New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-23
CROKER HERE TO-DAY.
MANY WIGWAAIITES TREMBLING WITH
FEAR
FEW PREPARATIONS TO MEET HIM-RE-
PORT REVIVED THAT CARROLL
MAY BE REMOVED.

Richard Croker is passenger on the Cunard
Line steamship Lucana, which will be at her
pier early this morning as she was sighted off
Fire Island at a. m. Mr.. Croker is re-
turning TO New-York after an absence of several
months in Europe Since his departure things
have not gone smoothly with the organization or
with Mr. Croker. Some time ago, While at
tempting to mount a spirited horse Mr.. Croker
was thrown and his ankle badly hurt He has
recovered slowly from that mishap. and to-day
he walks with limp and is compelled to use a
cane. He is coming back on the eve of a Ma
tional convention to find the Tammany organi-
zation thoroughly discredited on account of the
disclosures concerning the Ice Trust and the
district leaders at war with one another He
comes home to support Bryan. but Bryan has
recently in a scathing statement arraigned those
who were identified with the Ice Trust and in
this he embraced John F. Carroll. leader Of the
organization while Mr.. Croker has been in
Europe; Mayor Van Wyck. the Tammany mu-
nicipal executive, and other prominent Tam
many men,
Mr. Croker does not like demonstrations or
fuss He has absolutely forbidden any celebra-
ton over his arrival. AS result of this only
few personal friends will go down the Bay to
meet him. John F. Carroll. Peter F. Meyer,
John w Keller, president of the Democratic
Club; Thomas f. Smith, Mr.. Crokers private
secretary, and Andrew Freedman will be the
only ones to greet him at Quarantine. They will
go down the Bay this morning on a revenue
cutter. They will be the first to see Mr. Croker,
and they will be equipped with the latest news,
so that he will be quickly placed in touch with
the situation When the boat reaches her pier
Mr. Croker will be greeted by a hundred or
more personal friends, including Larry" Del
mour and nearly all the district leaders After
this he will go to his office, at No. III Broad
way. In the evening Mr.. Croker will be at the
10 CyI,,h
on hand to greet him.
SIGNS AT THE CLUB
The Democratic Club began to show signs of
revived prosperity last night Ever since Mr.
Croker went away the club has been dull and
listless, with few visitors. John w. Keller John
F. Carroll, Mayor Van Wyck and John B. Sex
ton have tried hard to keep up the attendance,
but only a few were regular in their visits.
Some OF the old time leaders, sucn as Jimmy
Martin, James w. Boyle, Larry Delmour and
others have spoken openly about the close cor
poration maintained by the CarroII-Van Wyck
crowd and the way they have used the influence
! Of the organization in their own interest These
disaffected leaders have kept away from the
Democratic Club and made DelmOnico's a head
quarters. II was said last night that they would
talk freely and frankly to Richard Croker to-
day about the way the organization had been
run in his absence and it was declared that
leaders
be divested of their power
The burning question last night was What
viii Croker do?" and a score Of Tammany men
were quaktng apprehensively From recent
signs 1t has been manifest that Mr.. Croker is
nettled over the Carroll-Van Wyck combina-
tlon and 1t is said that he will depose Carroll
when he has heard the whole story 1t IS
known that Carroll and Van Wyck tried to get
Croker to stay in England little while longer
] Il
here. On the other hand. Larry Delmour and
some Of the other leaders asked his immediate
return. They won, and now it is said it will be
a test Of strength between the two factions
and it was freely predicted last night that the
end would be the turning down of Carroll and
the practical annihilation of any future political
hopes or aims Of any member of the Van Wyck
family
The interesting story told is that Croker is not
so angry with the leaders he left in charge be-
cause of their being in the Ice Trust as he is
over the fact that they caught with the
goods to speak. He thinks so it is said
that they have bundered in managing things.
He is, furthermore, incensed, reports say, over
a breach of faith According to this story, while
the stock of the American Ice Company is sup
posed TO have been paid for. it is apparent. GER
tain initiated ones say that the various finan-
cial transactions were only blinds to conceal
the fact that the stock was given outright for
influence. Mr.. Croker. the story goes was
told that he getting share and
that the lists made public, it is shown
that Carroll and Van Wyck had far and away
more stock than Croker. and ii is declared that
the chief was deceived.
NOT PLEASED WITH OTHER THINGS
While the revelations concerning the Ice Trust
are the most harmful yet Mr.. Croker is not
pleased with other things. He charges the
leaders with stupidity and lack of discretion.
When he goes to Kansas City it will be pointed
out to him. so it was declared last night that
this perhaps most harmful of all trusts,
had placed the party in g bad position TO argue
upon the trust question.
Tammany men last night inclined to the be-
lief that things were going to happen" soon
after Mr.. Croker gets thoroughly familiar with
the situation. They declare that Carroll will
go and that some man. such Larry Del
mour will be named in his place. They say.
also that Mr.. Croker will make it plainly evil
dent that he in no way sustains Mayor Van
Wyck and his brother; that, in fact. he will
/ disown them politically 1t freely de-
clared that unless Mr.. Croker did this and
was drastic and sweeping in discipline the
/ majority Of the Tammany leaders would revolt
and tell him plainly that they could not go into
! their districts and ask support for the ticket
/ with such men retained in positions OF trust and
influence.
! Mr. Croker will start for Kansas City about
! June 90. it was said last night. Within the
/ few days that he is here he will carefully study
! the situation and talk with State we'll
! Tammany leaders.
The near approach OF Mr. Croker to these