The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-07-25
ALFRED Il. LEWIS
WRITES IT
Says Tammany Hall Boss
Is Peerless Of His
Kiad
sorIppg.McRae Presg Asa.n.

scripps-AfcRae Press Assn.
New York. July Richard Crok-
er's life has been written by Alfred
Henry Lewis. once Chicago news
paper man and well characterized
now as the champion rhetorician Of
Tammany Hall Mr. Lewis dedicated
the work to his former patron in The
Verdict. now defunct. He addresses
Oliver n. p Belmont as a friend and
tells him with affectionate confidence
why he wants to say nice things about
Richard Croker Coming to the sub
iect of his sketch the author states
his estimate of the hero. at the start,
without any false reticence, thus;
Richard Croker IS politician and
peerless OF his kind. which is why this
book is written Hate may deay and
envy frame a sneor and defeat to the
gods in contradiction: yet Richard
Croker, the most potential figure OF
the greatest city Of the greatest state
Of the greatest country Of the world.
can be no little subject for any page
or pen"
Mr.. Lewis makes 1t clear either that
Mr.. Croker Is really about to retire
from politics or that the chief Is ig-
norant Of the authors plans, for he
dotes fondly on the Cromwellian or
igln Of the Crokers and on their pres
byterlanism subjects which a lot OF
TAmmany men are anxious to have ex-
plotted and would prefer to forget,
He says
One is sure Of she Croker line no
further away than Cromwell stin,
this is well; for Cromwell himself in
his days was quite a comfortable form
OF conqueror; and it is better than
even chance. had be been at Hastings
that far hour instead Of Harold bold
William with his ambitions would
have gone limping back TO France"
Describing ones first impression Of
Croker Mr.. Lewis says
perhaps the first impression one
gets Of Richard Croker IS that Of
guileness He looks as though one
might with ordinary effort deceive
and destroy him. This notion is err
ror grleyous and complete He is
very wise, and fox is as fool TO
him. stil, his plan primarily is 70
trust every man He explains it In
this way: I make It point to trust
all men once-trust them w,-l my eyes
shut And the scheme has its success.
Nine men out of ten are honest and
will Loyalty respond 20 their obliga.
tioas. The tenth may De false and
cheat But at that, : am rignt nine
times to be In error one. If a man
proves false never trust him again. +"
Biographer Lewis does not oonhne
himself absolutely to Mr. Croker; ne
has some words 70 say about various
other statesmen, local and national
He has This to say about David B. Hnl
which, as an Inspired rammany ut
terance, may be worth quoting;
"Hill Is unpleasant 70 the eye, more
unpleasant when come in contact
with. His atmosphere Is bright but
cold as II the sun glanced on an ice
field Nor are his manners of the
school which charms he has no pol.
ish Force seldom means polish, and
hin Is force, Hill is not a general
he's an oyerseer; he never leads he
drives, He commands. true; but al.
ways from the rear II Is not coward.
Ice; Hin feels the necessity OF maxi
ing his people fight beneath his sweep
of eve
"This last is because of Hnrs
strong instinct OF loneliness. Hin
knows be has no friend He has al
lies, has confederatesi they are such
today and foes tomorrow But nm
Is never lovely. No one will sacrifice
Hill; none die for him Hin Is no Ma.
poleon TO inspire affection IN those
who come about him. AT his best.
liill ls but a guerilla Of party a
Quantrell OF politics
The sketch ends With this allusion