New-York tribune., 1900-09-08
CROKER ON "coMAERcTALIsM."

Rarely does cynical world see anything in
the conduct of public quite so noble and
inspiring Mr.. Richard Crokers denunciations
of "commercialism in politics" For leader
of political party to undertake fight for high
morals and austere conduct in the affairs of
government is something refreshing. Too many
politicians "out for the STUFF; their doctrine
is ito the victors belong the spoils,' and If
they can get rich by influence they do, and are
proud OF it. Social critics have often regretted
this prevailing tendency, and mugwumps have
denounced partisans for yielding TO it, but they
have been left to do their denouncing pretty
much by themselves. Machine leaders have in
general pursued their own way in spite OF the
preachers. But now appears Richard Croker,
Boss Croker. Ice Trust Croker. Tammany
Croker, the head of a political system from
which all the good political moralists have long
thought no good could come. and he taxes the
field as the champion of their ideas and sets
up a standard Of political morals high enough
to suit the most ideal of Civil Service reform
ers and the most dyspeptic of mugwumps
Henceforth he is Reformer Croker.
Reformer Croker has been giving ''The Brook
lyn Eagle" another instalment of his history of
the sins of Controller Coler. With his indict
ments of the Controller are not concerned
just at present. What is interesting and sig
nificant is the view which Mr.. Croker takes
of the duty Of a public officer to refrain from
making his political power the engine for pro-
noting his private fortunes. Mr. Croker OBJ
jects to Mr.. Coler on the ground that since
she has been Controller he has made a great
deal of money which he would probably have
mot made had he been private citizen" Mr..
Croker could not improve on that doctrine If
he were the president of a Good Government
o1Th Tn CHI hat IN 70 NJ md
Imperialism virtue has not yet departed from
land. And moreover he is virtuous on
high grounds. He does not object to com
merciallsm" merely because some phases of it
are illegal and subject to punishment, but be-
cause IT is not right in the abstract, is repug-
nant to the delicate sense of honor which Mr..
Croker has SO assiduously and so successfully
cultivated. After telling about the much dis
cussed bond award of the Controller he adds:
THAT was not dishonest under the law. per-
"haps, but it was a phase of 'commercalsm'
"by which some of the Coler family benefited"
That is worthy of Washington and the other
disinterested heroes of American politics who
were guided in affairs by what was morally
right, and were scrupulous to the last degree
about working for their own pockets all the
time"
Mr.. Croker as a reformer stands in noble con-
greater regulations champions of honest
politics. Take Governor Roosevelt for instance
This same transaction of the Controllers was
before him for review some time ago and he
fully eIonerated Mr.. Coler from all charges of
improper conduct. 1t is evident that Mr..
Roosevelts moral nature is not so highly de-
veloped as Mr.. Croker's 1t is not however,
too late for him TO try to improve. He is not
so old as Mr.. Croker and 1t is said by some
that the latter's refined taste in such matters
is not entirely natural, but has grown with
his experience of the world. We fear the Gov
ernor is inclined to take TOO easy views of moral
questions. There is the case of Mayor Van
Wyck, soon to be brought before him. Nobody
doubts that since he has been Mayor "he has
made great deal Of money which he would
probably have not made had he been a private
Citizen" Let the Governor adopt the Croker
standard in judging his case. Can he imagine
Mr.. Croker with his austere views pardoning
an officehOlder for taking on credit a great
amount Of Ice Trust stock from men who
wanted to sell ice to the city? Surely not
If Mr.. Croker were Governor he would remove
Mr. Van Wyck forthwith. His offence may not
have been dishonest under the law But in the
eyes of Mr. Croker things that are morally dis
honest are as bad as acts punishable by fine
and imprisonment. While Mr.. Croker is at the
head Of affairs here we know that no Tammany
man will dare to work for bis own pocket all
the time" He will have to work unselfshly If
he works for Mr. Croker.