New-York tribune., 1901-10-11
HOW THE YOKE WAS LIFTED
KINGS LEADERS SAY THEY'LL BE INDE-
PENDENT WHETHER SHEPARD
IS ELECTED OR NOT.

The nomination OF Edward NJ. Shepard for
Mayor is regarded by the leaders Of the Demo-
cratic organization in Brooklyn with serene sat
isfaction. because in his candidacy they see de-
liverance from Tammany thraIdom. which for
four years has been check and a blight upon
the Kings County Democrats. For four years
Kings County has been an annex OF Tammany
Hall. made so by political exigencies Croker.
with his absolute domination Of the municipal
government. his dictation OF appointments and
his control Of patronage. held a club over Kings
County. The organization in Brooklyn in every
Issue where Croker's political fortunes were at
stake, was forced into supporting Croker or hav-
ing Croker retaliate by cutting off patronage
money and appointments.
Kings accepted the situation with the best
possible grace but has always been restive un-
der this domination Crokers favorite motto
| (next TO I'm working for my pocket all the
| tme'). which ne had emblazoned on thousand
banners and flung to the winds in the last
| Bryan campaign. We wish to remain a free
! people" appealed strongly to the Kings County
| Democrats. They wished to remain free peo-
pie but the fetters were forged so hard and
the manacles were so strong. that Kings County
had no option but to march with clanking chains
in the Croker procession AS the time for new
municipal election came around. Kings began
| TO make plans to regain It's political freedom.
Croker, for four years used 20 the serviIe obedi-
ence Of the leaders across the bridge Iulled into
a sense of false security by this long period OF
absolute dictation. and elated by his eminence
as State leader, did not feel the tugging at the
chains or realize the deep plot being prepared
| for the regaining of liberty.
HILL AND M'LAUGHLIN's sHREwD GAME.
| When this campaign is ended. so politicians
were saying yesterday IL will be made plain that
| Croker was the victim OF the shrewdest political
/ Wrfoy 1Ae-o%
cost him his dominant position in the affairs OF
the party in the State. To Hugh Mclaughlin
and ex-senator Hill credit is given for the mas
| ter moves in the game by which Croker had
| wrested from him the reins OF control
/ When the first discussion OF a candidate for
Mayor on the Democratic ticket was begun the
Kings County leaders realized that the nomina-
tion and election of a Croker man for Mayor
would mean continuance OF Kings subservi-
ency to Croker. They had only one plan and
that TO secure the nomination of some man
who would not be puppet in Croker's hands;
man who would play fair with Kings County
as he would with Tammany: a man who would
not the office a club 70 hold Kings County
in subsection. Following this policy. the Kings
County leaders began TO urge COler for Mayor
They knew Coler personally distasteful TO
Croker; that Croker would fight Coler TO the end.
but at the same time Kings County was des-
perate The leaders tried to effect cOmbina-
tion with certain Tammany leaders TO nominate
CoIer over Croker's head This plan. as out
lined in The Tribune. developing favorably.
when Croker learned of il. In his desperation.
and to defeat Coler. he offered 10 leave the nom
nation TO Kings County If it would eliminate
Coler. The result the nomination OF Shep-
ard. A prominent Kings County yesterday
| explained why Shepard was taken after Coler
| was out of il.
| Shepard is courageous and independent. and
| we know it, said this Kings County leader
| He is mans man. We took him for that
reason and because we believed he would make
| a stronger run than any other Kings County
! man that could be named. The head of the
| ticket is not nearly so vital TO 10 carry
, our county and borough tickets. II Shepard IS
/ elected We know he will deal fairly with He
will not let Croker him to club into line
: He may not DO all want. but he won't
/ his office to make us obey the whims of Croker.
( If he is defeated. why. We will be no worse off
] than we would be if a Tammany man was de-
feated. and if Shepard is defeated it is pretty
evident that could have been elected
: KINGS WOULD BE INDEPENDENT.
j Suppose. however. Shepard is elected and we
carry our borough and county ticket. Kings
County is independent once more We will have
our own Offices and Shepard will give much
as if not than, Tammany man would
We will be free to wish in State con-
ventfors and national conventions. We can be
independent and go with Croker or ag- '~st him
/ lust as we wish. and Croker cannot make
reprisals for Shepard will not use the Office to
down us.
: AS I said. Shepard can win if any can.
and if we are defeated we are no worse of than
we would be if Tammany man went down.
+ In fact we are better off. Croker. even if he
carries his borough and county offices in New
York County will have nothing 70 feed Kings
County with. II the head Of the ticket is elected.
we are independent under il. II the head Of the
/ ticket is defeated. we still independent
| The campaign textbook issued in Willoughoy-
! ST. on Wednesday indicated this bitter feeii2s
| against Tammany One of the quotations from
this book is as follows;
! The Brooklyn Democratic organization, which for
| forty years while Brooklyn was an independents
citv had antagonized the TamInany Hal orsanlza..
tion in all the State and natlnnaI conventions OF
! the Democratc party. a result OF consolidation
So,Ind itself Obliged 10 work in harmony with Tam
many w a ct m from being turned over 10 the Repu6
leans Any other course woad quo @ nave Ps p I
With Brooklyn democrats. practical men were quick
realize that no Stafr sifbeP cSpaet with ram
many or else an anti-Demoeratic victory
The book also refers to the attempt Of Devery
,xben he was Chief OF Police under the old Board
of Commissioners. TO remove Deputy Chief p H
Mclaughlin from Brooklyn and place a Devery
mar in control The book speaks Of the work
~ Bernard j. York then Police Commissioners.
in combating this effort, and says:
mfr York and the Brooklyn Democracy trt-
umphed and the attempt to Deveryize Brooklyn
failed"
KINGS LEADERS PLANS.
This hook is 10 be the text OF campaign argu-
,arts in EgrookIyn. The leaders there no longer
60 ranmanv ard take a great delight in