New-York tribune., 1900-09-18
MR. CROKER ON ICE.

1t is rather late in the day for Richard Croker
to try to lose the Ice Trust. The only result or
his attempt to do so is to reveal more clearly
than ever his discomfort and annoyance over
the plight of Tammany disgraced in the midst
of its antitrust demonstrations by the disclos-
urc of blocks of trust stock in the pockets of its
leaders No pious deacon pulling deck OF
cards with his handkerchief from his coat
pocket at church was ever more confused
than are Mr.. Croker and the Van Wycks at the
revelation of their hypocrisy, and protestations
that some bad boy put the stock in their pocket
or that they were carrying 1t for a friend, or
that they did not know the stuff had anything
TO do with raising prices anyhow, are even less
effective than the deacOn's explanations, for
there is a probability that the deacon is good
man and his innocence has been imposed upon,
while everybody understands perfectly the sort
Of men the heads of the often exposed Tam
many system of corruption, extortion and black
mail are
Mr. Croker's assumption of frank honesty in
buying and selling Ice Trust stock would be
more convincing if it were not belied by Tam
many's betrayal of guilty conscience at Sara
toga. After Mr.. McCarrens brutal and revOlu-
tiorary violation of parliamentary rules to sup
press the mere mention of ice in the State
Convention. it is of little use now for Tammany
10 pTelSuu 10 NlEIuOuS 1udL uuOA1SuL
of panic is beyond recall. The confession is
made and it is no use for the politicians and
officials holding ice stock to disclaim RESPONSE
bility for the operations of the trust or guilty
knowledge of it's plans. in face of their secrecy
in investing, their arrangements to accept the
favor of large loans from the active trust man
ager, and their fight to conceal their connection
with the concern as long as the resources of
clever lawyers would permit
Nor will Mr.. Crokers plea that stockholders
in the Ice Trust are not to blame for it's actions
save his antitrust campaign from the taint of
hypocrisy. The inference from the circum-
stances of the Van \, yck and Croker invest
ments is too clear that they knew and approved
the monOpOllstic plans of the trust by which
their holding of stock was to be made profitable
They were partners on so intimate terms with
the management that the head of the concern
gave some Of them at least the stock for a
mere nominal payment and he is no greenhorn
carrying great loans for politicians just for fun.
Moreover, even If they were not actual partici-
pants in the conspiracy, but merely its bene-
ficiares, yet as political leaders and preachers
they had a duty incompatible with reaping
profits from a trust. Mr.. Croker himself de-
nounceS the Ice Trust, yet he and his friends
have been willing to pocket it's unholy gains.
He is as much to blame for the work of trust
directors from which he consents to profit as
he and Mr. York would be to blame for the
dives of this town. even though they did not
manage them, If they accepted from the man
ayers percentage of their gains. Mr.. Croker
cannot escape his>responsibility. 1t may do for
men who believe in trusts to invest in them and
draw dividends from them but the man who de-
nOunces them while sharing in the proceeds of
their plunder cannot convince anybody of his
sincerity.
The lightning change campaign artists of
New-YOrk would better make another shift Free
silver is played out, and they dare not mention
it. Anti-imperialism is played out and laid
aside. Mr.. Croker and Mr.. Stanchfield have
thought to make last stand on the trust issue
but the more they talk about it the more they
publish the hypocrisy of their party and make
it ridiculous