New-York tribune., 1900-09-09
COLER'S NAME THE PRICE.
REPORTED OFFER OF THE CROKER
MURPHY CONDENSATION TO HILL

TO ALLOW THE EX-SENATOR TO NAME
THE TICKET ON CONDITION THAT HE
SACRIFICE THE CONTROLLER-POLI-
TICLANs HERE BELIEVE HE WILL
ACCEPT THE COMPROMISE.
The scene OF the struggle between the war
ring factions in the Democratic party was
shifted to Saratoga yesterday By to-day all
the big chiefs of the party are expected TO be
in Saratoga, and the VIA go on merriy
right up to the eve Of and possibly will be
carried into the convention which meets next
Tuesday. 1t seemed TO be a generally accepted
fact that Controller CoIer is no longer TO be
regarded as a possibility. The Controller said
yesterday that he would not attend the con-
ventiOn and that his attitude was unchanged
He added that he had never been the candi-
date Of any individual or faction but that if
he We're nominated by the convention he would
accept
Indications were plentiful yesterday that Rich
ard Croker and his Iieuteuants were trying 10
patch up harmony in the party, although with
out receding one jot from their utimatum against
the nomination Of Mr. Coler. So far as could be
learned. these efforts were not successful, and
the breach between the Hill and Croker factions
was as wide ever. There seemed 10 be a
general belief. however, that a compromise
would be effected before the convention and
port OF the Controller.
There We're several conferences at the Hon-
man House yesterday between the leaders Of
the two factions but these conferences failed to
bring about q satisfactory understandings Ex-
Senator Murphy and Mr.. Croker had a long talk
IN the morning with Senator McCarren, the anti
Coier leader in Kings County. After this talk
Frank Campbell chairman OF the state Com
ruittee and loyal friend OF Hill. was sent for,
! him for some time. Later Mayor Mcclure. OF
/ Syracuse. chairman Of the Executive Committee
! and a Hill man. talked with Murphy. The sub
/ stance Of these conversations was ascertained
/ last night.
! INQUIRE DID NOT BITE
| When Murphy sent for Mcclure yesterday. it
was learned last night, IL was 10 suggest TO him
that he abandon the candidacy of Coler. which
/ he has sturdily supported until the present
/ time and become a candidate himself. Mr. Nc
/ CURE, il is declared. saw in this shrewd move
| on the part Of the Croker Murphy faction 70
! get affairs more tangled. and declined 10 con-
! slider the proposition although the support OF
/ the anti-COler combine here was offered him
Failing in this. Mr.. Murphy endeavored TO con
/ vince Mr.. Mcguire that he and Nj Croker had
! only the best interests Of the party AT heart.
! and wanted harmony above everything. Then.
| according to the story told, Mr Murphy made
/ this remarkable proposition 10 Mayor Mcclure.
| IF you and Mr.. Hill and your friends up the
/ State will agree upon ticket we will support
/ IT, You can have free swing The only thing
/ We ask is that you pledge yourselves heartily
/ TO help elect that ticket. and that Coler be
/ dropped entirely.
So far as could be learned Mr.. Mcclure made
no reply TO this further than to say that he
would convey what Mr.. Murphy had said TO
! Mr.. Hill, and let him know in Saratoga Just
what could be done.
After these conferences the various leaders
started for Saratoga Ex-senator Murphy.
Mayor Mcclure, Frank Campbell, Senator Nc
| Carren and others went on afternoon trains.
Richard Croker. John WhaIen, Thomas F.
| Smith, Andrew Freedman and other Tammany
men. took the midnight train.
When the report spread that the Croker
Murphy combination offered to leave TO Hill the
naming Of the ticket, little surprise was mani
tested 1t regarded by politicians generally
a shrewd move to place the blame upon
Hill for anything that might happen The belief
was general also that Hill would weaken and
tempted by this alluring prospect throw over
Coler and patch up ticket 10 suit himself. M-
Murphy. Mr.. Mcguire, Mr.. Campbell and Mr.
Croker would not talk about the situation but
/ IL was generally thought last night that when
all Of the leaders gather in Saratoga Hill would
3
Croker know so.
Some OF HiIls friends. however, insisted that
the ex-senator would not go into a conference
with Croker; that he would not compromise:
that he would present ColeTs name 70 the con-
vention and fight for him TO the last ditch even
il the Controller got only fifty votes. This, as
already reported. was not believed by many
who know Hill Hill said leader last even
ing, is regarded by politicians a gutter
He is always flirting and fussing around TO at
tract attention ard win theatric approval but
when pushed UP against a hard fight he quits.
It is believed that he will follow precedent in
this case and drop Coler."
POSITION OF COLER'S FRIENDS
The friends of Mr.. Coler. however. do not in
tend 10 allow Hill 10 quit if they can help it,
William p. Sheehan and others who went into
this fight to help Hill have served notice on him
that II ne quits they through doing his
work forever The friends OF Mr. CoIer intend
that the Controllers name shall be presented TO
the convention. and they warfy watching
for probable treachery. In case Hill turns.
Coler's name viii be presented 10 the conven-
ton BY some one else. they say, although plans
have been made TO have Hill make the nominat-
ing speech
Il was declared yesterday that Senator Nc