The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-04
MR.. CRoKE. on PUBLIC CUES
TynNS

MIR. CROKER ON zcGbttlC XCES
TIONS.
Before leaving for New York, Mr. Rich
ard Croker had interview with
newspaper, in which. amongst other
things, he said:
lover in England they are watching
the fight here this fall with as mucn
GREATNESS suspense as they do the Ghi-
nose situation. They are all for Mckinney
and the Republicans. One of the wosio 5
greatest bankers called on me just before
I sailed.
".wfiat are your best advtces as to
American politics. asked the banker.
Who will win the presidency this au-
tumnp'
T" Bryan. said.
".If he does replied the banker, we're
ruined over here
I" I don't want to contradict man oi
your experience I said, but think your
idea of ruin to any man TO follow in the
wake Of Bryan's election is all nonsense.
But If 1t were what then? Bryan. to my
mind. is one of the best and most typical
Americans since the day OF Lincoln. And
we elect Presidentfor ourselves. not Tor
England Bryan will succeed, and folk
in England will have to take their chance
of that We may be willing to extend you
our hand In peace and amtty. but we are
not ready TO give our Presidents
INV own view is that British opposition
10 BRYAN should be a good American rea-
son for electing him"
we cannot ina CINE how the election of
BRYAN could ruin the English people, 50
that we are rather disposed to think that
Mr.. Croker drew somewhat upon his i'm
asination for these facts. But what a
cranky American is this to be declaring
that in his opinion British opposition to
BRYAN should be Americas reason for
electing him. British and American in
in hand that they can be almost said to
be Identical. They are so interlaced
everywhere that it would be like tearing
the Siamese twins apart to separate tnem
The great body of the American people
recognize that this is the fact, and SO Mr..
Croker will not find many willing ears
amongst the people at large to listen to
his dcnunciations of England and the
English people. We rather think MI
Croker is man of too much sense 10
take any real stock In his own state
ments. and all the probabilities are that
nonsense of this sort is uttered by him
for the delectation of the Irish element
of Tammany Hall.
Mr.. Croker said one other thing in this
Interview that is we'll entitled to atten-
ton. He went on to say:
lone thing I'd advise Bryan and the
party managers to do. The Republican
manufacturers will do this fall as they
have done before in presidential cam
paigns They'll threaten their working
men with loss of job, or work, or a cut
in wages if Bryan is elected. l would
meet this with a promise to open govern
meut works-shipyards, FORCES, armor-
plate plants, gun-works. &c, and set
every man to work for the government
that shall he thrown out of employment
by the Republican manufacturers.
meet threat with a promise, and promise
with performance. I'd put stop TO this
Republican blackmail of the ballot by
threatening loss of work and pay to every
workman who votes the Democratic
ticket.
In other words, we are TO convert our
theory of government into pure social
ism in order that We may beat the Re-
publicans in a presidential election.
Has it come to this? Is the Democratic
party indeed SO near to socialism?