New-York tribune., 1901-10-15
SHEPARD MEETS CROKER.
THE BOYS" RUB THEIR EYES AS HE
CHATS AND JOKES WITH THEM

CHATS AND JOKES WITH THEM
Edward VI Shepard Tammanv candidate Cor
Mayor: Richard Croker and Deputy Police COM
missioner Bernard J. York held a consultation
covering about fifteen minutes. yesterday after
noon between 4:15 and { 80 O'Clock in Room
No 81. on the second floor of the Hoffman
House. Mr.. shepard's Manhattan headquarters.
Mr. Croker and MI Shepard shook hands
with apparent cordiality. At first only Bernard
]. York and John A. Mason. secretary of the
! State committee were in the room. Mr. Mason
withdrew. and the doors were locked and barred.
and for fifteen minutes the three men were
alone.
At +;30 O'Clock Mayor Van Wyck. John F.
Carroll. William W. I.add 1r and ex-senator
Murphy We're admitted 10 the room. and the
conference was prolonged just fifteen minutes.
Then Mr.. Shepard with beaming face met all
the more prominent Tammany leaders. chatted
and joked with them. received their compli-
ments on his speeches. and heard their predic-
tions of his coming triumph at the polls. Some
Of the Tammany men present who chatted with
Mr.. Shepard were Percival z. Nage. Congress
man Amos ]. Cummings. Health Commissioners
Sexton, Patrick H. keahon NJ. Marley PIatzek.
Correction Commissioner Lantry Park Com
missioner Moebus. Pasquale Caponigri. Coroner
yucca, Charles II. Knox. candidate for justice
of the Supreme Court: Randolph Guggenheimer
haitian. and Wilson. OF Brooklyn; Councilman
Cassidy. of Queens; Nicholas Hayes. Matthew
Donohue and DIR. John H. Girdner-
IT SUITS CROKER
As soon as the conference in the inner once
was over. Mr.. Croker after shaking hands with
a few Of his friends. started away. In the hall
way he was asked by a Tribune reporter If he
was satisfied with the results OF the co1ser-
ence with Mr.. Shepard.
THE interview was satisfactory" replied M.
Croker.
When Mr. Shepard was seen he said:
Il explained the gentlemen OF the press
that I should not talk about my conferences
with any gentleman. and that I should not talk
on politics"
Mr.. Shepard" said one OF the reporters. "the
public is interested in the important things that
may have been agreed upon by you and Mr.
Croker this afternoon We are expected to find
out whether any policy has been agreed upon.
or whether there is any working agreement oe-
tween you and Mr.. Croker"
There was no policy agreed upon-none what
ever The steps so far taken have been purely
of a social nature I have met Mr.. Croker but
once before That was at the Bryan meeting
in Madison Square Garden one year ago
saw him then for only an instant i wanted to
meet the leaders in the organization. and thar
was the object of my coming mere TINS dLtSr~
noon" said Mr. Shepard
The hour between and O'Clock. in which
The Tammany men, including Mr. Croker. who
vas In a nrfvate room waited for Mr.. Shepard.
was trresistfbIy conicaI in many Of It's aspects
II WAS funereal in It's solemnity. Old stagers
like Carroll. Sexton and Cummings sat silently
twirling their thumbs and looking at the cam
paign notices and portraits OF Mr. Snepard-
II coma OF the portraits Mr.. Shepard looks
unusually severe. Just as IL he meant every
word Of IL when in 1897 in referring TO Richard
C,roker's leadership he spoke OF the oe'estsole
da,-iltrv and insolence with which Mr.. Croker
threatens 10 destroy Democratic politics. Thers
was no talking out loud. IL was understood
that Mr. Shepard would be at his new head
quarters at 3 o'clock and all the big Tammany
bo,,s looked ..skeery'' when a football was heard
in the hallway But Shepard did not come
When the suspense grew almost tntoleraoie
some one suggested in stage whisper Guess
his tires busted"
Ona Of the newspa per men tossed note 70 one
of his colleagues and it fell at the feet or Jonh
F. Carroll. who looked asnast "iieh nc ie-
''Is John Dough here?
Then IL was suggested to Commissioner Sex
ton that Mr.. Shepard was delayed because he
might be In search of a brand Of powerful wash
ing novder TO wash out his now famous most
burning and disgraceful blot" Anyway. he did
not come
At 3:4S O'Clock the doorway was nlled oy the
burlv form OF Percy Nagle. followed closely
nv Matt" Donohue Nick Hayes and joe
cassidy. The room was very warm. and re-
norter showed up a window. Health Comrnis-
sforer SEXTON made jump for his hat. the re-
norter closed the window and Mr.. Sexton re-
moved his headgear.
SHEPARD AT LAST.
This was all impressive. perhaps but IL was
not shepard Things went along with funereai
,ranca until Just o'clock. when Deputy Police
-or,roissioner York and Mr.. Mason appeared
with Mr.. shepard who instantly began 10
shake hands with the assembled braves Mr..
sbanard shook hands like ward worker He
,-hisnered and joked and chatted like Queen
:, .ba Nav On being told that the reporters
rantad to see him he stepped into MS confer
.,ca room and seating himself in the midst Of
he scribes. said:
NOW gentlemen. fire ahead.
The reporters had heard the same thing be-
JUST A DAYS JOURNEY