New-York tribune., 1901-09-16
CROKER AGAINST COLER?
SURPRISE AT THE SECRET
SCHEME TO CAPTURE c.. U.
COMMITTEE OF EIGHTEEN MAY MAKE
ZIP AN ENTIRELY NEW LIST OF
NAMES FOR SUBMISSION TO
GENERAL CONFERENCE.


Many politicians in this city were surprised
Yesterday when they read in The Tribune the
report of the secret move of Tammany and
prooklyn Democratic leaders to capture a ma
,orfty Of the Citizens Union district organiza-
lions for Controller Coler. When they made in
ouiries the politicians learned that there was
good reason 10 believe that followers of Richard
Croker In Manhattan and The Bronx and follow
ers of Hugh Mclaughlin in Brooklyn had man.
ssed to secure control of a sufficient number Of
Assembly district organizations of the Citizens
Union TO make g troublesome diversion in Mr.
Colers favor.
Several leaders of the anti-Tammany forces
said yesterday that they believed Controller
Coler had been encouraging the movement, while
flirting with Tammany and keeping in position
where he could accept a regular Democratic
nomination for Mayor If il could be secured for
him One of the most prominent and best in
formed of the leaders said yesterday to Trib-
une reporter:
Il believe that Mr.. Coler has been playing a
deep game of politics. coached by his crafty
Democratic advisers Hugh Mclaughlin and
David B. HILL He has wanted force his
nomination for Mayor the regular Demo-
cratic ticket by gaining a majority support OF
the Citizens Union organizations. or. failing. to
get Crokers consent to his nomination. TO
cure the anti-Tammany nomination. believe
that Mr. Coler has maintained his position until
Croker's return in the belief that Croker would
allow him TO be the regular Democratic candi-
date. Certain Tammany leaders have been en-
couraging the Controller in that hope and have
been aiding him to secure control of Citizens
Union organizations in strong Tammany dis
uicts.
Il have been informed to-day that Croker has
put his foot down hard and has declared that
Tammany will not have Coler as it's candidate
on any conditions. The Controller. 1 under
stand. has been informed of Croker's attitude.
and has determined TO come out squarely as an
anti-Tammany candidate He may declare
himself tomorrow on that point, either in a
letter or in an interview. His friends In GER
tain Citizens Union district organizations are
relied upon TO carry the Citizens Union Con-
vention for him in spite of the decision Of the
snti-Tammany conference.
MADE IMPOSSIBLE BY HIS OWN ACTION"
Il do not believe that Mr. Coler will succeed
In disrupting the anti-Tammany forces and his
nomination the anti-Tammany candidate for
Mayor has been made impossible by his own
action in trying to ride two horses at the same
time. The Citizens Union leaders who We're at
one time much in favor of Mr.. Coler a
ddate for Mayor have decided that he could
not be trusted"
Mr.. Coler said last night that he had no inten-
ton Of writing letter giving interview
as to his position a possible candidate for
Mayor My position is the it has
&en." he said, "and / am not talking about
pdtics."
Richard Croker declined to talk to newspaper
men last evening about Mr.. Coler. He refused
10 define his position as to the Controller Sew
ersl Tammany leaders, taking their from
Mr. Croker, declared that nothing could be said
at this time about Mr. Colers possible can
didscy.
Well informed politicians said last evening
that they had absolute knowledge that Tam
many workers had been joining Citizen Union
organizations in Assembly districts which
Tammany strongholds and Tammany leaders
In those districts have been reported TO have
encouraged the formation of some of the or
CARNATIONS. In some cases the Tammany lead
ers reported TO have paid the expense of
fitting up Citizen Union district headquarters.
Among the district organizations of the Citi-
zens Union in Manhattan which have Tammany
workers among their numbers are those in the
Id Ivth. With, Xth. XIIth and XIvth AS
sembly districts. The chairrnen of those district
organizations have signed letter addressed to
the committee of eighteen appointed by the
snti-Tammany conference to recommend a
candidate for Mayor. The letter makes no men,
ton Of Mr.. Coler, but urges consideration of
Captain F. Norton Goddard the Republican
leader In the XNth District. a candidate for
Mayor, saying of him:
His excellent standing as business man. his
careful and sympathetic study of the social prob,
iens OF the city his close touch with the needs or
enS af eoe gT al, AL @ beSye I ba1 an bs eand
he ed wi enthusiasm
pie, and if elected his administration will be lib
efai' intelligent and progressive.
VIEWS OF SENATOR. PLATT.
Senator Patt said at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
last evening that he had no choice for the NOM
nation of fusion candidate for Mayor, but he
hoped there would be a complete fusion ticket
sno that il would be successful. When he was
ssked about a report that he favored the NOM
nation Of Edward NJ Knox for Mayor he said
ae thought Colonel Knox would make a strong
candidate. but he was not for him more than for
my other good man. The Senator added that
ne still thought an independent Democrat would
Hake the strongest candidate this year.
am going TO Washington Tomorrow he
continued. "and / will remain there until after
Mr. MeKinley's funeral do not know who IS
1ost likely TO be nominated for Mayor by the
shd-Tammany forces
Lieutenant-Governor Woodruff had a talk with
senator Platt yesterday afternoon, and later
''io ne expected to attend the session Of the
committee of eighteen this afternoon. Mr..
woodruff had heard of the plan 10 stampede the
eitsens Union convention for Controller Coler,
sao ne said he hoped the plan would not
.eeo- IL has been supposed that Mr.. Woodruff
.ouid be strong advocate of the nomination
y eeth Low. but he said yesterday afternoon
ast ne Gid not know what candidate would be
recommended by the committee Of eighteen.
ne committee will begin its session at the
Aeaoquarters OF the Citizens Union in Union
sVudre at D. m. TODAY and II NAV continue