New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-09-15
CROKER is BACK.
BY NO MEANS CORDIAL TO
DEVERY.
DRAPED IN MOUT

ORDERS ALL TAMMANY CLUBS TO BE
| DRAPED IN MOURNING AND ALL
FESTIVITIES POSTPONED.
| Richard Croker. leader Of Tammany Hall.
looking a little grayer a little stouter and lit
tie older arrived the Cunard Line steamship
Lucania yesterday. This is the first time that
Mr.. Croker has been in America for ten months.
For this extended period he has lived at his
country place in Vantage, England. and has
been constant attendant at the English race
tracks, where his horses have been raced. His
return at this time is manage Tammany S
municipal campaign. He received a quiet but
cordial welcome from the Tammany leaders and
Il score of personal friends Mr.. Croker imme-
diately after arriving in the city went 10 the
Democratic Club, where his old rooms were
ready for him. He dropped easily into the old
place and from now until after Election Day
he will be the dominant and directing figure in
Tammany's campaign. When election is over
he will return TO England to his racetracks and
his country estate. not to return until Tam
many has another campaign on hand.
| Croker dislkes ostentatious display and for
this reason the braves refrained from welcoming
him with bands and enthusiasm. On the reve-
nue. cutter which went down the bay $50
o'clock yesterday morning were DR.. Cosby,
Thomas F. Smith. Mr.. Cookers private secre-
tary; Richard Croker. jr.. and Deputy Charities
Commissioner flaming All other loyal Tam
many men preferred to wait and greet the chief
at the pier. When the revenue cutter drew
alongside, Mr.. Croker was seen standing on the
deck He long Irish frieze steamer coat
of dark green. a yachting cap with a black
patent leather vizor and dark suit. He greet
ed his friends cordially but at the outset made
IL plain that he didn't intend to talk politics. Il
have nothing to say to anybody for publication"
was Mr.. Cookers terse reply when asked for
| his views on the local situation.
COULDN'T SEE DEvERY.
Among the throng on the pier was Deputy
Commissioner Devery. He paced UP and down
anxiously and. When the chief came ashore.
edged his way into the crowd He clutched at
Crokers hand but Croker didn't see him and
| shook hands with John f. Carroll. saying,
| Hello, John. How thngs?". Carroll whis-
| pered something in Cookers Just then
| Devery edged UP again and caught Croker's
hand The Tammany chieftan looked up. smiled
/ quzzically, shook his head, said something
! joCular, and passed on with Carroll.
! Mr. Croker first heard the news OF President
McKinley's death at Quarantine. Calling his
secretary to his side. he dictated statement
/ for the papers. 1t as follows:
!
sorrow at the untimely death of our Chief Magis-
trate it is no time to talk politics Under the great
with uncovered heads shocked and grief stricken at
/ the bier of our dead President.
With Mr. Croker as fellow passengers were
Andrew ]. Freedman and Senator John Fox,
president of the Democratic Club. They left the
/ city several weeks ago to meet Mr.. Croker in
London and return with him.
Mr.. Croker was asked when he first heard Of
the shooting OF President Mckinley. He said;
Senator Fox, Mr.. Freedman and myself were in
the corridor Of the T9n IN sood
man; yes he was g0od man and It Is TOO BAD;
not believe that such a thing could happen Be
fore the steamship left port we heard report that
/ that the President would recover the news was
certainly bad.
! Mr. Croker was asked what he thought about
Mr. Roosevelt as President, and if he thought
! that it meant any change. He declined to an
swer.
! It said 1 wouldn't discuss the matter. L
am not going into politics at this time. 1t isn't
right"
! Some one complimented Mr.. Croker on. his fine
annearauce ard robustness. He remarked:
Yes I feel first rate. In fact. 1 never felt
| any better / have been outdoors good deal
and the weather in England was first rate. In
fact, / never enjoyed myself better"
He asked: How about the yacht races =!
and was told that they would probably be post
| poned
THAT was the right thing to do. There ought
| 10 be no races soon" he said.
AS TO his experience on the English turf. he
said:
Now what's the of my talking about IT,
| You know all about. that already / VIII say
! that some of the Americans over there iateiy
/ were bad guessers."
1.-The American horses are all right IL inc
/ Jockeys were as good as the horses the Ameri-
! COWS ,.o,,Ya have been all right" interrupted
] Mr.. Freedman.
| Maybe" sententiously said Mr. Croker ana
| all laughed
| Mr.. Croker was asked if he was going TO
| Saratoga He said:
WILL GO TO LONG BRANCH.
| II don't think I will. have no plans yet
shall remain in the city for at least three or