The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-06
PASSING OF CROKER
NEW YORk'S BIG BOSS CONFRONT
ED WITH FIGHT OF
LIFE
ENEMIES GROW BoLDER DAILY
Forces of Tnmmany Hall show Dis
= position to Break Away From
Chiefs DictatiOn and
Nominate COIer.

Storm clouds are gathering over Rlch-
ard Croker's head. His supremacy In
Tammany hall is seriously threatened,
says the New York correspondent of the
Inter Ocean. and the political situation
that now confronts the old boss may be
las undoing. Not only is he confronted
by a powerful reform movement, but a
serious dissension in the ranks OF the
Democratic machine over the choice of
a mayoraIty candidate. His enemies in
his own party are growing holder and
open defiance to Croker's wishes is re-
ported from many sources.
While he has been playing the squire
at Vantage the ambitious younger men
have been growing. He has been supply
ing them with their most effective weap-
'On-his evident preference to England
as a place of residence. This voluntary
repatriation on the part of Croker is
extremely distasteful to his followers.
However unpatriotic from an idealists
standpoint the Tammany braves may be
in practical politics, they are loyal
Americans, and the perpetual exploitation
by the press of the old boss triumphs
on the English turf and his baronial
methods of spending has spoils at Want
age has had its effect.
The members Of Tammany resent be-
NflS governed AIOlu E4IlSldIlO Ilcy Dc-
lieva in home rule. This resentment more
than anything else has caused the NUT
feriugs that viii not be downed against
the continued domination of Richard
Croker and given encoura cement to his
Jealous rivals.
But for the old boss to surrender his
mastery without a battle would be inn
possible. He has weathered many a Sc
we're storm and though an old man he
EhnWrS ciorlG IF mental nbI-Siral
collapse. While his foes, both within and
outside of his party. are predicting his
downfall, it is potent that the prophecy
and its birth is in their anxiety to see
is fuldllment.
But that he is confronted with the
struggle Of his life both his friends and
enemies agree. The fight must be fought
by Croker alone. He can hope for no
outside assistance. The present conflict
viii be confined 10 issues purely local
There are no state or national questions
al stake. The success or defeat of Tam
many this fall will have no significance in
the state or country at large.
Croker recognizes this and so do the
rival leaders in his own organization
They are frightened by the apparent
strength Of the reform movement opposed
70 Iammany rule, and they are determine
ca TO Wln even If in the winning Croker
taits. In fact, they see a chance of VIC
TORY, coupled with that of putting a new
ruler in his place, and perchance one of
them may be the new boss
Seth Low, as the leader OF tie reformers
mas made the issue squarely on Croker
ISM. TO meet this the forces of Tam
many hail are having a desperate time
nNlhg on candidate. They want a man
whom they can put before their own
party with an equal claim to respectable
Ity and against whom the cry of Deyery-
ism and Crokerism viii In q. measure ar
least be unavailing.
II Croker was eliminated the question
Of choosing candidate would be a sim
pie matter. Comptroller Coler would be
the man. But Coler is extremely dis
tasteful to the old boss His nomination
would mean Cookers undoing in his own
Qarty. If he consented to the advance
dnent Of Coler to the mayoraIty. the loss
Of MS supreme mastery III Tammany
WouI be the outcome
Cookers great objection to CoIer is the
TACT that David Bennett Hill has been the
comptroller's political sponsor. One
strong argument that Coler's friends are
making to Croker in his behalf is that
he would draw largely from the reform
forces, as he is known as a clean. hon
est Official As proof of this they point
TO the fight made by Coler's friends he
lore the nominating committee of tbe
ahu-Iammany forces. But to Croker
TINS Is but clear case against Coler. as
an MS eyes it convicts him of tendencies