The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-11-10
CROKER AND TAMMANY HALL.
m Power OF the BoS Fatally weekeneo
nv HE lloss Of Patronage.

To THE EDIroR OF TIL SUs-Sfr: The
report that Croker Will now retire from
the leadership OF Tammany Hall and sur
render its control to other hands Is secuted
by him. but II Is not intrinsically improoaoie:
IL Is credible his retirement may De iorceo
by the district leaders he led 70 defeat' out
the story that he would or could delegate
his authority to the one OF his lieutenants
who was most conspicuously Responsible
for the nomination Of the defeated and dis
credited Tammany county candidates 10
most BILE, as Is also the suggestion
that Tammany would prefer TO suffer deieat
under Cookers leadership than to put itse'i
under another chieftain or chieftains more
likely to retrieve it, present misfortunes.
IL is pointed out that John Kelly. Crokers
preceptor and predecessor, suffered nothing
within Tammany from successive defeats
They did not deprive him OF histenaclous
hold on the organization. but further strength
ened IL. so that II was said OF him that' "ha'-
ever might be the measure OF his influence
In the hours OF Tammany victory. he was IN
vincible In defeat. But In one salient par
ticular there Is an essential difference oetWeeh
the leadership Of Kelly and OF Croker. keliy'
though he surrounded himself with Assembly
district or ward district leaders. invoked
always the supper OF moral forces by nom.
mating many candidates whose personal
rectitude in private life and capable pH6no
service won Tor them the support Deho
project. sqa dSefeate% Ts%mSny Tickets;
but MIR. Kelly retained a large measure OF
pu6lic respect Moreover. during ms fS.,vs
to be found at his post Of duty end was always
indefstigable In serving the interests OF
Tammany. within his lights lie carried
his devotion TO the verge Of ob'tinacy but
seif was MS se osIy a Some pe %S. Ney SH5n .T and d" ali
his pride and his associations were II t.
Under Crokor's leadership 4 totally di1ero
the affairs OF the Tammany Organization
is occasional only During the, greater part
Of each year he Is absent at his home in Eng
land To moral agencies, he makes no con
community he, pays no heed MS depend,
ence is upon the power Of the patronage OF
which. for many years has had
strength will be lost to II in very great Iart
His ruthless rule has also deprived lam
many OF representatives, COMMANDING puDllc
respect by reason OF their personal character
many Of its ablest and most adroit politicians
Take. for example. the case OF Mr SheehalI'
whose title to district leadership was un-
many ccnstitutents. but having incurred
the enmity of Croker he was flung aside and
reviied. His overthrow was intended q. be
a warning to all other leaders OF the dire fate
Independence. Obedience TO Croker must
be absolute, s~eryllity TO him complete with
the aid Of abundant pltrona ye such n system
m SSs no be t 99l1' sas be eP 's ssSt u on nP by 'n tSs ballots
That pillar on which Croker's domination rests
has been knocked away by the ballots OF last
Tuesday and anxiety to hold his favor and
terror q his wrath will pass away with
in Tammnny Han. \ DEMOCRAT.
NEW YORK, Nov. .