New-York tribune., 1900-05-28
CROKER IN BRYAN'S CAMP.
TAMMANY DELEGATES TO BE IN
STRUCTED FOR THE SILVER MAN
SIGNIFICANT STATEMENTS BY THE HEAD
OF THE WIGWAM AND JOHN F. CAR
ROLL-HILL'S FRIENDS TROUBLED.

ROI,l-H1ILS FRIENDS TROUBLED.
Richard Croker after mature deliberation and
consultation with various Democratic leaders,
has moved into the Bryan camp, bag and bag
gage, and now urges sending instructed dele
cation for Bryan to the Kansas City Conven-
tion. Tammany will follow him to a man. Mr..
Croker is in control of the State machinery,
and it is safe to say. politicians declare. that he
will deliver the entire State delegation to the
silver man at Kansas City. Mr.. Croker upon
his return from Europe the last time, said some
kind things about Mr. Bryan, and in tentative
way declared for his denomination. This
always taken with a grain of salt and wise poll
ticians said that Mr. Croker made that state
ment for political eXpediency and that he was
only searching for some way to compass the de-
feat of Mr.. Bryan.
When the State Committee met at the Ioff-
man House. after Mr.. Croker's return upon that
occasion, Mr.. Croker favored and ex-senator
Hill opposed the adoption of resolution recog-
nizng Mr. Bryan as the National leader of the
party The argument bitter. Up to that
time it supposed that Hill dominated the
State Committee, but when it came to counting
noses the resolution passed; Hill
quished and Croker was in control of the State
Committee and State leader. while Hill
baffled and beaten.
Since that time matters allowed to drift
in a way until last week. when ex-senator HILL
ex-senator Murphy, Frank Campbell. chairman
of the State Committee. and Elliot Danforth
came down to consult with the Kings County
and Tammany about plans for the State
Convention which is to be held in this city
June s. Mr.. Hill outlined what he wanted, and
the Tammany and Kings County men apparently
approved Not word was put in for Mr.. Gro
ker. The only upset IN the proposition of
the Kings County delegation to send Augustus
Van Wyck a delegate at large to the con-
vention at Kansas City, to which Mr.. Hill pro-
tested. The Tammany and Kings County men
insisted, and Hill practically defed them He
said that Van Wyck's antitrust speech didn't
fit in well with subsequent developments about
his alleged holdings of stock in the Ice Trust
and that to make him prominent in the cam
paign would be to furnish the opposition de-
structive ammunition. The matter was finally
left in allegiance. to be settled by the State Com
mittee when it meets here on the night of June
to make final plans for the State Convention
Mr. Hill went back to Albany, serenely believ-
ing that he was to be allowed to run things, and
the Tammany men waited for word from the
other side, as full particulars of all that oc-
Cured were conveyed to Mr.. Croker
WHAT 1T MAY MEAN TO HILL.
Mr. Croker made his views known yesterday,
and politicians said that in the attitude Of Mr.
Croker could be read inplacable antagonism to
Mr. Hill and the defeat of the Wolferts Roost
statesman. Mr.. Croker's sudden move into the
Bryan camp came like bolt of lightning to
ex-senator Hill and his friends, and left them
utterly at sea. 1T stripped Mr.. Hill and his
followers of any power to act. and upset and
shattered all plans" said a leader. 1T clnched
Mr.. Croker's hold upon the State organization.
made him the logical representative of the Ma
tional organization in the State, and ostraczes
Hill and deposes him from any post of leader
ship"
Mr. Hill has admitted that Bryan would be
nominated. but he has urged the sending of
nninstructed delegation to Kansas City He has
advocated this not because he hoped to form
combination to defeat Bryan. but to have
power to use in fighting for the adoption of a
conservative platform. He believed that Mr..
Croker and Tammany agreed with him. Hills
attitude upon this question was made perfectly
plain to Mr.. Bryan and his followers, thereby
marking him. his opponents say, an enemy
of the National organization. Had 1T not been
for Mr., Croker's declaration he would have been
looked upon by the National organization. poll
ticfans said. as Hilrs ally Mr.. Croker however
came out in an interview in The NewYork
Journal yesterday and said
w J. Bryan will be elected as sure as fate.
and a very good thing, too. Why, w. J. Bryan
will defeat Mr.. Mckinley in his own State of
Ohio the last fall election, although his two
opponents had a plurality of 10000 votes over
the number that carried the Republican ticket.
Since then things have gone steadily worse for
Mckinley in Ohio 1t is State in which the
German vote is very strong and German Re
pubcans naturally sympathiZe very intensely
with the Dutch Republicans OF South Africa,
who are in arms against Mr.. McKinleys i'm
perialiStic friends.
That is not the only thing in which Mr. Nc
Kiney's position has changed for the worse in
Ohio. There strikes and end of other
tiOnS. which to
1T moral certainty that w. j. Bryan will sweep
Ohio at the next election; and when he does,
then goodby to Mr. Mckinley. If he carries
Ohio he carry anything.
Then you a convinced Bryanite, Mr.
Croker?"
Il am for w. ]. Bryan" said Mr.. Croker
The newspapers have been putting about the
story that l against him. 1t is not true; it
is the very contrary Of true.
Il am for w. j. Bryan with my whole heart
He is far and away the ablest man that we
have got in American politics this day. He is
a wonderful man. There is no man to compare
with him anywhere or TO put alongside of him.
He is fine character, man of high principle
and of tremendous energy.
Mark my words, when w. ]. Bryan is elected
he will work eighteen hours a day in order to
carry out in spirit and in letter every plank in
the Democratic platform. Hitherto other men
have regarded the platform drawn up at their
convention as a ladder on which they mount to
power and which they kick down as soon as
they get TO the top Mr.. Bryan is not a man
of that sort He does not want to be elected for
purposes of vainglory and love Of position He
thinks, and l agree with him, that if he is
elected he will do his country good He will be
able to the people, and he will be a
governing President, not mere lay figure
whose movements are governed by wire puIlers
He is a man of conviction.
Il tell you there ,os is no I'm. man / have known
and esteem than for w. ]. Bryan"
A STATEMENT FROM MR.. CARROLL
Mr.. Croker has been in communication with