The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-10-05

Croker himself does not wear evening
dress, as a rule He sits in one of the
big leather-covered arn-chairs or on the
circular sofa. and listens closely and at
tentively 10 whatever HIS interviewer has
TO say. He either smokes or holds an un-
lighted cigar between HIS teeth. his hands
are in the pockets of his trousers, and
occasionally he interrupts with a short
question or an impatient gesture. What
the topic is upon which he is receiving
a report or what instructions he gives
no one knows, for when Croker is In the
'red-parlor" talking every one withdraws
from il entirely. or goes to a remote
corner, where nothing can be heard Gc-
casionslly his private secretary will come
in, hand him a telegram or note receive
his instruction in whispers. and with
draw. Then Keller might walk In. say
something TO Croker, and the audience"
comes to an end. 1t was only the other
night that both Mayor Van Wyck and
Deputy Police Commissioner Devery sat
for while in the red parlor," appar-
emily anxious TO have a talk with the
Chief, and that neither OF them re-
ceived more than a nod and How are
YOU?
While Croker occupies the red parlor'
Messrs. CoOgan. Sulzer. Oliver u. =. Bel
mont. Asa Bird Gardiner Tax Commits
sioner FeitneT. Justice Bolte. Congress-
man Creamer, and a few more shining
lights sit around in the adjoining room.
talking in whispers. smoking, and watch
ing the Chief" They are an interest
ing group. Mr. COOaan. for example
looks very much fatigIed. even TO such
an extent that every time he wants 10
relight his cigar he calls for a servant to
strike match for him. Col. Gardiner ap-
parently has only one subject 10 talk up
on To x-~fT1 LII.
fact that q man like Justice Jerome or
Recorder Golf should be taken seriously.
Mr.. Belmont. seated comfortably IN
big arm chair, listens with an air Of be-
ing bored to death. smoking g0ld-tipped
Turkish cigarettes, without ever saving
one word It is Congressman Sulzer.
however, who always seems occupied
with the fancy that he has to fight the
battles of the "peopul." And once en-
individual has been careless enough 10
seat himself near the congressman. Mr.
SulZer begins to talk fuently, often tax
ing hold Of the coat-lapei Of his victim,
& I'D stopping his flow Of language only
from sheer exhaustion. CT when called
upon by the chief"
In the wine-T0Om servants are ever
busy. There Democracy reigns supreme.
Every one drinks and smokes and mixes
at the tables at haphszaTd. justice Of
the supreme court is elbowing a police
man on one side, a saiOon-keeper on the
other: at the same table are Bin. the
button man." a trainer OF horses. and
perhaps a lawyer Of bright or Of shady
reputation. There are TO be seen Assist
ant District Attorney Osborne and his
friend GOrdon-neither OF whom drinks
anything stronger than Apollinaris water.
There is Promising John" Whalen. the
corporation counsel And leaning 20 the
wan all by. himself stands the thin fg-
are of Justice Dugro. Everybody talks
as loud as he chooses. and everybody
keeps an eye on the persons who are
summoned ito gee the Chief Here they
discuss states and platforms until some
one saws impatieutly; " hats the use
OF talking about this or that2 Let's
wait and see what the Chief thinks: DE
knows best.
Most OF the persons who congTegate IN /
the vine-room cannot free themselves en-
-irely from the treating habit acquired IN l
the various LIQUOR stores. ard & r. 2 com /
non occurrence that one SAYS; Wen. /
boys. whatn YOU have on meg Neither 1
80 many members avail themselves Of /
the club privilege % having drinks and /
.igars consumed by them charged 20 tfeir 4
accounts. they ray spot cash. display /
ng fat rolls" ard tipping the servants 1
very literally.