The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-04
NEW YORK LETTER.
THE PLATT AND CROKER MA
CHIMES, ODELL's PROBLEM.
Kidnapping Creating TerrOr-Pass-
ing of the Exchange-Skyscr
How a Horse md a Shovel Made
the Beard Millions.

the Beard Millions.
New York, May 3.-Sift rumors and gos
sip in the political hopper and when the
dust has gotten out of ones eyes, the sit
uation remains but little changed since
last week. The two great machines OPP
Grated by those master mechanics, Platt
and Croker, appear to the eye of the
looker-on in the metropolis as inactive
in so far as the great mayoralty fight is
shop the work of readjusting wheels and
belts is going on in anticipation of the
time when the fires are to be started.
Robert c. Morris, the chairman of the
Republican County Committee, who has
proved himself capable man and an able
chairman, is putting into his work a mar
velous amount of energy, proving his
value as a leader and as an organizer.
The Republican leaders possess the great
est confidence in Chairman Morris, which
goes far in securing results.
In Tammany He'll there is an under
current of dissension. 1t is popularity be-
lieved among the leaders that Richard
Cookers days are numbered and that he
will not return. 1t is not a custom among
the braves to wait until vacancies occur.
They anticipate. Following the rule they
now ask among themselves who is best
fitted to stand in Croker's shoes. Little
Johnnie Whaen, the corporation counsel,
has three ambitions, namely, to be Boss,
Supreme Court judge or mayor. Fat lit
tie Johnnie Carroll has also an ambition.
He wants to be boss. Although the two
Johnnies are cousins, they are not united
in their quest of the high Office of keeper
of the Tsmmany tiger. Both solicit fol-
lowers. John Carroll has more friends
in the arena of good-feIlowship. but each
has about an equal following in the COM
munity of goods" delivered.
Throughout the city the leaders will
have contests at the primaries on their
hands. Thousands of Democrats pro-
pose to fight within their organizatio
and not until the result is ascertained
commit themselves as to their attitude
in the general election. John Sheehan,
as chief organizer and promoter-general
of the Democracy of Greater New York,
and chief organizer and promoter-g general
O'Brien, at the head of the city Democ-
racy. are enrolling independent Demo-
Gratis 10 fight Tammany.
The general concensus OF opinion is I'M
favorable to the selection of a mayoralty
candidate from the legal fraternity. 1t
is argued, and with good reason, that
what the business of the city demands Is
a man of business, and not a hair-split-
ting attorney. Lawyers are generally bad
business men, and what the municipality
needs is a man who has business train
/ < and possesses a broad view of the
requirements of a great banking manu-
featuring and residential seaport.
A few weeks ago I spoke of the ter
rorism the epidemic of kidnapping had
brought to parents. Kidnapping has
become prevalent. The perpetrators have
become bo!der. and mothers are haunted
by day and by night for fear their little
ones will be snatched up and held for
ransom. So bold, indeed have the kid
ma piping miscreants become that the other
day child was snatched from the hands
of it's mother. The man ran, pursued by
the screaming mother for several blocks,
and when captured spoke so piausbly
that the policeman took all parties to the
station house. IL was some hours be-
fore the hysterical parent could prove
herself the childs mother. Among peo-
pie OF small means fear has become a
nervous dread, and even among those
who can employ nurses a vague feeling
of apprehension pervades them. The very
rich people now employ special, armed
guards The Astors and Vanderbits
employ men by day and night to watch
their children and houses.
An important event was the last day In
the old Stock Exchange of Broad, New
and Wall streets. remember the Stock
Exchange when a membership or seat
was valued at $1,000; to-day they bring
So 900, when the building was one-story
building running between Broad and
New. The building was first occupied
IN 1865, it was remodeied in 1871, enlarged
tn 1881. and, In 1857, altered to the condi-
ton 1t now stands. The building will
now be RACED and a great building erected
in its place. The new structure will be
magnificent. The lower floor will be de-
voted to the business of the exchange,
and the upper will be rented as Offices
Temporary quarters have. been engaged
in the Produce Exchange Building. The
new building will be ready May l, 1902
This year will divide the history of
the exchange into two periods the old
and the new. Not only two periods of
men of different generations. but two
eras In commercial wealth. Bearing IN
mind that in 1865 men worth $4,000 were
important and wealthy. and men worth
100000 were verltable kings. and that
a the beginning of 1901 men were reputed
to be worth from $2OOOOO.O0O 10 $500 100000
and a man worth a million was OF no