New-York tribune., 1901-09-26
HILL SETS TRAP FOR CROKER.
TAMlIANT CHIEFTAN IN MADDENLNG DILEMMA OVER
COLER-MR LOWS HOPEFUL VIEW
HOW CROKER FELL INTO IT
CONTROLLERS ASPIRATIONS CAUSE THE
ROSS'S ENTANGLENENT-C
TO SEE WAY OUT.

TO SEE WAY OUT.
II is Just beginning TO dawn upon Richard
Croker that he has been caught in one Of the
neatest political traps that any Tamnlany die
tator stumbled into. Croker's sluggish in
tellect did not realize until within the last day
or two that he had -ntanglei himself. from all
indications. hopelessly that whatever course
he takes almost certain disaster stsres him IN
the face, II is almost needless to say that the
political aspirations of Bird S Coler have peen
the cause of the dilemma of the Tammany
chieftan and the situation evolved is the handi-
work of that astute political manipulator and
, subtle politician ex-senator David 3. Hill.
Croker's inveterate enemy.
To illuminate the shrewd political u1anoeuvre
by which Croker has been Iured into the present
predicament, it is necessary 70 go back 70
the time preceding the Syracuse convention
which nominated Augustus Van Wyck for
Governor. II was just before this convention
that Hill and Croker came to the parting of the
ways. Croker formed a combination with n.
Cady Herrick in Albany County, ex-Senato-
Murphy in Troy, Hugh Mclaughlin in Kings.
and Norman E. Mack in Erie. to defeat Hill
The combination was successful Hill was over
thrown State leader and Croker was elevated
TO that point OF vantage. Croker victorious
because he had the municipal government of
New-York at his back. with all the patronags.
power and revenue that go with it. He coerced
Mclaughlin in Kings into supporting him by a
threat destroy the Kings County organiza-
tion if it did not come into line He would have
been able accomplish this through control Of
the city government. Mclaughlin. from politi-
cal necessity went in with Croker, but has /
never forgiven forgotten this coercion. Croker
drew Erie. Rensselaer,. Albany and some other
upstate counties into line by the lavish use
of patronage and money.
EFFECT AT KANSAS CITY.
This combination held good at Kansas City.
Mclaughlin still under the dread of Tammany .
warfare upon his organization. supported
Croker against Hill in the national convention.
Again in the State convention at Saratoga.
when Coler Hills candidate for Governor.
the OF money held the upstate counties in
line. With Kings '- was different Mclaughlin
wanted Coler. but Croker used the old time
threats and added to them promises that in the
coming municipal campaign Kings should have
especial attention and consideration. Kings
once more planted its standard in Croker's
camp and Hill went down to defeat with Coier-
Bird s. CoIer recently in talking with d friend
said: II consider David B. Hill to be the great
est Democrat that city. State nation has pro-
duced in the last generation" Croker knows
that Coler and Hill most intimate terms.
He knows that every political move the Con-
troller makes is guided largely by HILL He re-
azes that in the magazine articles abou:
mercialism in politics COler obtained much of
his inspiration and data from the willy leader
from Wolfert's ROOst. Croker knows that the
election of Coer would mean the reha abiitatton
of Hill in the State. for Hill would be the guild
ing hand behind Coler. Kings would be lured
back to its old allegiance to the ex-senator and
Croker would he OverthrOwn leader in the
State The Tammany boss is therefore. against
tO he IaSt he o
Hill is in manipulating conditions that
whichever course Croker takes he faces almost
certain political destruction.
Would it not be just as good for US TO have
Low for Mayor as Coer?" remarked Croker to ,
a friend at the Democratic Club. That sum-,
marizes his idea of the situation. IF not Coler.
what then?" is the question the Tammany men I
ask.
1t has been indicated what the nomination and !,
election of Coler as Mayor would mean TO the
wigwam head-that Kings County would have .
the say in the city. and that Hill would have
a great and powerful ally in warfare upon
Croker. Croker defeat Coler for the nomi-i
nation for Mayor if he desires. but this brings
him face TO face with the other situation
Kings County yesterday gave up requesting
that Coler be named for Mayor 1t took the
other tack and made it a formal demand This
demand couched in diplomatic terms. butt
beneath it the covert threat that the re-.
fusal TO take Coler would be construed as AM
sffront to Kings County and t-ings County
would retaliate as il saw fit Croker can ses
what shape this retaliation will take
SEE HILLS HAND
Keen politicians saw Yesterday in the sudd=rr
firm stand taken by Kings County the def.
political manipulation OF Hill The Panocrat.c
organization Of Kings faces a crisis. In 1921
Low and Tracy combined polled nearly SoOof
more votes than Van Wyck across the river.
This year the forces that support Low are the
combined forces that in 1897 were behind Low
and Tracy. Aside from this Grout, the Demo
cratic president Of the Borough of Kings. Is on
the fusion ticket. Grout 1. a good carnpaizne-
and popular in Brooklyn His candidacy is ex-
pected to make the anti-Tamn,any forces even
stronger. This year the county ticket and the
presidency of the borough mean much to Kings
The Office of president of the borough is /.
powerful one. with much patronage. The Kings
County Democrats want 10 elect their candi- =
is the only who can carry the borough for
them If il can be done at all The naming Of
any other man. they declare would be eaufva-
lent to abandoning all hope of winning in Kings
For this reason and guided by the keen politi
nomination for Mayor. The Controller will ac-
cept other place the ticket. Kings County
points out all that it has done for Croker Ii
dilates upon the fact that it has made Croker
State leader by throwing it's support to him III
insists upon the nomination of Coler as nav
ment refusal TO name Coler will mean re-
prisal This repriSal Will take the form of a
change of political allegiance in the next State
convention. A change of this kind would mean
the end of Croker as State leader Addas IN
81 lfl f h.. ftysAA Of y he fNe,z