The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-08
RICHARD CROKER.
a Graphic Pen Picture of the Tam
many Chieftnin.

a Graphic Pen Picture of the Tam
many Chieftnin.
It would seem as if much of my time
these DAYS was devoted to the reception
of letters. Some are from idiots-the
merest idiots of the bowling sort. These
l tear up. l discover the howl in the first
line discern the imbecility with the sec
end and that's as far as that letter and
ever get
1t is well enough for idiots whose weak
ness is to write letters 10 know how they
are received. Few folks ~ill tolerate the
Nominations of mere fools to the time
wasting extent of reading them. Still 1t
isn't feeling of narrow rancor that bids
me tear them. I'm simply too busy to
bother with them feel, much like Bob
4 gersoll back in the Hayes Tilden cam
paign; Ingersoll was making one of his
galloping addresses. A voice-a highly
drunken voice-in the crowd challenged
one of Ingersolrs statements with the
pointed suggestion:
You're a liari"
Ingersoll didn't even turn his head. He
made a repressive motion with his right
hand in the direction of the voice and said:
sit down, Mr. sot; sit down! I've come
here to kill the Democratic dog tonight,
and I've no time to waste on fieas."
But now and then there comes an en-
velope containing mildness. decency, and a
fair thirst for accurate information. These
are worth while. l read them with pa
thence and would answer them all if
could. Some, like the following, 1 feel
peculiarly inclined to answer:
Jersey City, July "a.
DcarSi Without ever having known you,
| take you to be an honest man. | notice you
to have high opinion of Mr.. Croker and
also of Tammany Hall. | confess that | have
never met Mr. Croker, and that all my opn-
ions of him and Tammlny Hall based on
what. from time to time, I've read in certain
New York papers. However, while / admit that
these papers the sole sources of my Informal
ton. | must also say that | regard Tammany
Hall and Mr. Croker as exceedingly bad infu-
enccs in New York City politics This being my
feeling. want to ask you your grounds and rea
sons for entertaining-as | assume from your writ
ing you do-a different view. remain, respect
fully yours, C.. WM. L0YEJ0Y.
This letter asks too long an answer
There's neither time nor space to fully set
forth all the reasons of my firm belief in
Croker as the strongest, best force in New
York politics ard my approval of Tammsny
Hall. The present city government, with
Van Wyck as mayor, ought to be reply
enough: but in the instance OF Croker at
least I'll make a longer, fuller one. My
answer should be given credit for honesty.
| neither hold Office nor intend to hold Of
fee I'd rather hold baby. | am , man s
man and wear no collar. l never I, low
public dishonesty foot save to take the
fair revenge of citizen upon it; and usu-
ally, If I'm caught in any mans company,
no matter who he is or what he Is, it's be-
cause in the accidents of existence he h D.
pens to be going my way. But TO recur TO
Croker.
In the first place, will say that, like my
correspondent, before l met Croker, and,
gaining my whole notion of the man from
such sources as my correspondent has
named. l came to New York with brawl-
ing violent, barroom impression of him; as
one TO be no more trusted with public con-
Germs than wolf to herd sheep. That was
my notion of Croker before knew rim
Now, III tell you what he is as I found
him. Croker is nothing that thought he
was; he's everything l thought he was not.
Instead of the violent brawler, | found a
man quiet, gentle; man who is never
angry; whose voice is never elevated be-
refuses to speak evil of anybody. though he
be his bitterest foe; who is utterly brave,
absolutely loyal, to cause or flag or friend !;
honest, and withal possessed OF a vast pa
thence aud mountaineering faith that risht
will prevail and have the victory Insts ad
OF the ignorance had been taught to 10 X
for, found Travelled. educated man In
stead of the hard drinking. hard taking
character l had been led to apprehend, |
M atar ~ -
church; a man singularly temperate. and,
to cap all. very careful of his English b.
Such is Croker.
There has been no man in my time more
lied about than Croker And be- ause of his
power and position in politics. the lies cen
corning him will continue to flow. Wise
men. and hose even Of half honesty. will
know Croker before they decide on him
What is Croker like? In figure he is
square and powerful, square jawed, grey
eyed, dark haired, and with a face the seat
of quiet power. Croker is a man who
thinks, who plans. who discovers, who
weighs. who acts. He has the soldiers in
stinct; what Grant was in war Croker is
in politics, and by much the same methods.
Croker listens a great deal and talks
but little. Justice is with him an inspira-
ton, and neither his friendships nor his
interests ever prevent him from ordering
the right He gives everybody his due.
Beyond all these. Croker has the genius
Of control. Not only of others, but of him
self. On all the earth there is no one
whose position is so autocratic. He holds
no office, will take no office. Yet his least
word among four millions OF people is,
fairly speaking. law No one disputes, no
one argues. Croker once heard is Instant
ly obeyed. Among his followers there are
no complaints, no rebellions, no criticisms
even. 1t is like a father with his family.
He lifts one man up. he takes another
down; he gives to one. he deposes another
this one is promoted, that one reduced to
the ranks. and never a word Of protest. To
me, who from the unassailable side looks
on, It Is all very wonderful and stamps
Croker with no less a seal than that of
genius.
And all the thousands OF Tammany Hall,
and for that matter thousands who are not
of Tammany Hall. rely on Croker as on
some changeless rock. I've seen his peo-
pie when he's been away. All was IN
easiness; it was the flock without the
shepherd. Fear was abroad. restlessness
prevailed Croker returned, and in an in
start confidence reigned supreme. Doubt
took wings: there was a steel-like stiffen-
ing all along the line. The shepherd had
returned; the flock was once more at ease.
Crokers mere presence in a campaign is
worth to his Syfty fully 80, coo votes in this
r,rfe n mot fOua1 tn-yu