New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-09-15
CROKER'S THINKING PART.
HE WILL NAME HIS SLATE AFTER
LEARNING HIS OPPONENTS
INTENTIONS.

Almost coincident with his arrival in this
city yesterday Richard Croker began to prepare
plans for the municipal campaign. He was at
the Democratic Club all day and in the evening.
The club which has been deserted ever since the
Tammany chieftain went away. ten months ago.
was crowded yesterday and last night Big men
and little men in the organization made their
way to the club to shake hands with the boss
show their faces and repeat vows Of loyalty.
For all Croker had a grim handshake and
word of welcome. He roamed around the club
from room to room. greeting those who had
called TO see him. He talked with several of the
leaders. and appeared TO be in excellent spirits.
Croker has taken a new stand in this cam
paign. Whether he adheres TO it or not re-
mains TO be seen In the last municipal cam
paign he talked freely and daily. In the Stanch-
field-Odell campaign his daily contributions to
the press were extended and vociferous- When
Van Wyck ran against Roosevelt he also talked
like an unbridled patent medicine orator He
announced yesterday that he not going TO
talk this campaign. He said that he was
through talking, and would have nothing TO say
until after election Many think that the boss
will not adhere to this They say the passion
TO hear himself talk is so strong in him that,
though he knows it is hest for the organization
and the chances of Tammany for him 10 keep
quiet, yet this knowledge acts as only a tenn
pOrary restraint, ana he VIII DItdh uul bcAOAS
long
The presence of Croker in the city started
the keenest speculation as to the Tammany
slate this fall When Croker walked down the
Cunard Line pier yesterday morning with Lewis
Nixon and talked earnestly to him in an I'M
dertone the Tammany men said Nixon was 70
be nominated for Mayor. When John Whalen
visited Croker at the club last evening and
talked with him for two hours the Tammany
said that Whalen the who would
be named. Judge Dugro. Edward NJ. Shepard.
John W. Keller De Lancey Nico and a score of
others were talked of in the course Of the day.
The name of Bird S. Coler was mentioned. but
when Croker heard it he only looked blank and
said nothing.
The situation is that Croker is sizing up
things and he isn't ready to decide upon any
thing yet. He is sounding the leaders and lis
tening to their arguments for this that
didate, as they may see fit to support individ-
uals. He will be governed largely by what the
anti-Tammany forces do. Once he has the stua-
ton in hand and gains a knowledge of what
the other side intends to do. he will act quickly
in preparing slate for the city convention to
nominate. Until the whole situation is thor
oughly canvassed nothing can be reported about
possible nominations with any degree of GER
tainty. There is only one thing that the Tam
many seem to regard a certainty. That
is that Coler is out of the running.
Asa Bird Gardner IS source or worry 70
Croker and the Tammany leaders Gardiner de-
mandS a denomination a vindication. 1t is
Tammany's policy to make such concessions. but
it is said that Croker and the leaders are afraid
of Gardiner. Since he has taken TO wearing
monocle they eye him with suspicion The gen
eral impression is that he will be passed over
in the naming of a candidate for District At
torney:
AS far the police situation is concerned ii
+ not believed that Croker will take any radical
action. Devery is stanchy backed by such
powerful district leaders as Sullivan. Sexton.
Maggie, Carroll and Scannell- They do not want
him removed and will fight for his retention.
Croker cannot afford to go against the wishes
of these leaders. and Devery is not to be dis
turbed 1t said last night, however. that
Croker would admonish Devery to be more care
full in the future in the of vile language in
the course of the police trials; TO adhere TO a
semblance of decency in the administration of
his department and to try TO placate public
opinion
There was unusually large crowd at the club
last night, and the air fairly thrObbed with pO-
litical speculation. Croker moved among the
throLg with phlegmatic air and Stolid cOun-
tenance. He was watched by every one but not
even by the CULVER of eyelash a whispered
word did he indicate what steps he intended TO
take toward making up a ticket and preparing
for the campaign. The Tammany
wondering last night when the boss would be
ready to reveal his choice for Mayor. and when
he would break silence and give his views about
the local situation. The belief general that
he could not refrain more than a day or two
from talking.