New-York tribune., 1901-09-19
CROKER IN DANGER.
LEA DERSHIP I,HRE'A TENED BY
VICE PROTECTORS.
TIN" SULLIVAN'S GROWING POWER
MENANCES THE BOSS.


Richard Croker is face to face with a condi-
.tion in his own organization which threatens his
leadership. The boss has always been so abso-
slute that his slightest nod obeyed. The re
ssut of the primaries Tuesday demonstrated
that Croker can no longer make or break leaders,
lat will. He drove John c. Sheehan from the
leadership in the IXth District because SheehanI
Twas personally unpopular i'm the organization.
land the rank and file wanted Sheehan drivenI
.out. It different situation. however, when|
he tried to keep Diver in the I'D and TO drive
Hopper out of the XXXIst. In trying to save
Diver he went against Timothy u. SULLIVAN
the leader in the With sullivan. aside fromI
sCroker is the most powerful leader In the or
lganiZation. and far and away the most indie
pendent Sullivan has made the boast that it isl
easy to get votes for Sullivan in the With butt
hard To get them for Croker. Sullivan is thel
absolute and unquestioned master on the Eas
,Side. He had a little falling out with Diver
land decided that Diver must go. Croker wanted
'DiVVer retained. This made no difference wlihI
sullivan. If Croker ready % take ms
lDivveRs fight we'll and good; Sullivan "asi
ready Croker wisely decided to refrain from.
placing himself in a position where he would bel
.discredited. Despite this, he worked hard forl
.Divver but without success. Sullivan and Foleyi
literally drove Diver out of the district. and
to- day there is standard in Tammany
the fortunes Of Sullivan. and Croker
has lost powerful ally.
In the XXXIst District Hopper. personally dis
tasteful to Croker, was slated TO go. Welde, FL
II. Levey and Crokers own partner. Peter ]
Meyer, were sent out to overthrow Hopper
Hopper by a handsome majority and it cau'
.be said that he will be against Croker when
ever there is any organized revolt.
CROKER's POWER GOING.
Things have been happening in Tammany Halls
since Croker went away ten months ago Hs'
spower is disintegrating. Men who used TO obey
:his slightest nod now argue with him. Leaders.
lwho never questioned his mandate treat
hls requests contemptuously, and Sullivan is the
most insolent of all. Sullivan is impregnable in;
ibis own district, and his power is growing. II
lhas following in the organization that CrokeTj
docs not dare 20 affront. Sullivan's word is laws
tat Police Headquarters, and even Croker cannot:
.controvert it. Sullivan and all the ramificationsh
!of his combine behind Devery. and that is:
swhy Devery is to stay. Croker personally it isl
abeeved would like to oust Devery, but ne does;
not dare He must stand for' Devery or facei
sullivan and his followers, and Croker knows hes
lis strong enough to do that.
The growing power of Sullivan in Tammanys
shas been source of worry to Croker for a long
stime. Sullivan is of independent and fear
Hess disposition. He talks to Croker in a wayf
that other Tammany leader dares TO, andS
she has frequently fatty refused to obey Croker. 7
sWhen Croker appointed his famous purfcatonS
committee of five Sullivan said to Croker I
Boss. them fellows have got to stay out of mys
district or there will be trouble" Them fel-
ilows' stayed out Of Sullivan's district
It is interesting to note the way Sullivan sk
gpower has grown. The With District is bigs
nj
.solute. There is a saloon in the district
(which does work in his interest, and hes
personally selects the who shall be EN- \
.ployed in the various saloons. In every pool
sroom gambling house and disorderly resort thel
semployes are men named by Sullivan and musts
sbe taken by the proprietor. These men alonea
humber hundreds and give Sullivan a big fol- y
sIowing He has cultivated friendship with lead Il
sers of adjacent districts upon reciprocal baslss
land to-day his combine south of Fourteenth-sts
lis impregnable. Engel, Foley and Sullivan alIE
work together. The ramifications of Sullivan 81
combine however, extend beyond Fourteenth /
fst in the uptown district. Hopper is not op
sposed to Croker for the that Sulli-
ivan is Hopper is not a protector of gamblers,
thugs and criminals. He is cleaner kind of al
Header. but in fight against Croker he wouldI
sprobably ally himself with Sullivan to bring1
sabout Croker's downfall.
The other leaders that Sullivan can look tol
sare numerous. Nagle and Croker are none tool
Friendly now. Nagle is, like Sullivan in his rela-
Htion toward gamblers and criminals and is natu
rally with Sullivan. Lantry. Kearon. Oakley andI
Eothers are allied with Sullivan against Croker.
added to this is the fact that Carroll. Sexton.
EScannell, Van Wyck and others are ready forI
revolt It was summed UP yesterday by Div
.ver who. commenting upon his defeat in theI
Hid District, said
IT will be Croker's turn next. This was not
Continued fifth page.
On account of the very large business TO thes