The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-08

bad men can't trust one another for one
thing Even blacklegs and criminals want
honest men to rule"
Continuing as to his own methods Of
dealing with men, Croker said:
Il always trust every man l meet. Every
man on earth can betray me once, because
I'll trust him at the beginning without
word or question-trust him with my eyes
shut. And while at first one might think
this a very reckless system, on the whole,
| get much the best of it. Nine men of
every ten are honest. I'm right nine times
before I'm wrong once
Here is story illustrative OF Croker, and
one that tells a deal about him. 1t was
when we were down at Lakewood together:
What do you call a great MANI" asked
Croker. We were at tbs table awaiting
onr-diI yer at the time.
There are so many kinds Of greatness,
l replied, that description is difficult /
could give you an example. Take Tom
Reed / don't like him. Yet he's indubita-
bly, great mana very great man.
Il don't think So" retoited Croker.
Reeds not true to his frie1 ds."
Treason to ones friends" | argued, lis
a frequent earmark of greatness. Some
men couldn't be great if they were true TO
their friends
well, that's not my notion of a great
man. insisted Croker. Ny idea of great
man is one who is never dishonest; who is
never a coward; who when he gives you
hand gives you his life, and, come fair
weather or foul stays by his colors and
wins with his friends or loses and dies with
his friends. That's my idea OF greatness
by that rule bulldog would be great
man l suggested.
''And let me tell you." interjected Cro-
ker. that if bulldog were a man he
would indeed be great man." Then, con-
tinuing. he asked after pause: do you
know how Blank came to get that high Of
fee he holds?"
confessed darkness; / WIS not as we'll
posted on city politics as all hat.
Then, I'll tell YOU" said Croker. In
1894, when the tTeformers' bad run over rs,
and Tammany Hall for a season was out
of fashion, and every coward who could
get brick was throwing 1t at me, l want
/ ed still to find a place for man. He was
poor man, had been a ia9itor, and the
| reformers,' because he belonged to Tam
many Hall, had pounced on him and
| thrown him out. The man was going to
need bread unless something vas found for
| him to do.
"At that time in New York City 1 sup
| pose there were 500 men holding positions.
such as judges and hundIci others. who
owed ali they had to Tammany Hall. l
went to them one after the other and
! asked them to put this man to work. They
were afraid to do 1t. The reform yell
we've seen what that reform amounted
| to-was still ringing in thei ears. The
Roosevelts and the Parkhus'ts and the
/ Lexows and the COTS we've carrying all
before them OF all these high offieehold-
! ers who owed all they had to Tammany
Hall there was only one man brave enough
and true enough and honest enough to re-
| member his friends.
THAT was Blank. He gave this man
place in his court room, anG told the re-
| formers to do their worst. | didn't say
much at the time, but / reflected that here
was one man who was true blue. He'd
stick and stay and live and die with his
| people And the appointment of that poor
man to place of slight consequence was
| the beginning OF his present great ella
| ton. That placed him where he is today.
| II may land him in Albany; may even
| make him President. Alfred Henry Lew
Is. in the philadelphia North American"