New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-01

SAID TO BE WEAKENING.
BELIEF NOW THAT HILL WILL NOT
FIGHT CROKER
THINKS IT BEST. 1T Is SAID. TO LET THE
TAMMANY CHEF HAVE HIS OWN
WAY AS THE EX-SENATOR DOES
NOT BELIEVE BRYAN HAS
ANY CHANCE.

Ex-senator David B. Hill packed his political
satchel yesterday morning and started back u
Albany The waters Of Democratic politics
troubled for a brief time by his visit 70 the city
became placid again The little band Of Demo-
cratic intriguers who gathered at the Hoffman
House to meet the ex-senator broke up and
eacn Went his separate way. When Mr. Hill
left the city he carried with him an accurate
Idea OF the situation stands five days before
the State Convention. He has canvassed the
State and the city TO what support he could
get in opposing Richard Croker and his follow
ers IN the attempt to defeat the plan TO instruct
the delegation 10 be sent 10 Kansas City for
William ]. Bryan
Every one was asking yesterday whether Hill
would fight or not. 1t was said by those who
are in d position TO know that the ex-S Senator
could give the Croker forces pretty fight il he
wanted 10, but the general belief last night was
that Mr. Hill would not make the fight 1t is
said that he is afraid go into the struggle tor
the reason that If defeated he will be worse off
THAN ever. and will have earned the everlasting
enndty Of the Bryan organization in the Nation
and will be outside the organization ranks in the
Stase Whether Mr.. Hill will undertake the
struggle or not Will be demonstrated when the
Democratic State Committee meets at the H.n-
man House next Monday night 70 make the final
preparations for the State Convention. Mr.. Hill
will come down from Albany on Sunday 10 open
headquarters at the Hoffman House and he
may declare his policy then, but IL was the gen
eral belief that, after all work and efforts to
round up strong combination to fight Croker
and his plan for instructng the delegation TO
Kansas City, Hill had decided not TO make the
fight but to bide his time
HILL AND THE STATE COMMITTEE.
The State Convention. which is 70 meet next
Tuesday, will elect new Democratic State
Committee This committee is the State ma
chlne and dominates the party. HILL until
Gently, has always controlled this committee
Croker wrested control OF it away from the
ex-senator Interest centres in the election of the
new committee, il will show whether or not
Hill will win back control of il. Mr. Hills
friends say that he will elect majority OF State
committeeman in favor of his leadership. The
belief last night was that Hill would let Croker
have his own way about instruction Of dele
gates, and would make his whole fight to elect
committeeman friendly 70 him. If he gets con-
troll Of the State Committee, Hill will be in the
saddle once more, and can make it exceptionally
uncomfortable for the Tammany chief
The Tammany men have decided 10 allow the
country Democrats to have their own way about
the organization of the convention, and John
Norton, OF Troy, II is said, Will be temporary,
anu Eliot DanIorth permanent CHAIRMAN
There will be no contest over this point it is
declared. Hill is writing the platform be
adopted, and IL is likely that any will
interfere with his wishes in that regard This
Will indorse William J. Bryan declare against
trusts and imperialism. and on, but will give
silver the go by. according TO report Three
Of the delegates-at-large to be elected will
be Richard Croker, ex-senator Murphy and
David B. Hill, The fourth member of
the Big Four will be either Augustus Van
wyck or James ShevIin. whichever name the
Kings County organization may present Hill
his withdrawn his objection to Van Wyck IN
O. ar TO placate and secure the support OF the
Brooklyn organization.
The general opinion last night was that Hill
would give Croker and his followers free rein.
The ex-senator doesn't believe so his friends
say, thai Bryan has the ghost OF a show 10 be
elected. Croker on the other hand. IL is pointed
out, believes that he has. Hill. so il is declared.
thinks that If the New-York delegation could be
sent uninstructed and not committed 70 Bryan.
and that if the Chicago platform could be
"slurred over in the State campaign a Gov
ernor and a majority Of the Legislature could be
elected If the State organization however, bag
and baggage goes over 10 Bryan MI HITS
friends say he believes there is hope for the
Democracy in the State This explains. so il is
said. his objection 20 Instructions. II he de-
cides not TO fight however, his friends assert, IL
will be because he sees that there isn't any hope
of winning in the State. and then he will De
willing TO step back and let Richard Croker get
UP the box seat and, as Hill man expressed
IT, drive the rickety old machine 10 the grand
est smash up in the history OF political land
slides
TO KEEP HIS GRIP THERE
Hills ideaf It is declared. in the event OF this
outcome is TO stand back and keep his grip on
the State Committee. which is the State
chine so that when Croker. Bryan and the
whole outfit go down in a crash he can come
10 the front. reorganize the party and purge it
of Brvanisrn from top bottom. With Croker
hopelessly committed 10 Bryan and Organism,
he would not be consulted in the reorganization.
Hills friends
These are the thoughts that the friends Of Mr.
Hill declare are fitting through his restless and
active brain II he does not fight the State
Convention will he serene in all probability
as the recent Peace Conference at The Hague.