Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-07-24

be as bluff and blunt as any Henry
XIII. He can follow policy and In
trigue like Louis XII, or he can
charge as recklessly as any Bull Bur
gundy--think in the saddle, and carry
decision on the point Of his sword.
Croker is an expert of the mask; he
can feign feeling or pretend a
thought. And he does both when deaf
ing with his friends.
80
Once, on the evening Of reception
to Croker, when hundreds thronged
the Democratic club, among them men
of money, and others who had filled
the highest places of State, and all
beamingly. bowingly, scrapingly gra-
cious to the Chief, to point that
might sieken self-respect, Croker said
to me:
"of course, one must understand
. these people. They are here for their
interest, and TO gain their points.
Many of them would leave the party,
and assail me. the moment 1t served
their turns. Three of five who are
here would do both. The others you
could back on, fair weather or foul
you could so to war and depend on
them. They have principles"
Richard Croker knows his men, and
finds and matches his men, cores
ponds with his environment and fts 1t
to him like coat; accommodates him
self to his times, as MachiYeili says
one must; dovetails with events as
they transpire. In seeming ever frank,
he is as close-loeked as the grave; ap-
parently reed for graceful pliancy,
he is as blendless as the oak. never
hearing, he is all ears; never seeing,
he owns the eyes of Argus; never
knowing, he has the story OF every man
and fact at fingers end; innocent, he Is
a fox for policy, timid, he Is as for
midable as a bear; slow, he Ia rs swift
to smite as a bolt from above kesitat-
ing, he is as prompt as a flash light;
careless, he is as accurate as rapier'
and of things, for things, by things
political he is never when h0r where
nor what one anticipates. Also. with
a genius to be military--doubtless de-
rived from Cromwellian fathers-no
matter how a war may roll. Croker is
ever moving and pushing toward the
high ground. His secret of MASTER
ship when one has added the rest,
would seem to lie in that thought or
Machiavelli, of profound talent OF
accommodation and correspondence
with his times.
Richard Croker, when meeting men of
assured position. political, social or nm
ancal, brings to his countenance deal
of dignity and reserve. There is cour-
tesy but nothing of impulsiye affabll-
ity. Croker never fatter3; by the same
word, 6attery of Croker Is waste OF
time. There are no fences or
detenses about Croker, All who have
a wish or occasion to meet him are ut
once received. And the weak and the
poor, and those in the fangs of some
distress. have ever the better reception.
Such touch Croker nearly; they recruit
10 their aid his quickest sympathy; he
brings them closer to him than any
who, pompus, safe and self-approved,
comes with hands of power and brows
OF consequence. One day he said:
Were | driven to name what | regard
most to my credit, 1t would be that,
during the sixteen years I've been at
the head of Tammany Hail. every man,
rich or poor, small or great, who want
ed to see me, did see me, and was list
ened to. And when | could. l helped
him. l wouldn't want a better cpl
taph."
Croker is tolerant OF the young and
will forgive error or mistake where
youth or inexperience plead in its ex-
cuse This tolerant tenderness doesn't
extend itself in any wrong action of an
the Democrats of the Legislature be-
haved badly One gray Senator was pc
culiarly weighed In the balance of those
events and found wanting. It was a
good week later when he met Croker.
The latter regarded the dereliet with
brow both untoward and bleak.
You did nicely" observed Croker. in
tones none the less indurated for being
unsteady low; you did nicely up at
Albany. The Republicans made you
done as we'll If you'd stayed at home"
What could | do?" asked the other
appealingly, spreading his hands.
Why, nothing, Of course" replied
Croker Il didn't knew that when you
were sent there, but know 1t now
1t was the death sentence. Both un-
dcIsboou ~. hoS Slol~Shoh NUN I 6O
back
Once Croker talked OF the follies OF
rage. One should never fail TO con-
troll ones temper" said he. I've done
that from the first. No man ever saw
me angry. You have learned
the alphabet of conquest when you nave
learned TO avoid wrath.
He was once asked:
What is the underlying fundamental
law Of the universe?"
Sir said Croker, speaking with
great gravity, the law is that although
wrong doing may endure for a season,
right must, in the long run, come to the
top. Human nature is not built so that
roguery can last Honest men must
come to their own. no matter what the
odds against them. There is nothing
surer than that. Calumny and thievlng
may have their day, but they will pass.
Nothing can last but truth.
If you put ten honest men into an as
sembly with ninety thieves. human na
ture is such that the ten honest men
will control the ninety thieves. They
must do it. II is the law OF the world.
Evil, by its noture. cannot last.
Tammany from the first has stood for
tho rights of man rather than the Driy-