New-York tribune., 1900-08-21
CROKER AND COLER BACK.
BOsS's ATTACK ON EUGENE D. WOOD
REGARDED AS SIGNIFICANT.

DANFoRTH AGAIN SAYS THE CONTROLLER
WILL BE NOMINATED FOR GOVERNOR
MR. CoLER WILL NOT TALK
Richard Croker and Bird s. Coler both came
back to this city yesterday bringing with them
the storm centres os the two factions into
which the Democratic party Of this State now
seems to be irrevocably split. Mr.. Coler abso-
lutey declined 10 say one word for publication
about his boom for Governor declaring that
he had come home from Liberty, " Y. 20
work and not to talk. Mr.. Croker. however.
signaIized his return from Saratoga by break
ing the rule Of silence which he imposed upon
himself following his ridiculous silver ratio In
terview given out at Elberon. y. J.. just after
he got back from the Democratic National Con-
vention in Kansas City. The utterance OF the
Tammany boss yesterday was by no means i'm
portant in itself. being chiefly a personal at
tack upon an Albany politician. but it's sig
nifcance lies in the fact that 1t reveals an Ir-
ritation on the part OF Mr.. Croker over the
publication OF some OF his Vaccinations to de-
feat Hill in Albany County. The Tammany
chief arrived at the Grand Central Station at
1910 m, and went at once to the Demo
cratic Club where he was seen by several re-
porters. One Of them said to him:
Have you read the statement credited to
Eugene D. Wood, that he was asked by you 70
aid in a movement for the election OF Herrick or
anti-HiII delegates in Albany County and that
he had refused your request and had told you
that he would aid Hill against Herrick and
yourself?'
ATTACK ON EUGENE d. WOOD.
To this Mr.. Croker replied:
yes, 7 have read that statement and there is
no truth in it. have no dealing with Wood
is ar o. Pam
tions and insurance companies and tells what
ne does for them 1 regard him as fit subject
for the attention Of the D1strict-Attorney or
Albany County. He is on. Of a group OF men
who are conspiring to destroy the Democratic
party in this State. The names Of the others
will be made known subsequently,
Aas Croker's discovery that Wood is not
puremtnded statesman must have been exceed
ingly recent For years they have been firm
friends and on intimate footing often shar-
ing bets on good things at the racetrack and
in other ways evincing their admiration one for
the other. Not long ago Wood persuaded Croker
to allow the transfer OF Woods brother-in-Iaw
W. ]. Ellis. from a $500 clerkship In the Con
trollers Office to much better berth in the
Board Of Education. Now Croker thinks Wood
ought to be in Jail
Politicians were speculattng last night as TO
the cause Of this sudden and wide breach be-
mas often proved most useful to him. They
concluded that Croker must have Threatened
Wood with disaster If he did not support Judsa
Herrick Wood hates Herrick and is good
lighter. He probably sees a chance TO defeat
| ms old rival by supporting Hill in Albany
| County and is willing TO brook Crokar's wrath
| to compass his personal revenge upon Herrick
AFTER Mr- Croker's gust of wrath over Wood
| had subsided a little yesterday he was asked
/ abo
| movement about W. F. Sheehan's renewal OF
activity about John c. Sheehan's perpetual
tight, about Croker's struggle with Hill at the
State Committee meeting. and about his re-
ported advice to Mayor Van Wyck not to send
to Governor Roosevelt any answer to the ice
conspiracy charges. On each Of these subjects
Mr.. Croker bluntly refused to utter word As
| to his immediate plans and the outlook for
Democratic success generally. he was not 50
reticent, saying:
I am in pretty good health and shall start
in at once taking an active part in the campaign
shall remain in New-York until the end OF the
campaign, and shall make my headquarters at
the Democratic Club. I viii probably go TO
Tammany Hall every day. The Republicans
have cause to fear the apathy IN this campaign
This looks very much like Democratic year
and from all can see and all hear Bryan
will be elected President 7 have come back to
now until the end OF the campaign Tammany
Hall will be found right in the thick OF the
fight for Bryan and his election The more
Roosevelt speaks the better IT will be for the
Democrats
SAYS HE HAS NO CHOICE FOR GOVERNOR
Mr.. Croker added that he had no choice for
Governor. and If he had. would not seek TO
forestan the action Of the State Convention bv
announcing his name. He said the campaign
would really not begin until after that conVen-
tiOn was over.
Mr.. Croker's reasons for returning to the city
so long before that convention sits seem to be
threefold- First. he feels the need OF giving his
personal attention TO the primaries. Second he
wants to make sure that none OF the city en-
ployes escape paying the heavy campaign as
sessment that has been levied upon them all.
and thirdly. Mr. Croker wanted to attend the
funeral Of Justice Smyth to-day as a pauoearer.
The primaries will demand Mr.. Crokers I'm
mediate attention from tomorrow until they
are over He has been informed thar plans
have been aid to run Coler delegates IN the
primaries Of the With. IXth. XIIIth. xXIst.
XxXIst and xXXvth Assembly districts
The anti-Tammany leaders in these districts
hope to carry their tickets through with the aid
they can receive from Mr.. Coler. Other dis
tricts may also have Coler states
WHALEN ON THE COLER BOOM
Corporation Counsel John Whalen who ac-
companied Mr.. Croker from Saratoga was more
communicative than his chief on the subject OF
Mr.. Coler. He said oracularly.
Coler is not the real Hin candidate He ts an
swCring the purpose all right now. but the Hid
crowd will drop him before convention time.