Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-15
HILLS DEEP SCHEME.
Effort to Get Presidential Nomination
at Kansas City.
FOUGHT BRYAN UNDER Cover
Croker's Hostility an Outcome Of
That Famous Struggle.
COLER MAY RUN FOR MAYOR
pecial Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, September 13. 1900.
Now that 1t -is all over and delegates are
returning from Saratoga, to New York and
to their country homes the democratic sit
4uatien here Ia New York becomes clearer
than during the excitement of the rcenven-
ton. The forces OF ex-senator Hill having
| been routed, horse, footzand dragons. by
the Murphy Croker combination, democrats
| who think have commenced to count up the
| cost, and the consensus. of opinion Is THAT
while Hill has sustained a temporary de-
feat, it is a victory secured at a frightful
cost. The refusal of Richard Croker to
permit Bird s. Coler to run for governor
| raises the question for the first time during
the present campaign of his loyalty to
Bryan. In spite of the tumult and the
shouting in favor Of Hill at the Kansas
City convention the Bryanites in this state
have insisted that Mr.. Croker has really
feen playing straight politics. while it
has been claimed that Mr.. Hill has been
playing, as always and ever, crooked poll
tics"
The real secret of the fight which David
b. Hill made among the Kansas City plat
form makers Is told for the first time today.
The gentleman must be nameless, but your
correspondent can Vouch for his knowing
the inside facts in the case. Here is the
story:
When Hill had visited Bryan at his home
in Lincoln he found the Nebraska leader
determined to insist upon 10 to l being
named In specific terms In the Kansas City
platform. Bryan openly announced that if
this was not done he could not become the
candidate of the convention.
Hill was delighted with this. He saw that
the vote in the committee on resolutions
would be close, and he determined to make
fight for general reaffirmation of the
Chicago platform. Now, any sane man
knows that there not the slightest diff
ference between general and a specific re-
affirmation of 16 to l. Nevertheless, it APP
peared to give Mr.. Hill the opportunity
which he desired to throw down Bryan
Hills Chance for the Presidency.
Had the committee refused to report a
specific Endorsement of Is to Mr. Bryan
would have been compelled to decline the
nomination, because Of the pledges that he
made. Who then would have been called
upon to lead the democratic hosts this year?
Why, no less a man than David B. Hill
hlmself-the man who had won the victory
for the conservative forces of the party
Ihat is the way the sage Of Wolferts Roost
figured.
When it is remembered that IS to was
inserted in the platform only by the vote
OF the committeeman from Hawaii and
When 1t is also remembered that Hill ex-
pected to be the representative from New
York, instead of Cookers candidate Judge
Augustus Van Wyck. 1t can easily be seen
that this plot came within an ace of Win
ming. Croker. by preventing Hill from going
on the platform committee, in all human
probability prevented him from being
named as the democratic candidate for
President of the United States Hill knows
this: Croker knows 1t; Bryan knows it,
bitterness toward Croker since Hill is
crazy for the presidential nomination
Cookers enmity toward Hill grows out of
another cause. 1t has it's foundation in an
statesmen who spent all their time in Eng
land.
Under the circumstances, it will be seen
that Croker. no matter what his motives
was loyal to Bryan until the Saratoga con-
vention But in bending all of his energies
to bring about the defeat Of Bird s Coler
II Is generally claimed by the Bryanites
that Croker destroyed all Of the remote
chances which Mr. Bryan had. of carving
New York state this year.
No Personal Liking for Coler,
Not that the Chicago platform democrats
care a straw about Mr.. Coer. Generally
speaking, they are opposed to Coler because
he has been a persistent gold standard
democrat; because he has conducted the
office Of controller Of the city of New York
on the worst kind Of gold standard basis.
because he has consistently refused to have
anything to do with the radical free silver
wing of the democratic party. Under these
circumstances there are few tears shed
among the Bryanites of the state over the
eclipse of the personal fortunes of Control
Ter Coler.
But from the political point of view
there Is no doubt that the nomination of
Coler would have been worth a hundred
thousand votes for Bryan in this state this
year. Hence among the radicals there Is
weeping and waiing and crashing of teeth
In the first place COer would have had ,he
support of thousands of business men, The
Merchants Association would have been
with him to a man. The great independent
dailies, which have an influence upon polit-
ical results In this state, would have been
for Coler- Few of these interests will sup
port Stanchfield, the Elmira lawyer select
ed as the democratic candidate for gov
ernor.
Bryan would have gained votes because
1t never was the intention Of the Chicago
platform democrats to support Coler 10y
ally. They would have traded votes right
and left-offerfng a vote for Odell for one
for Bryan. And now that Croker has de-
prived them of this opportunity of trading,
naturally they are bitter against the Tam
many Hall leader.
with Tammany Hall cutting Coler in New
York city. with the Bryanftes trading him
off for Odell, 1t will readily be seen that he
would have found the road to the governor s
chair at Albany a rocky road to travel In
fact. despite the wild and absurd claims
made concerning his popularity among the
independents, 1t is probable that Bryan
would have received a larger vote in New
York state than Coler.
Cookers Estimate of Golfer.
"Croker's friends justify his position by
saying that he was convinced Of CoIers un-
popularity. 1t should be remembered that
Croker is compelled to look at everything
from the viewpoint Of the local elections
on Manhattan Island. They insist that
Croker was convinced that Coler would
have cost the hall thousands Of votes on
account Of the dislike entertained for him
among the party workers. Perhaps there
is something In this. At least, upon no
other ground can Croker justify the throw
| ing away of a large vote for Bryan be-
cause of his refusal to consent to Coler's
nomination.
| "As for Hil-his future Is problemat teal
He Is now reduced to the position Of minority
| democratic leader in this state. AS the lead
| er of faction of the party he may or may
| not again blossom out into a great national
| leader. One thing is certain that Just 30
! long as Richard Croker lives he will prove
| a thorn in the side of David B. HILL Even
| though Hill should capture a coveted pres
| idential nomination this fight with Croker
| would cost him dear here in New York
city. and ii would probably cost him the