The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-14
CROKER DAY
at the Mazet Investigation in
New York.
The Tammany Boss Called to
the Stand.
ASKS STRAIGHT TALK
Says He is the Tammany Leader
and All Know 1t.
Declares an Intention to Stand
by His Friends.

-
vestigating committee resumed its ses-
sions here today. The investigation Of
the city government has so far been
confined chiefly to the police and build
ing departments and to direct and in
direct efforts to ascertain the extent of
the influence exercised by Richard Gro
ker. The understanding that Mr.. Gro
ker would take the witness stand today
created great interest and the room was
crowded
Justice Leventritt of the supreme
court, Immediately upon the commence
ment of the proceedings, addressed the
members of the commission, saying that
he had been called here to testify and
that the business of his court was suf-
fering thereby
Mr. Moss excused the justice until
Then the name of Richard Croker
was called The Tammany hall leader
was sworn.
You live at the Democratic club, do
you not?" asked Mr. Moss.
Yes, sir" said Mr.. Croker
You are the leader of the political
organization generally known as Tam
many hall, are you nOt2"
4 don't know that 1 am"
Generally conceded TO be, are you
not2'' asked Mr.. Moss. suaveIy
Well said Mr.. Croker. = amt talk
ing for myself. If others say I am I
am Mr.. Croker agreed with Mr.. Moss
that the government of the city and
country depended upon the existence
Of political parties.
Mr.. Moss asked if the leadership gen
orally accorded to Mr.. Croker was not
based largely upon the fact that he. had
the reputation of being a truthful man
Mr. Croker said he tried to be q truth
Mr. Moss had asked Mr. Croker a
number of seemingly immaterial Ques-
tions regarding the organization of
Tammany hall. when Mr. Croker inter
rUpted him and said sharply: 1T is not
necessary TO bring all that UP: that
use playing TO the galleries; there is no
use of making speeches We all know
everything that has been said We
know that I am the leader of the party.
and I acknowledge il, and all these
people are my friends, and that I am
going to stick to them all the time
There was a roar OF applause as Mr.
Croker finished this sentence Chair
man Mazet raped for silence. Rather
SarCaStically Mr.. Moss said the applause
was all right and that he hoped the
chairman would allow it once in while
It did not discOncert him
Just give me good. straight talk,
went on Mr.. Croker, when the applause
had ceased, that is all I am talking
good straight talk and that is all 1
want. All these gentlemen know that
I am considered the leader. All these
gentlemen are my friends You have
taken half an hour for nothing. What
is the use of that?"
we will try to accommodate you,
Mr.. Croker replied the counsel
Mr.. Croker said that he gave the
prominent Tammany hall Democrats
"a certain amount of advice and direc-
ton Sometimes they followed it;
sometimes they did not. Most of them
followed it
Mr.. Moss read a list of the Tammany
sachems. Mr.. Croker admitted that all
or nearly all of them held prominent
positions in the city government
Mr.. Croker admitted that he had been
consulted regarding the selection of men
for official positions in the city govern
ment but denied that he had dictated
appointments. He conceded the prop
OsitiOn that he had proba bly, greater in
ffuence with the municipal adminiStra-
tion than any other citizen. He was
believer in the theory that the party in
power should have all the offices. He
had interested himself in the Amster-
dam avenue and Astoria gas questions
because the peoples rights were in
voIved. and he had notified the Tam
bly, TO attend sessions and vote on those
do So
He could not tell anything about con-
tributiOns to campaign funds and rem
dered no account to the finance COM
mittee of Tammany of which committee
he was chairman of the moneys dis
bursed by him He said judicial candi-
dates had contributed to the campaign
fund. but not on compulSiOn. their indi-
vidual donations might have been as
much 81 900 or IS, coo. none of them
had paid much SO. 600.