The times., 1899-05-31
TEE REVOLT AGAINST
CR0KER'S leadership
Sheehan's Fight Assumes DAN
gerous Proportions.
The Tammany Chief Urged TO Hasten
Home From Europe.
His Power Threatened by the lnsur-
gent Factions - w. Bourke
Cochran in the Rebellion.

fight in Tammany Hall has assumed such
large proportions in so short a time as
the Sheehan revolt against the leadership
of Richard Croker. week ago the fol-
lowers of the boss asserted that no man
! or combination of men could drive him
from the leadership SO long as the organ
ization retained control of the city govern
ment, with the $40 OOO, 900 of patronage in
! volved. Today fully score of letters have
been written and mailed to Croker urging
| him to come home at once and take charge
of the fight against the revolt that seri-
ously threatens his power.
John C. Sheehans open declaration OF a
| fight TO finish against present conditions
| in TaInmany has been accepted as a call to
arms by every man opposed to Croker and
| his new advisers. Charles W. Dayton for
mer Mayor Gilroy, John d. Crimmins. and
| w. Bourke Cochran have already expressed
| their approval of Mr.. Sheehan's movement
| 1t is understood that scores of men for
| merly prominent in the organization have
agreed to join the revolt with all the yot-
ing force they can command Sheehan's
| followers at the outset include some of the
most skillful and influential politicians
who helped to win the Tammany victories
CT the past that enabled Croker to be-
come dictator and turn down every man
who displeased him to make room for new
men who carried his satchels and flattered
him at the Democratic Club.
The present contest brings out clearly
the TACT that since the election of 1897
Croker has gradually removed from his
circle of advisers and political friends
almost every man who helped him to win
his greatest victories. and he has set up
Andrew Freedman. Coogan, Maurice I'm
termeyer Peter F. Meyer, and others who
have had no experience in politics and
control no votes except their own. These
new men are no match in a political con-
test for Sheehan, Dayton. Martin, Gilroy,
Crimmins, and others who have been
turned down or ignored. From fac
tional fight in a district the present con-
test has in three days grown to a general
revolt throughout the boroughs of Man
haitian and the Bronx.
The first move of the forces opposing
Croker will be made In June, when they
will see to it that every man who favors
a change is enrolled so he can vote at the
September primaries. Under the provisions
of the State primary elections law the en-
rollment books must be kept open at party
headquarters during the month of June.
Last year Tammany enrolled about $4,000
voters in Manhattan and the Bronx, the
largest enrolment in the history Of the
organization. few days ago State Sena-
tor Plunkett Chairman of the campaign
committee said they did not want larger
enrolment and that no effort would be
made to put additional names on the
books. Every man properly enrolled as
a Democrat will be entitled to vote. He
can cast a secret ballot and it will be
counted by sworn election officers in the
presence of watchers representing both
factions of the organization. The men
already enrolled in the fight against Croker
can bring out thousands Of Democratic
voters who have never before taken part
in Tammany contest or the 10000 men
enrolled last year it Is estimated that
fully $4,000 are opposed to present condi-
tions in the organization, and it is rroba-
Bile that 30 600 more anti-Croker votes can
be enrolled during the month of June.
II has been known for six months that
a powerful combination OF Independent
Democrats in the Manhattan Club was
anxiously waiting for favorable oppor-
tunity to take hand in a fight against the
leadership of Richard Croker. These men
believe that Richard Croker is a bar TO
Democratic union and harmony in New
York. Under the old system of primaries
il was considered impossible to make
successful fight at a primary for indepen-
dence in Tammany. but the new law has
so changed conditions that the men in
control cannot manipulate the votes TO
suit themselves.
The contest at the September primaries
will be for control of the Tammany Cen
eral Committee. which, under the new
primary election law, is recognized as
the party organization in the county.
Incidentally the fight will include a strug-
gle for the leadership of probably score
of Assembly districts, which, If successful,
Will mean the control OF the Tammany
Executive Committee and the complete
~ md liG nj
lowing. Preparations are now making for
contests for the leadership in the Second,
Third. Fifth. Seventh, Eighth. Ninth,
Eleventh, Twenty-third. Twenty ninth.
Thrty-fTst, Thirty-third, Thirty-fourth
and Thirty-fifth districts, and from pres
ent indications the revolt will soon spread
to every district in the city.
It is believed that Sheehan will gather in
all the anti-Croker forces, and that a most
powerful factor will be the German Amer
ican Democrats, who have an enrolled
strength of % 900 in New York county.
Mr. Sheehan is to confer with Herman
Ridder and other leaders CT the Germans.
The Stecklers on the East Side Will gladly
organize the districts now controlled by
Martin Engel, p. ]. Scully, and Patrick
Keenan,. The men behind sheehan. such
as John d. Crimmins, former Corporation
Counsel Clark. Thomas +. Gilroy, Charles
w. Dayton. Jacob A. Canter, and Bourke
Cochran. are n guarantee that money will
be provided for the preliminary battle.
The prospect of bitter fight will spoil
the plans of Tammany leaders for their
summer outings. John F. Carroll, Com
missioner Sexton. Timothy D. Sullivan,
Senator Plunkitt Patrick Diver Dock
Commissioner Murphy and Street Cleaning
Commissioner Mccartney will not spend
six months at Saratoga this season. and
intervening time at Long Branch and Far
days next month enrolling voters for the
primaries.
There is very strcng belief that David
B. Hill has much TO do with the move
ment to unseat Croker. Hits characteri-
cation Of Croker and his methods has been
positively sulphurous of late and he has
taken pains to let New York city Demo-
Gratis know that party success would not |
be deserved while Croker remained in con-
troll. He holds him responsible for the de-
feat of Van Wyek, and it is known that |
he has attempted to persuade Hugh Mc- !
Laughlin, of Brooklyn, to break away |
from Tammany influence. Hill believes in |
nghting Croker to a finish, and his ability |
as an organizer is sure to be felt in this |
campaign. 1t is the purpose of Sheehan |
to have an executive committee of thirty |
1--WE. one for each Assembly district. and II |
is said that when the names are announced |
many firm friends of Hill will be found in |
the list.
Cyclones in Pennsylvania.
Altoona. Pa. May 30.-A hurricane. fol- |