The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-06-24
Tammany Leader Returns From
Europe and Immediately Be
gins an Investigation.
Cl0SETED WITH THE MAYOR.
Rumors of a Violent Quarrel Over
the Ice Trust Scandal
Croker Says Bryan
Will Win.
REPt BLIC SPECIAL.

! New York. june 23.-Richarl Croker just
"A 'rihe older in appearance than when hs
sailed away last January and with an added
/ touch-just tOuch-of gray to streak his
| beard. arrived home on III. Iuc.nia this
| morning 10 take up the heavy burdens that
| attach themselves to the leadership of Tam
| many Hall.
| Neither respite nor reprieve was allowed
Long before the great steamship swung UP
! 10 her pier Mr.. Croker's troubles were upon
| him. His breakfast coffee was permitted to
! cool while he listened 10 the reports made
| ny those of his iieutenants who were first to
1 reach Rim. His morning cigar q fragra MT
weed. grew stale and bitter because of :he
| stories or mistakes and bunders that came
| TO his ears, flterirg through it's smoke.
In manner the returning clIieftain was
urrane. The Gi2nified suavity thar is one
| of his characteristics did not for q moment
| leave him, but as he listened TO the things
! that were told to him his grimness In
| creased. His square jaws were set closer
| together. The lines of his face seemed to
become more tense He STROBE about with a
perceptible limp. but he disdained the sup
J port of cane.
In short. he was the stern forcefuI Gro
| ker who has been dictator within Tam
many's walls for years
MI Croker5 Intentions. as expressed to
/ the reporters. were lightly ysi,ed They
wer" not sufficiently chscured to bode any
thing but evil for the men who have
brought the Tammany organization into
fresh rerroach and by their mistakes jeo-
paroized future Democratic success in this
city and in this State.
He promised numerous and thorough
Investigations. Those who listened to his
words believed them. They expect develop
Nj hn
because they are not To be made in a SEN
satonal manner
1T may be that the failure of the fee crop
JuStiAed the company in raising the price
10 the consumer. Rut 60 cents a hundred Is
an eXorb.taEt price Tor ice. IL is dreadful
1 appreciate the tIctnfulness of the asser-
tion that 10 take ice from the poor Is to in
crease the ceIth rare. This is q matter
lhat must and VIII be thoroughly investi-
gated.
attitude Toward Van wyck.
Mr.. t;okeT's aite.ltion was called to a
remark no had made earlier in the day 10
the eTect that Governor Roosevelt should
remove Mayor Van Wyck IL II could be
established that his connection with the
AmsricHn Ice company was Illegal.
s,,,o nouf iaaslage was pretty strong" was
y, meant II all. Ir. Croker replied. IL
Mayor Van Nyck is guilty. l hope the
Goyernor will remove him.
W nat do YOU mean by guilt"
Ihere can be no reasonable objection to
tie Mayor or any other city official invest
ing IN regular manner in the securities
OF u legitimate corporation. But IL his po-
sltion Is used to force his way into a cor
p2ration he is guilty and should be pun
ished. If his stock came to him simply be-
cause Of his position he should bo punished
III Mayor Van wyck. though hi. ice
mate manner. used his position to increase
the value of that stock by advancing the
price OF Ice. he is, in my opinion. guilty OF
a grave crime. And he is just as guilty If
ne saw the price OF ice being unnecessarily
raised and. having il in his power to stop
1T, did not do so.
IN this case Presumably Mayor Van Wyck
IS innocent II he is guilty. as ! have
pointed out. he should De punished | shall
90 some investigating on my own account"
Van wycks Interview.
Mayor Van Wyck was one of the earliest
callers at the Democratic Club last evening
For more than two hours he was closeted
with MI: Croker During that time all
After the conference the Mayor went I'M
mediately to his home. and the rumor be-
came current that he had had a violent
quarrel with Mr. Croker.
1t is too early for me TO discuss the de-
tails OF the political situation In New York
Croker. in reply 70 a question
Il have never believed in passing criti-
cisrns upon any one without having first
left New York there have been various
attacks made upon Tsmmany Hail. but as
usual. the organization, as whole. has
been cersured because of the alleged mis-
takes of individuals.
'Tammany has been held to be response
BILE for the doings of the so-cailed lee Trust.
Now. wish that YOU would give emphasis
10 the assertion that / am opposed 10 any
organization formed for the purpose OF
Could IT be done. Tammany Hall would
furnish free Ice to the people of this city.
Again Declares fer bryan.
What course do you expect to pursue at
the convention in Kansas city,"
My plans are not arranged. | shall first
inform myself as fully possible concern
ing the situation and Will then let my best
Judgment govern me.
Let me say 10 you that though the Re-
publicans have nominated the strongest
ticket chat they could bring forward they
feat is foreordained The record OF the last
four years stands ou. to damn them.
cKinley represents Republicanism as 1t
is now understood by the leaders of his |
party Roosevelt adds strength to the |
ticket. but not enough to save it from ig |
noIpinious defeat: |
Mr. Bryan will be nominated at Kansas |
City. Some time ago expressed the belief |
that he is the logical leader for the cam |
for reforming that opinion. On the con-
trary. l believe that Mr.. bryan has grown |
in strength. He is now better understood |
by the people. and the mistakes made by /
the Republicans must work to his advaD-
tage.''
"Friends OF Representative suIzer, Dan
Croker, that New York should present the
name of one of them to the convention for |
the nomination for the vice presidency. Do
you approve?
1T certainly would be gratifying" sail
Mr.. Croker. after a moment of study, ito
have the candidate taken from this State
As To its eXpediercy would not like to say
Each of the three gentlemen you have men
TONED is possessed of individual merit. I
presume that this matter viii be discussed
by the New York delegation. and am will
ing 10 abide by the decision of the majori-
ty."
The Great Issuea
What issues do you expect will be made
most prominent during the campaign?" Mr.
Croker was asked.
TRUSTS. l believe, will be made the domi-
nant issue. They should be. Trusts have
by Republican legislation. They are crea-
lures of Republcanism. The Republicans |
must accept responsibility for them. / un-
ierstand that Governor Roosevelt sought to
Trust as a Democratic Organization. 1t Will
not do. 1t may be an exception, but If so |
{ only proves the rule that all trusts lock |
20 the Republicans for protection.
81 wish to turn aside long enough TO say
hat once bought stock in Philadelphia |
ce company. That company was absorbed
oy the Ice Trust, and thus came the op- |
,ortunity to couple my name with the con-
.ern that has been under fire. l testified to
All Of that before the MaZet committee.
Imperialism will demand almost as
much attention from the voters this year
As will the trusts. II this nation has come |
20 the parting of the ways that fact can
not be given too much prominence. The
rhey have prospered and grown strong and
in every way. The attempt to
urn the form of government into that Of
an empire must be thwarted" |
vlx.,t hr FJnx,a oh .;y,-