New-York tribune., 1901-03-31
CROKER TO RETURN SOON.
COMING BACK IN THE EARLY SUMNER
TO DIRECT THE CAMPAIGN.
DIR. W. ! O.sULIIvAN BRINGS MESSAGES
FROM VANTAGE so WEIGHTY THAT
THEY MAKE HIM STOOPSHOULDERED
HAPPY BECAUSE THE BOSS
WEIGHS
WEIGHS pol POUNDS.

HAPPY BECAUSE THE BOSS
WEIGHS POL POUNDS
DIR. ". ]. OSuivan. lawyer. physician and
Tammany politician, in unobtrusive way.
came back from England yesterday the st.
Louis, somewhat stoopshouldered from carrying
the largest bundle of political ranbows brought
from Moat House. Vantage, since Richard
Croker weht TO that quiet retreat to brace up
his system for the coming municipal campaign.
DR.. O'Sullivan cast his lawyers eye on Mr..
Croker and found him a growing statesman,
whose very dreams are burdened with altruistic
schemes for the betterment of the body polite
Then he gazed Mr.. Croker with his strictly
Doctors eye and in him magnificent
physical specimen, in the prime of life. weighing
POI pounds on scales that never told lie. taking
abundant outdoor physical exercise. eating like
a boy just back from fishing trip and sleeping
like infant blessed with perfect digestion.
The doctors word portrait of the chief of Tam
many Hall warrants the suspicion that Mr.
Croker may appear in the track athletic games
Of the Tim" Sullivan Association next summer.
Great was the joy OF the smaller fry unterri-
fed when DR.. O'Sullivan declared himself"
They wanted the story told again. and shouted.
in the words of William J. Bryan: Great is
Tammany. and Croker is It's prophet" The
more prominent district leaders winlled at one
another, and said, 20 Sullivan is a nice fellow"
DR.. O'Sullivan sent - the Astor House ,asj
night ateHog; apncr with his shorthand notes
Of a statement made - himself CO'SuUitan}
covering all that Mr.. Croker wished TO say
through him (O'Sullivan) to the people OF New
York. According to the stenographcr's notes.
DIR. O'Sullivan said:
I reached Southampton on February % and
saw Mr.. Croker on the following day. I tele-
grabbed Vantage In orCla n
make sure that Mr. Croker would be at home.
Mr.. Croker had been at Vichy and Heidelberg.
but had returned TO his country house at Wan
tage by the time I reached England. 1
invited to come and see him at once I spent
nearly two weeks at Moat House. Vantage, and
saw Mr.. Croker regularly at meal time. well
as at other times. We were out riding together
a good deal. Mr.. Croker is expert horseman.
One day after a hard ride l had Mr.. Croker get
on the scales used for weighing Jockeys, and I
was surprised TO note that he weighed POI
pounds He sleeps well takes lots of exercise
and looks better than he has at any time in
the last fifteen years. Mr.. Croker spends much
Of his time riding over the English downs. He
was exceedingly annoyed over the publication of
certain fake" interviews in New-York papers.
and assured me that he had not talked with any
one for publication. He was also annoyed at
having to answer so many inquiries TO his
health. One story that published made
him out broken down man, and this brought
scores and hundreds of inquiries from the United
States.
I asked Mr. Croker about the income tax
imposed by the English tax gatherers. He said
official, had fully explained To him the English
tax system and informed him that he had as
sessed him CrOkeT) on an income of $4,000
free and clear OF all disbursements. A year ago
the income tax on this was about per cent.
but this year, owing to expenses in Eng
land the tax is per cent. or thereabout Mr.
Croker told Mr.. Jottam that he wished the tax
were one hundred times much. as that fact
would be proof that he had income as much
larger in proportion
Mr.. Croker is fully in touch with what is
going on in New-York He said that Tammany
Hall unalterably opposed to vice and that
ii had instructed the Committee of Five to go
ahead fearlessy with its work. He said he be-
leved the work of the committee would be pro-
ductve OF great reforms.
Mr.. Croker will be back in New-York In the
early summer. in time to shape and direct the
campaign. He believes that the people want a
continuance of Tammany Hall control of local
politics.
This was all the stenographer brought from
Mr.. Croker's proxy. 1t is understood at the
Democratic Club that DIR. O'Sullivan was at
Vantage with Mr.. Croker, but it is also under
stood that he brought absolutely no official mes
sages to the leaders. Mr. Croker is receiving
weekly reports from his friends in this city, but
he does not intend to give out any of his plans
till he comes back. in May or June.