The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-20
BOSS CROKER AT FRENCH LICK.

Richard Croker's visit to French Lick
seems to have had upon his mind somewhat
the effect Of a new sensation. Perhaps it is
the first time he ever fully realized that a
large part of the United States lies west of
New York city and Tammany Hall. His
travels have been mostly in the opposite
direction. If the French Lick water has
had as remarkable an effect on his physical
condition as it seems to have had on his
mental his visit may give him a new lease
of life, for, from an Intellectual point of
view, Mr.. Croker never took himself as
seriously as he has done during his stay at
French Lick. In New York, where mis- foot
is on his native heath, as it were, and
where he hunts the tiger in it's lair, he Is
content with the role of Tammany boss
and head of the greatest scheme of munich
pal corruption ever organized. AS grand
almoner of official patronage and chief
beneficiary Of a general system Of munich
pal robbery and blackmail, he has been
satisfied to hold his followers in line and
pocket his profits without bothering about
outside politics. except when an opportu-
nifty offered of controlling a nomination or
appointment in his own interest. But at
French Lick he opened out as a statesman.
The water seems TO have caused the feeble
germ of intellect in his stupid and stolid
nature to move sufficiently to heget a new
emotion and to make him think he was
actually capable of grasping ideas relat-
ing to public affairs. He talked about
trusts and the attitude Of parties toward
them as if he actually knew something
about them beyond levying tribute on them.
When asked what he thought was the
greatest evil Of the Republican party he
said: THE party's support of the trusts.
There is little doubt in my mind that this
country will be ruined if they are not sup
pressed. The common people, who make up
the Democratic party. cannot live under the
tyrannical rule of the trusts, and the
masses of the Republican party are affected
likewise. The Democratic party is against
trusts. and the decisive stand it has taken
in this regard will be its salvation" The
force of this statement lies in its oracular-
ness. Some persons who discuss trusts.
especially those who do so from an eco
nomic or constitutional point of view. think
it worth while TO cite instances and author
tiles. or to fortify their with
some evidence of knowledge on the sub
ject. Mr.. Croker disdains to do anything of
the kind. Without offering any argument
he simply states the conclusions which his
original and creative mind has reached un-
der the influence Of French Lick water.
"Delenda est Carthage" Carthage must be
destroyed. said an ancient orator. TRUSTS
must be suppressed" says the Tammany
boss, and in their suppression he sees the
sure overthrow OF the Republican party
and the salvation OF the Democratic party.
So complete a mastery OF a great and diff
fcult problem. and so clear a perception OF
the way TO its solution could only have
been achieved by a great philosophic In
tellect trained I'm the school OF Tammany
and clarified by the influence OF a health
giving water.
But because Mr.. Croker has broken into
the field OF national politics and begun 70
pose as a statesman It must not be sup
posed hat he intends TO abjure municipal