New-York tribune., 1900-08-11
WAR TO THE KNIFE.
FIGHT BETWEEN CROKER AND HILL TO
BE ONE OF ENTERNIINATION.
EXTREME BITTERNESS DISPLAYED BY TAM
MANY MEN RIVAL ORGANIZATION
LIKELY-coLER UNDER HILLS
GUIDANCE

Ii
GUIDANCE.
Saratoga, n Y. Aug. 10 (SpeciaD. Richard
Croker was in attendance al the races to-day
once more, but usual was followed to the
racecourse by many of his political leutenants
in Tammany Hall. and had conferences with
them there regarding the direction of the affairs
Of the Democratic party in this State There
is general belief among the Tammany Han
leaders here that David B. Hill inspired Bird s
Coler TO write his recent article in The Inde-
pendent on "Commercialism In Politics" as
sailing Mr.. Croker in an unmistakable way.
Nr Hin also is credited BY them with having
secretly circulated the first news that Mr..
Croker John F. Carroll and Robert c. Van
Wyck were stockholders in the Ice Trust
Added to this. Mr.. Hill is thought to be supply
ing Controller Coler with shot and shell against
the Ramapo Water Company and the men IN
Tammany Hall who have been favoring that
company.
Mr. Hill having thus shown aggressiVely
hostile spirit toward Mr.. Croker and his lieu
tenants. Is marked out for political slaughter
10y the janissaries of Tammany Hall The Tam
many Hall men here speak with remarkable
savageness about Mr.. Hill and Mr.. Coler. In
many years they have not been in such a
hostile mood toward any they now dis
play against both AIr. Hill and Mr.. Coer Tam
many leaders say that either Mr.. Hill or Nr
Croker must retire from political life in tins
State, and they are sure it viii not be Mr.. Gro
ker who viii retire. They Will make war on
Mr. Hill and his followers, and they expect Mr.
Eiu and his followers viii retalate by estab-
Mshing in the counties Of New-oYrk. Kings.
Queens and Richmond anti-Tammany or
ganization OF the type Of the County Democ-
racy which was recognized by the rural Demo-
Gratis in Democratic State conventions as the
representative Democratic organization.
Mr Hill, they say, viii attempt TO have his
anti-Tarnrnany organization recognized by some
Democratic State convention. Mr.. Croker, how
ever intends 10 strike the first blow, and the
Tammany Hall men predict that he will con-
ouer Mr. Hill. They say that then there will
be no more divided leadership. The affairs Of
the Democratic party may suffer in the scrim-
mage. but that does not matter since in any
case they say, these affairs could not prosper
with Mr.. Hill constantly attacking Mr., Croker.
Mr.. Hill once said: 4 do not believe you
can mix business and politics" This also is re-
garded as a secret slap at Mr.. Croker and
therefore war 5f political determination is TO
be waged on Mr.. Hill Mr.. Croker, in the
opinion Of every Tammany Hall here, is
already tLe Democratic leader in this State, but
Nr. Hill must be crushed TO indicate beyond
all doubt who is the leader.
Mr. Croker VIII indicate at the time of the
meeting of the Democratic State Committee
that he considers himself the leader. With
view CT enabling the Democratic politicians who
come here TO see him readily Mr.. Croker en-
gagged to-day a suite OF apartments at the Grand
Union. and VIII first use them tomorrow
Many Democratic politicians Who have come
here have told Nr. Croker that they did not
wish intrude upon him at a private house,
and therefore have with reluctance called upon
him at the house OF John J. ScanneI where he
IS living. To relieve them Of that eInbarrass-
ment Mr.. Croker will use the rooms at the
I--s. Ts@E1 &C al
though he viii still sleep in Mr.. Scannelis
house. +tt..t
It is expected that some of the Democrats
who viii attend the meeting Of the Democratic
State Committee will be here tomorrow night,
and therefore Mr.. Croker wishes his rooms
the Grand Union to be in readiness for use on
that day.
INQUIRE BITTERLY CRITICISED.
The action Of Mayor James X Mcclure of
Syracuse, chairman OF the Executive Com
mittee Of the Democratic State Committee, in
announcing to-day that he favors the nomina-
tion Of Color for Governor bitterly criti-
cised tonight by the Tammany Hall leaders.
Mr.. MCGUIRE said he not himself a candi-
date for Governor and then added: Il in
favor Of the nomination of Bird s. Coler. l be-
lieve that Coler would attract the great body of
independent voters in the State, which, taken
with the votes that would be cast for any
Democratic candidate, would easily insure his
election Coler has proved himself 10 be a clean
man in politics, and although a party man, he
has the independence which attracts inde-
pendent voters With COler the Democratic
State ticket would win in this fails campaign.
MAY AFFECT CAMPAIGN FUNDS.
Since Mr Coler has attacked Mr.. Croker this
action Of Mr.. Mcguire in favoring his (Coler's)
\ nomination for Governor is looked upon with
b astonishment By the Tammany Hall men. and
there were hints tonight by them that Mr.. Nc
Guire would soon discover that 1t very
difficult 10 raise campaign funds in New York
City for use up the state. Some said they
should favor Mr.. Croker disregarding the EX-
ecutive Committee Of the Democratic State
Committee, headed by Mr. Mcclure. and get
'ing in contact with the rural Democrats by
some Independent agency.
Il argued that Mr. Mcclure pal
pably one Of Mr.. HIS waqrmest friends and,
therefore il would be dangerous to give him
campaign funds which might be used 10 build
up q pClucaI machine iaEoraDIe 70 Mr. Hlll
everywhere in the State. Mr. Croker, 1t was
said, is not the kind Of a politician who supplies
his political enemies with money 70 destroy him
al the Democratic primaries.
David =. Hi is coming here to attend the
meeting Of the Democratic State Committee on
Thursday next Possibly a contest may follow
between himself and Mr.. Croker, and a test
vote be taken in the Democratic State Commit
tee as 10 the relative strength Of the two Demo
cratic leaders
Mr. Crokers lieutenants have been asserting
that he has % votes. TO p in the committee
trolled by Mr.. Hill. MI HiPs friends, the
other hand, assert that he has majority in the
committee. Mr Hill clearly has some purpose
IN coming here. but what that purpose is has
not yet been disclosed. Mr.. Mcclure also will
he here
Richard Croker has received large number
Of letters favoring the nomination OF Mayor
Diehl, OF Buffalo, for Governor This news was
disclosed to-day and elated the friends Of Mayor
Diehl here. while depressing the friends of SEN
ator MacKey, Of Bunalo who have thought his
nomination for Governor by the Democratic
State Convention certainty Mayor Van Wyck
Of New York arrived here tonight and went
out riding with Mr. Carroll The Mayor, it is
presumed win remain here for several days.
ana have talks with Mr. Croker about the af-
ais n K-Tg