New-York tribune., 1902-01-13
HOW HILL HOPES TO PROFIT
GREATER NEw-YORK DEMOCRACY LIKE
LY TO BE REPRESENTED IN
STATE CONVENTION.

business" and therefore his hours in New-York
were wholly devoted TO legal matters.
All reports that he holding conference
with John c. Sheehan in New-York yesterday
are unfounded Mr.. Hill did not see Mr. Shee-
nan yesterday nor have consultation with him
IN any way on political conditions in that city
or the State.
"hhe Richard Croker was making his speech
at Iammany Hail. saying that he had resigned
his place as chairman of the finance committee
which carries with it the office of leader OF the
Iammany Hall organization Mr. Hill was at
tending to legal matters downtown. Upon his
arrival here late in the evening the Information
OF MI Croker's action given to him, but he Z
declined to make any comment upon it. Not a
word ne said. and he repeated that remark
to-day when it thought that after nights
consideration of the subject of Mr. Croker's
resignation and perusal of to-days New-York
newspapers he might care to say something
about it,
MIR. HILLS AMBITION
Mr. Hills caution in speaking about Croker's
action is undoubtedly due to his CNr HiiPs)
position as national leader of the Democratic
party His correspondence with Democrats of
prominence all over the United States is largs.
and. moreover. he recently. while in Washing
ton attending to some legal business, had an
opportunity to have chats with many of his
former Democratic colleagues in the Senate, and
with Democratic members of the House of Rep
resentatives. regarding the condition of the
Democratic party all over the country 1t can
be inferred that Mr.. HILL if the subject was
touched upon. was not able to give an encourage
ing report about the result of last falls election
in this State. when with Richard Croker in con-
troll of the organization of the Democratic party,
the great cities of the State-Buffalo New-York
Albany. Troy, Rochester and Syracuse-were all
won by the Republican party
Mr.. Hill. while his advice not followed by
the majority Of the delegates of New-York to
the last Democratic National Convention, nor
by the delegates to the last Democratic Stats
Convention, is nevertheless forced to all the .
power he has to put the Democratic party OF 1
the State in position to win the next election.
The Democratic national leaders will look to
him to make sincere efforts in that direction.
That does not mean that he is forced to seek an
alliance with Lewis Nixon. 1t simply means
that Mr.. Hill is to make every possible exertion
to gain control Of the next Democratic State
Convention. and use his control of il to put for
ward candidates and platform which will win
votes tor the Democrats party.
A SPLIT IN THE PARTY PROBABLE
The rural Democrats-and Mr.. Hill has more
influence with them than any other Democrat
in the State-beleve that it is healthy for the
Democratic party to have two organizations in
New-York City. If there is only one organiza-
ton. they say. it grows too strong. and donni-
mates the Democratic party Of the State
Richard Croker they declare has only the tai
ents of a ward leader and never had any more.
Ward leadership transferred to a State conven-
ton to national convention. they say. has
been fatal TO the Democratic party in this State.
They therefore look with pleasure upon the or
ganization by John c. Sheehan. William F.
Sheehan and Jacob A Cantor of a rival Demo-
cratic organization TO that of Tammany Hail.:
and 1t seems highly probable that this organiza-
tion will have share of New-Yorks representa-
tion in the next Democratic State Convention IL
the rural Democrats have their way.
Croker in the last Democratic State Conven-
ton could cast every one of the 1O5 votes of the
New-York County delegates and also the votes
of sixty-two delegates from Kings County OF
three delegates from Richmond County and OF
nine delegates from Queens and Nassau coun-
ties. There were 1I9 delegates OF the 450 dele
gates in the convention Crokers command.
and by alliances with the Erie. Monroe and
Rensselaer, delegates and the delegates OF a few
other counties he rejected the nomination OF
Bird S. Coler, suggested by Mr.. Hill and forced
the nomination OF John B. Stanchfeld- Mr..
Stanchfield was defeated and the Democratic
party also lost representation in the Assembly.
Then last year. with the Democratic party de-
rnoralized, it also lost the great cities OF the
State.
NIXON THOUGHT TO BE A MASK.
Mr.. Nixon is regarded here as a mere mask
for Croker, be worn the face OF the
Tammeny Hall organization until the latter
comes back to take command of the organiza-
ton once more. Mr. Croker has been POLITICAL
Iy hurt by the cry that although he lives in Eng
land he still holds firmly in his hands the Lead
ership of TamIuany Hail. That cry he may
hope to lessen by placing Mr.. Nixon to the front.
ostensibly as the leader of Tammany Hall
Moreover. the Democrats here say that Croker
is right IN feeling alarmed over the loss Of the
votes of young men. first voters" to the Demo
cratic party. Here in Albany they say: a
very large proportion of the first voters are
joining the Republican party"
William Barnes. tr.. the chairman OF the ex-.
ecutive committee of the Republican State Com.
mttee. said to-day:
fate OF the Democratic party? Whether his
resignation OF the leadership OF Tammany Hall
is sincere or not, it does not matter to him.
John T. McDonough. Secretary of State, saidr
1 think that this move has been prompted by
the fact that the better elements in Tammany
Hall have risen up against the kind OF men who
have recently dictated the councils OF the Wig
wam. Whether or not Mr.. Croker will perma-l
ization is another matter. Some strongly be-
lieve that the selection of Mr. Nixon Is only
ruse to get back the respectable Democrats who
in the last campaign went over TO the fusion
forces.
/ believe, however that the Democrats Of the,
city and State are endeavoring TO get together
for the campaign next fall for the election OF
this year Is in fact only a skirmish for the
Presidential election OF 1904. II the Democrats
cannot present united front at the next cleo
islature and thirty-seven Congressman are to be-