New-York tribune., 1901-10-14
CROKER MAKES A DENIAL.
TANTMANY INFERENCES ABOUT DEVERY
FROM IT AND SHEPARD'S SPEECH.

1AhMaN1 INFEkENCES ABOUT DEN Eh1
FROM 1T AND SHEPARD'S SPEECH
Richard Croker broke silence yesterday for
the first time since he returned from Europe
His remarks were prompted by a story printed
yesterday quoting Mr.. Croker as declaring that
II Shepard elected Devery would regard
the success of the Democratic ticket as a vtndi-
cation of himself and offer his resignation to
Mr.. Shepard rather than embarrass the fncOm-
ing administration. Up to this time since he got
back, no matter what has been in the papers.
Croker has kept his tongue in his cheek and
his lips still Yesterday. when he read the arti-
Gle about Devery. he broke forth with COM
plete and absolute denial of the statement.
This denial regarded as all the more
significant owing TO past reticence. Taking Mr..
Croker's sudden denial and bracketing with it
Edward NJ. Shepard's evasion Of the Devery
issue in his Brooklyn speech the POLITICIANS yes
terday declared that Devery had triumphed and
that Tammany had become a tail to the Devery
kite
Tell any Tammany politician. after the speech
made in Brooklyn Saturday night by Mr.
Shepard that the Democratic candidate for
Mayor. il elected. will be independent and re-
move Devery; that he is his own man and that
he is not committed to Tammany. and he will
laugh IN your face. Shepard's past record and
his strenuous assertions that ne intended 10 act
Mayor in an independent manner stilled for
a time those who were inclined to sustain the
assertion made and reiterated by Timothy d.
Sullivan and his associates in the gambling
combine that Shepard was nominated only
after Kings County politicians promised that he
would keep mis- hands off Devery and protect the
gambling syndicate. After the speech made on
Saturday night by Shepard; after his shifty and
palpable evasion of the issue. the Tammany
men now believe that Sullivan and his friends
really did have assurances, and arguments that
that IS incredible do not shake them.
Taking Crokers denial and Shepard's evasion
the politicians generally yesterday declared
that the power of the gambling syndicate had
been proved; that Croker compelled to stand
by Devery. and that Shepard got the nomina-
ton for Mayor only after the gambling com
bine" had been placated. 1t pointed out
that the combine was now in actual control
of the organization and the tickets in the field;
that Croker simply the manager for the
gambling combine" obeying its dictates
This is what the Tammany leaders declare
The Kings County men. the other hand bit
terly deny it. They detest the Tammany or
ganizatiOn. and especially the gambling com
bine" They resisted the effort to "Deveryize''
Brooklyn, and were successful. They assert
that Shepard viii be free and independent. De-
spite this. they not satisfied with Shep-
ard. They wanted him to fay Tammany. They
have made Tammany the point OF attack in
the campaign book. They are abusing Tam
many in the hope that this will win votes for
them In brooklyn They wanted Shepard to
strike at Tammany and Tammany methods in
the hope that this would sOlidify the independ-
ent vote. Shepard's failure to do has had a
disquieting effect upon them. They asking.
IN the same breath that they are announcing
Shepard's Independence. II he has been delivered
to Tammany.
Mr.. Shepard will open headquarters in the
Hoffman House to-day. and he vii spend several
hours each day In Manhattan until after cleo
ton. He will meet the Tammany leaders and
other supporters. and hold daily consultations
about the campaign. John A. Mason. secretary
of the Democratic State Committee. will be in
charge Of the headquarters. and Senator McCar-
rem will represent Kings County there. Neither
Mr.. Croker nor any other of the Tammany lead
ers will be at Shepard's headquarters. Croker
will direct the campaign from Tammany Hail.
He will be there daily. beginning to-day. and IN
the evenings he will be at the Democratic Club.
Croker and the Tammany leaders are getting
ready for rOuSing campaign Despite the frtC-
ton between the Kings County leaders and the
Tammany leaders, each organization is going In
10 win The only TO suffer apparently by
this friction will be Shepard. The head of the
ticket Is much less important to Tammany and
county tickets The result is. is freely
charged, that both Tammany and the McLaugh-
lin machine trading upon the head of the
ticket for support of the county and borough
Offices
The Tammany campaign will be formally
opened in Manhattan next Thursday evening
with a mass meeting held in and around Tam
many Hall Mr.. Croker, who is now supervising
every move that is being made on the political
checkerboard by the Tammany organization.
has directed that this meeting shall surpass any
thing that has heretofore been attempted by the
Tammany organization in behalf of local
ticket.
Mr. Croker, according to his Heutenants. is
taking an interest in the details of this cam
He has given orders in a general way 10 all his
Neutenants to what to do but no new move
of any kind or description is made without its
first being submitted TO him.
The committee of thirty-five which ap-
pointed TO arrange for the big mass meeting
Thursday night. spent most Of Saturday in
working up details IL has been decided 10 have
a large display of fireworks.
All OF the district leaders have not yet been
heard from. Those in the downtown districts,
however. informed the committee that they will
march their constituents TO the hall behind brass
bands
Mr Shepard will make the long speech OF the
evening He will be followed by William W.
Ladd IT, candidate for Controller; George NJ
Van Hoesen, candidate for President Of the
Board of Aldermen: Henry w. Unger. candidate
for District Attorney; Thomas F. Grady.
Thomas c. T. Grain. Congressman Henry NJ
GoIdfogle Congressman William Sulzer, Con-
gresham Amos j. Cummings and congressman
George B. Mcclellan.
Outside of the Wigwam there Will be four big
stands from which speeches will be made