The Portland daily press., 1900-08-17

Croker. Coler, on the other hand, has
refused to obey the behests of the boss,
and has even had the temerity to refer to
him In print as man who is in politics
simply for the benefit of his pocket. BY
his independence and his sincere efforts
to check the looting of the Tammany
gang he had greatly commended himself
to the honest and decent clements of the
Democracy, and when he was suggested
as candidate for governor those ele-
ments eagerly espoused his candidacy.
Hill Is not particularly scrupulous
statesman, but he is shreWd, and in
Coler's growing popularity he saw an OPP
portunity to put the city boss Sin Ga
hole" by making himself the champion
and leader Of the movement to make the
controller the Democratic nominee; and
thus forcing Croker either to oppose the
movement or play second fiddle to him.
He seized the opportunity as soon as he
discovered it, and his power and influ-
ence, together with Coler's prestige. have
easily succeeded in making the country
Democracy practically solid for the con-
troller. AS soon as Hill espoused CoIer's
cause Croker declared his opposition and
proceeded to organize the city Democracy
against the controller. Apparently he
has succeeded in capturing all the cities
except Brooklyn, where Boss McLaugh-
lin holds sway. The cities without
Brooklyn just about offset the country, so
that borough holds the balance OF
power, and Boss Mclaughlin is practi-
I.oa1 w no o,~N>9k -
two great bosses. Nobody credits Nc
Laughlin with any higher motive than
self interest in determining what he will
do with his opportunity, but he appears
to have been unable to decide up to the
present time on which side seIf-interest
lies Coler is Brooklyn man and very
popular there, and Mclaughlin hesitates
to defy popular opinion to the extent he
would have to to throw his delegates
against COler. AT the same time he fears
Croker, who will in any event probably
continue to be the reigning boss of New
York, of which Brooklyn is now a part,
and will consequently have the power to
punish him by depriving him of much OF
his patronage. Meanwhile the situation
has been further complicated by an inti-
nation from persons who stand close to
Bryan that the Presidential candidate
would like to see Coler put in nom1na-
t1on. Bryan is clear headed enough to
see that with a respectable man like Coler
on the ticket with him he Will stand
better chance than if a man who is recog-
n1zed as one of Croker's henchmen
is his running mate. The
Interference Of Bryan has dis
concerted Croker a good DEAL for he has
been posing as Bryan's special friend,
and this he can no longer do if he DELHI
erateIy proceeds to thwart the wishes of
Bryan in reference to the governorship.
Rumors have been rife that some sort of
a compromise might be arranged If Coler
would give Croker certain pledges which
| would secure the withdrawal of the lat
ter's opposition, but no such pledges as
Croker would undoubtedly demand can
be given without destroying CoIer's
popularity with the state Democracy.
AS the situation is at present it looks as
though Croker would have 30 fight Coler
to finish, in spite of Bryan's wishes, or
abjectly surrender. an alternative which
would SO completely ruin his prestige that
he would not consider it for moment.