The sun., 1901-12-04
RICHARD CROKER IS A JOKER.
TALKS NOW or LEAVING LEAD
ERSHIP TO YOUNGER MEN.
Going 70 Europe for SIX Msntis. but Won't
Lei Go q wlgwAm Finances "Un-
less Am kici<ed Out"-Has Had That
Tired Feeling Before In Days Of Defeat.


Richard Croker Is a joker. Three years
aRo he made the announcement: i shall
never resign the leadership Of Tammany
Hall as long as | am alive
Mr. Croker took little or no part In the
municipal election Of is0+. when Col. Strong
was made Mayor OF New York city. He
saw tho handwriting on the wall In 1909
he was absent in Europe during the na-
tional campaign which involved the Presi-
dental election. He did not once put
foot In New York in that campaign. In
1897, when his fortunes were at low tide he
returned from Europe. wrested the nom
insl leadership from John c. Sheehan
and nominated his own city ticket. That
was an easy battle to win for the reason
that there were practically two Republican
candidates in the field for Mayor, In
1893, with his Brooklyn friends, he insisted
upon the nomination OF Augustus Van
Wyck for Governor. although his brother.
Robert Van wyck, was Mayor Of New York.
Mr.. Croker knew very well then that the
State would not make the brother OF the
Mayor Of the city Governor.
In 1900 Mr.. Croker was absent most OF
the time In Europe. In 1900 he turned up
az tnt huIhds Wy NOHNcbhiOis'
Hill and raised the old boy generally. He
told his friends that Bryan would carry
New York State, and the Hon. Gum
Shoe Bill Stone Of Missouri, who gobblcd
and guzzled at the Hoffman House during
that campaign. lost many dollars betting
on Crokcr's statement that Bryan would
carry New York county by $4,000 plurality.
A week ago Mr.. Croker issued state
rnent calling on all Democrats in the State
of New York to fall on each others neck
and shout Harmony" Mr.. Croker talked
harmony in thirteen different ways. and
more harmony II wanted. Mr.. Hill was In
Washington: he didn't pay any attention
TO Mr.. Croker's call for harmony. Mr.. Hills
friends said last night at the Hoffman House
that 1t would be very cold afternoon
when Mr.. Hill, lieutenant OF Samuel D.
Tilden. Iieutenant-Governor OF the state.
Governor OF the State for nearly ten years,
United States Senate for six years, could
| Q eliminated from any proposed programme
Of harmony, especially when II involved
the name OF Edward NJ shepard who from
tho start n dozen years ago has been the
bitter personal and political enemy Of Hill
Mr.. Croker talked yesterday about re-
firing as the leader OF Tammany Hall;
He also confessed that he and Mr.. Shepard
read those resolutions submitted at the
Democratic caucus of Congressman in
Washington the Other Gay wherein mi
Shepard and Mr.. Croker and their friencs
mapped out a programme for the national
Democracy: vet Mr.. Croker said that he
was going to Europe for six months. that
he needed recreation. and all that sort
of thing, and that younger men were TO
take his place.
But il should always be remembered
that Mr.. Croker believes he is still on earth:
that he has been leader Of Tammany Hall
for sixteen years and has met with only
two severe defeats.
Mr. Croker Is quoted as laying his de-
feat 10 the newspapers. II was said last
night that II he and his clique In Tammany
had not furnished the Ammunition the
newspapers would not have done the dam
are