The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-16
CRoKERs SIGNIFICANT TALK.
New York Politicians Have Much to
Say About It.

| Washington, Aug. 16.-The politicians
| in all the uptown Hobbies last night had
much to say regarding Mr.. Croker s
| significant interview in regard to w.
| J. Bryan. His liberal eulogy of the Ne
| braskan, in which he proclaimed him
| one of the greatest men in America
| and a statesman surprising all in his
| nearness to the people, was regarded
! with wonder.
II think Mr.. Croker, in giving out
| that talk clearly meant to put his fol-
lowers onto the fact that he had COM
pletely changed his views as to the ad-
visibility of nominating Mr.. Bryan in
1907 remarked William NJ. Harrison, a
politician from Virginia. Heretofore
the Tammany chieftain has been look
ed upon as radically opposed to Bry-
ans nomination, but it appears that
he has lately experienced a new light
on the subject, and ! expect to see him
come out shortly in a formal interview
in favor of the man from Lincoln.
IF Tammany Hall declares for Bry-
an, it absolutely insures his nomination
for the up-cOuntry New York dele
gates will be for him solidly- He could
be nominated without New York, but
no doubt will be glad to get the sup
port of the Empire state, since the rest
OF the eastern opposition will amount
to very little"
Others believe that Croker is a con-
vert of ex-Speaker Reed on the ex-
pansion question. Reed is one of the
original anti-expansionists, beginning
with ODDOS1IlOn Inc annexation Oh
Hawaii His principal argument has al
ways been based on the theory that
annexation meant the absorption of an
undesirable population and that it was
inconsistent with the public demand
for restrictive immigration laws.
The new views of Croker are now in
line with those of Reed. Coming back
to America on the same steamer, and
being thrown together. as both say
they were, it is not surprising that
Reed should impress the New York
boss with his views. This impression
might be the more easily made by Tea-
son of the fact that Croker easily sees
in Reed a man destined to be a power
in New York politics in the near future.
Croker has always had a theory about
cultiVating the friendship OF the boss
of the other party. He and Platt have
had a pretty good understanding, and
he is likely to try to reach an under
standing with Reed since he is to move
to New York. There is no speedier way
to get a mans confidence than to be
converted by him. This consideration
may have made an easy convert of Mr.
Croker. The suggestion that Mr.. Reed
may not go to New York, but may yet
decide to remain in congress, is not
credited by persons who know him and
are familiar with his methods.
CrOxer's declaration for Bryan, how
ever, can hardly be credited to the in
auence of Mr.. Reed, though the dis
covery of how earnestly Reed disap-
proves of the policy of the Mckinley
administration may have inspired a be
lief in the mind of Croker that AcKin-
ley could be defeated by whatever can
didate the Democrats might nominate.
Such a belief would hasten Croker to
make friends with the man whose nom
nation he thought was inevitable.
The most generally accepted theory
is that the Tammany boss recognizes
that Bryan is going to be the nominee
and that regularity viii mean loyalty
to Bryan. By being quick to see this
and to accept it, Tammany will be in
position to claim reward after Mr..
Bryan's election.
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