New-York tribune., 1900-10-24
BRYAN AND TAMKANT.

Evidence is accumulating fast that Mr.. Bryan
did his cause far more harm than good when he
put himself nnreservedly into the hands of
Croker on his recent visit to this city, and in
his most emphatic manner declared his ardent
admiration for Tammany and its master. Not
alone in parts of New-York State lying beyond
Croker's present Jurisdiction, but throughout the
country Democrats are manifesting disapproval
of the close alliance which their candidate for
President has gratefully proclaimed. Two years
ago the nomination OF Augustus Van Wyck for
Governor was generally interpreted as signify
ing a keen desire on the part of Croker to ex-
tend the Tammany system and his own per
sonal ascendancy over the whole Common
wealth, and many citizens of other States who
could not be Immediately affected by the re-
suit Of that election were disturbed by the
possibility that the sway of an organization
which they fear and dislike might be so in
creased. In this State that feeling of appre-
hension was, of course, much stronger. Whether
or not it was powerful enough to control the
choice of a Governor cannot be determined but
nobody has ever doubted that it cost the
Mayors brother a large number of votes. 1t
is not surprising that Mr. Stanchfeld thought
it worth while to declare on the evening of
the Bryan demonstration that in case Of his
election the State government would not be
carried on from Fourteenth Street
few weeks ago fair minded opponents of
Mr.. Bryan might have hesitated to accuse him
of maintaining close relations with Tammany
They might have said that Croker accepted
the Bryan programme at Kansas City for his
own purposes, and that the candidate was not
committed by anything that occurred there to
a policy Of reciprocal promotion. He would
naturally enough be glad of all the votes that
he would not stoop to conquer by displaying
devotion and gratitude to the Tammany organ
ization and its ruler. If such was the recent
feeling Of persons OF sensitive conscience, to
whom Tammany Hall is odious, their scruples
have now been removed by Mr.. Bryan him
self. He has taken pains to associate his per
son and his candidacy famiIiarly and conspicu-
ously with the system under which New-York
is plundered and disgraced and with the man
by whom that system is directed. Henceforth
there can be no lack of charity in denouncing
Mr. Bryan as the Tammany candidate with all
that that implies If he should be elected
Croker is the man whom above all he would
delight to honor. He finds nothing to condemn
in the government of this city or in its rulers
avowed policy of working for his own pocket
all the time The two men are congenial. It
would be agreeable to Mr. Bryan to see Croker's
influence and authority spread through the
State and to be instrumental in making him a
power in National affairs.
This is a consideration which, forced into
the campaign by Mr.. Bryan himself, many
Democrats as we'll as Republicans in this State
and elsewhere are taking into serious account
during these closing weeks of the campaign.
If the candidate does not comprehend that
fact, so much the worse for his character and
his political fortunes