The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-05-10


 fusaI of the People to Take Him
 Seriously.
 Several men whose acquaintance with Richard Croker covers the whole time that he has been figure in public life in this city were sitting in an uptown political headquarters the other evening talking politics and, naturally, Croker. For wherever politics concerning New York city is talked Croker's name is the one mentioned most frequently.
 The remarkable manner in which the Tammany chieftain holds his power over men of all classes was discussed and then one of the party who for years has been close to MT. Croker said that though no one would think it who rG- viewed history, MT. Croker was to-day q disappointed and soured man, for the reason that he thinks that he is the most mIsjudged and abused man in the world
 What the early ambitions of MT Croker were no one can tell" said this man, though it sems likely that his first thoughts were only of getting and keeping control of the Democratic ma chine of the city of New York. It is reasonable to think that to man born and bred among the surroundines which were his this would be the height of his ambition.
 We all know how successful MT. Croker was in doing this. I do not think that many persons know what his ll ay y1oh hitione Dd were unfulfilled at the time when it seemed as though he had the means of accomplishing everything that he might desire
 "Each increase in power that came to him increased his mental horizon, and the result was that when he had con- quered all of his enemies in Tammany Hall and was recognized as the com- plete master of the political situation in the city of New York his mind turned to other matters and he aspired to be great national leader.
 Many persons have wondered what induced MT. Croker, ordinarily so calm and hard-headed, to discuss in the way he did subjects like the trusts, imperial ism, the free coinage of silver and smi- lar matters. As a matter of fact he was casting around for something that would convince the people, not only in New York but throughout the nation, that he was not the despot that was pictured, but in reality thinking, able man.
 That Mr. Croker has never been able to make people think this is a matter of the most sincere regret to him, and has been for years. During his last visit to this country it was frequent for him to say to his friends:
 " What is the use of me saying any, thing about this, or doing anything about it? No one will take me seriously at any time except when it comes to running the affairs of Tammany Hall might as well keep still all the time about other matters
 "Everyone will remember that in the canipaign of 1900 several efforts were made by reporters to get MT. Croker to talk at length on the free coinage policy of Bryan MT. Croker's interests were all with the gold men, and it was thought that he would walk into trap If he could once be induced to talk on the subject.
 'Al the efforts of the men who were SeUl tO see IllII were uHdNdllltlS. uIItl one day when he had been down to ex- Senator Murphy's place at Elberon. MT. Croker, attended by the usual squad of political reporters. came up to the city on an afternoon boat and went from the to his real estate office. On the way to the office he was asked again to give his views about the free coinage plank
 Oh, why not change the ratio every time congress changes?' asked MT Croker.
 What he meant by that he was ask ed by the men who were talking with him. He refused to go into details, and the word was sent out throughout the ma ton that MT. Croker was in favor of changing the ratio with every new con- gress.
 Immediately there was howl of laughter from one end of the nation to the other The Republicans, of course, made fun of Mr Crokers plan. The Bryanites were equally disposed to make fun of it, for they liked Croker no more than the Republicans did. So MT Croker came in for a lot of ridicule, and it hurt him,
 Every paragraph that appeared cut | him to the core. and for days he did l not recover from the effects of that | one break. It would be interesting to know exactly what he meant, but I do | not think that anyone will ever dare to | ask him for an explanation.
 Mir Croker was never able to under etand why he was SO disliked outside of | New York city. This was a subject that | he continually talked about
 eff I went up there and tried to make a speech to them he said once, referring to the upper part of the state and it's citizens, suppose that I would | have to be in cage so that they could not get at me and lynch me. Why are they afraid of me? I do not look very fierce, do I?'
 "Mr. Croker smiled when he said this but those of us who knew him knew that one of the dearest ambitions of his life was to have 'them'-by which he meant everyone outside of Tammany Hall--look on him as what he regarded a well meaning, patriotic citizen.
 He was once interested in a concern that proposed to do all the trucking in this city. As soon as the plans of the ,oncerh became known there was a howl because MT. Croker, always an-