croker he did, and
acting with him as he did at the committee
meeting Mr. Murphy must have been as deeply
incensed over Mayor Van Alstyne's gift of his
proxy to Mr. Hill as Mr.. Croker himself.
PERFUNCTORY SUPPORT OF VAN AL
STYNE.
No politician need be told. therefore. that Mr..
Murphys and Mr.. Brady's newspaper organ in
Albany, The Argus only fired blank cartridges
while the political campaign was in progress its
support of Mayor Van Astyne being absolutely
perfunctory. and II was clear that it was pur-
posely ineffective. Moreover the Democrats Of
Mr. Murphy's and Mr.. Brady's faction were hard
at work everywhere in Albany to bring about
Mayor Van Alstyne's defeat. And on Election
Day Mr. Van Alstyne's losses in Democratic
wards were great Albany Is normally Demo-
cratic but the official vote, announced yester-
day. showed that James II. Blessing, Republi-
can RED wed 12171 votes to 9,995 for Van AL
styne he knife Of Croker and Murphy sank
deep into Van Alstynes political back. In 1898
the vote Of Albany City was as follows For
Roosevelt, 1928; for Van Wyck. 1860 There
were thus over twenty-five hundred votes pulled
away from Van Alstyne.
But knitting is a game at which two can play.
It was perfectly clear to Mr.. Hills friends just
what Mr. Murphy's friends were purposing TO
do in Albany There are a good many Hill
Democrats in Troy and they resented his I'M
kind treatment by Mr.. Murphy at the meeting
Of the Democratic State Committee.
MtJRPHY's INGRATITUDE RESENTED.
Moreover. they thought Mr.. Murphy was ex-
tremely ungrateful to Mr.. Hill, in view OF the
fact that when years ago he was in political
ua IN Troy he had been aided back into
ower bv Mr. Hill and then had been pushed
forward and made United States Senator For
,,,rnbv 70 combine with Croker as he had COM
bired with him against Mr.. Hill, they thought
+ba beight Of ingrattude. And they knitted MT.
Murnbv's candidate for Mayor. Thomas j. MOL
,, The election figures reveal the extent or
their knitting o-o ..
In 1898 Colonel Roosevelt received 5.2'S votes
IN Trov and Augustus Van Wyck S'3i' votes
AT the election this year in Troy Dahiei H.
Conway the candidate Of the Republican parry
and ~ the Progressive Democracy, received
: o61 votes TO 6575 cast for Thomas Molioy'
Murnhv's candidate for Mayor; and the Murphy
candidates for the lesser city offices were ue-
feated and Republicans elected.
Ex-Governor Black. at a banquet IN Troy OH
Friday night said Whatever doubt there may
no az 70 who won there is at least no DOUBT as
~ who was Notwithstanding. Of course, Ed
ward Murphy. Jr.
Mr. Croker's policy Of forcing Wililam H.
Tracv on the Democratic State Committee as
the representative of the XLINth senate us
trict one Of the Rochester districts, also was
NOT Justified by the results there Mr.. Tracy s
candidate for Mayor, Mr.. Warner. being badly
beaten Part Of this defeat Of Mr.. Warner was
due to the fact Of the demonstrations or ram
many Halls power in the State Committee the
rural Democrats being resentful of any express
sion of that power. Every attempt TO create a
little Tammany Hall in the interior cities of the
State is opposed by them. and Mayor Warner.
az the friend Of William H. Tracy suffered by it,.
NOT PLEASED WITH SUFFERS CANDI-
DACY.
Word comes here from Kings County that the
leaders Of the Mclaughlin Democrats there are
not pleased VITA Mr. Cookers recent proposal
that Congressman Sulzer be made the candi-