New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-17
WHY CROKER FACED ABOUT
WESTERN AND SOUTHERN LEADERS
PLAN FRIGHTENED HIM.
THEY WE'RE GOING TO NOMINATE BRYAN
AND TREAT THE wIGwAM BOSS As
sTRANGER-sO HE TOOK LEAP
roP .srtILr BAND WAGON"

STRANGER-SO HE TOOh LEAF
FOR THE BAND WAGON"
A Southern Democrat one Of National inhu-
ence and reputation. yesterday gave the roho"
ing facts to The Tribune in explanation OF h'ch-
ard Cookers sudden flop to Bryan. inquiry III
other quarters tends 10 confirm the details. ING
story starts with the meeting OF the DeHo-
cratic National Committee in Chicago on July W.
The Eastern Democrats were quiet al THIS meet
lrg but the Western and Southern men were
aggressive and eager. The representatives Oh
Mr. Croker listened intently watched careiu"y
and made report TO Mr. Croker of all tnat was
said and done. 1t was at this meeting 'ha'
plans were formally laid for warfare upon MT
Croker and his allied support in the East which
had for its ultimate aim the political annihila-
ton Of the Tammany chieftain.
The BRYAN leaders Of the South and west got
together at this meeting and carefully went over
the situation They decided that II Mr. bryan
could carry Nebraska and Kansas enough Sou'h-
ern and Western states could be won 10 eject
Mr. Bryan without the aid of New-fork hich-
ard Croker was bitterly attacked ana dennte
plans were made for the war upon him. In the
campaign in the Convention for the nomination
OF Bryan and In the campaign TO foho"' Mr'
Croker was to be ignored. IL any coh'es''"s
delegates came to the National Convention from
New York-and the Bryan men meant to urge
secretly these contests and lend help 70 John q
Sheehan and other insurgents-the contestants
were to be seated and Mr.. Crokers delegates
were to be thrown out Mr.. Croker was not to
be consulted, and in every way ne was 10 oe
treated like a stranger. After the campaign
opened not one dollar was 10 be spent in New
York. Mr.. Croker was to he left without the
of "a National Com
mittee 10 do as he pleased about carrying the
State as the Bryan managers were to give II up
entirely. Thus he would be placed in bad light
bsfore ,be country and would lose the state by
an enormous figure.
o. II. p Belmont attended these meetings he
agreed II is said 10 contribute 100000 TO the
capnaien fund and TO raise more money. There
was no pledge that he should have second place
upon the ticket. or any other place, but it was
understood that he was 10 be we'll cared for.
Then a campaign was to be started that for
ferceness and hard work would be unequalled
Nearly all of the money raised by the National
Committee was TO be poured into the States OF
Ohio Indiana Illinois and Wisconsin The fight
was to be made right in the Middle West. Some
New England States were to come in for mis-
sionary work but New-YoTk was to be left a
parah in the Union. 1t was believed that
enough Western and Southern States could be
carried to elect Bryan In case this was et-
fected then patronage was TO be dealt QUE IN
New-Y for one reason only, and that was 70
overthrow Croker. strong, sturdy man was 20
get the handling OF the patronage here, ana ne
was 20 deal IL out he saw ft No politicai
debts would have TO be paid in the state ana
the Offices would be simply used to build up an
organization opposed TO Mr.. Croker This was
the plan agreed upon when the meeting OF the
No init foo
long before Mr.. Croker heard Of II. This ~ SAID
to have explained his sudden jump to get on
the band wagon"
Mr. Croker's true feelings about Bryan nave
been known to his friends for a long time, but
not to the public, owing to his frequent inter
views in which he has attacked Bryan. Mr,
Croker's feeling toward Mr.. Bryan has been one
OF fear In 1897. just after Mr.. Bryan went
down 10 defeat. Mr.. Croker was in London ana
attended dinner at which Perry Belmont Jei-
ferson " Levy and others were present. Mr..
Belmont began to abuse Mr.. Bryan roundly ana
denounce him unworthy of serious attention.
Mr.. Croker, it is related, said abruptly; You
are wrong He Is strong man and one 10 pe
reckoned with. He is considerable OF factor
yet. He has tine confidence OF the people, ana
that Is a great deal" From time to time AFTER
that he expressed the same belief and often said
that IL Bryan would drop the silver question ali
would be we'll He fought Bryan, however as
long as he saw a chance TO d. So II is said. and
only surrendered when his own political exist
encc depended upon change OF base.
Brother Gus Van Wyck was In the city yes
terday. but only for short time. He wouldn't
say anything There a report yesterday
that Mr. Croker was trying to get ex-Judge
Van WICK the second place on the ticket, but
there was no confirmation of this. Mr.. Croker
was not In the city and said 10 be down at
Long Branch with ex-senator Murphy. j. j.
Willett Ia expected 10 appear in New-York to-
day for the meeting Of the Van Wyck forces to-
morrow. The meeting will demonstrate just
how strong following Brother Gus can mus
ter under his standard.
A CHANCE TO GET BACK.