New-York tribune., 1901-12-27
SAY CROKER IS BLUFFING.
MR. BELMONTS FRIENDS HAVE no FEAR
OF BOSS'S DISCLOSURES"
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE EXPLAINS THE
GIFT OF A PICTURE TO YOUNG MR.
MULLER-CROKER'S ALLEGED PROM


The Belmont Congress campaign managers were
more defiant than ever yesterday toward Richard
Croker whom they openly declare now to be 8
double dealer. They asserted that Mr. Croker
blufing about having any disclosures that
would be damaging 20 the candidacy of Mr.
Belmont; that when he was against Controller
Coler he said that Coler had used his official pO
sition to promote the interests of his firm, and
that he that time threatened to make public
documents that would injure the Controller be-
fore the public: that he never made good on
this. and that his fnnuendoes against Mr.. Bel
mont are all of the same old piece Of bluff
Mr.. Belmont was at his political headquarters
in the Astor House yesterday When he read
story in which Mr. Croker is quoted saying
that he possessed facts in regard 10 his political
career which would put him out of the fight
forever if they were made public. Mr.. Belmont
said:
''It is useless for me 10 repeat that what Mr.
Croker says Is not true in regard TO this mat
ter. and I refer you TO Mr. Boyd. who knows the
facts"
William A Boyd. to whom Mr.. Belmont re-
ferred is an elderly man. He introduced hirri-
self as a friend of Mr.. Belmont. and said he had
been friend of his father August Belmont, as
we'll Mr. Boyd said he was stanch member
of Tammany Hall from the XXIXth Assembly
District and had been a member of it's general
committee for years He is an Incorporation
attorney, having served in that capacity from
1915 to 1880. Mr.. Boyd said he had no polltlcal
interest in the contest. but took part merely as
a friend of Mr. Belmont
Mr. BOYD said that it was his suggestion
that Mr.. Belmont consented to become candl-
date for Congress in the With District He told
Mr.. Belmont. he said. that after his eight years
in Congress he ought TO lend mis- experience to
in he
the party Mr. Belmont favorably considered
the suggestion of running in the old With Dis
trict. ne said because Richmond County. a
part of the district, formerly was in Mr.. BEL
nonts Congress dictrict- Mr. Boyd says that
Mr. Belmont told him that he would not accept
the nomination if he was TO be in any sense
Croker's candidate.
Subsequently," said Mr.. Boyd. Mr. Belmoht'
after comforting with some Of his friends. had an
interview with Mr.. Croker. and Mr. Croker toId
him he would leave the question Of the nominal
ton entirely in the hands Of the district leaders
Mr.. Belmont then personally conferred with the
leaders Of the With Congress District with
view of obtaining their support.
Mr. Belmont from time TO time INFORMED
me that he had reason to believe that MI
Croker was not taking the inactive part whleh
he represented to him he would take, out' on
the contrary, from his interviews with the Lead
ers in the Assembly districts, he had positive
information that Mr. Croker instead OF leaVins
the nomination 10 the district leaders was inter
ferina TO prevent the nomination Of Mr. Bel
mont. -
story which contained interview with the
son of Mr. Muller the former Congressman ana
leader in Democratic politics in the Borough OF
Richuond In this interview the younger
Muller is quoted as saying that he had received
a picture from Mr.. Belmont as present just
previous 20 the last election
This matter Is really too trivial TO taIk
about" said Mr.. Belmont. with a look or an
no,-anCe on his face 1T is perfectly true
raZ-e a picture 70 Mr.. Muller. Mr. Muller has
quite a collection Of pictures, and one day ne
asked me to come and see them l then toLd
him that 7 had a picture which l did not care
particularly about. and which he could nave II
he wanted it I have = number OF VaiuaDIe
paintings and If this had been a valuable one
I would certainly not have given II TO MI
Muller have lot OF pictures IN storage anu
elsewhere that do no. care about, and Whlch
I am quite willing 10 give away.