The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-24
Hugh ]. Grant May Succeed
Lewis {. Nixon as Leader.
CROKER CROWD is WORRIED
General Rsorganluilon Of Democratic Party
Throughout ths Empire State Is
10 Contemplation

new lorh. June Z4-SeVeral Inmmany
district leaders. who are friends OF Hugh
j. Grant. have asked him TO accept the
active leadership of that organization
Mr.. Grant has not yet consented. but he
Is taking a more active part in politics
than he has since no was beaten for
mayor In 1894. after Mr.. Nathan Straus
declined to make the race. The so-caled
Grant influence is now recognized as
powerful and influential In Tammany IL
It is not actually dominant
STATE REORGANIZATION.
Tammany politicians said today that
sweeping and important changes In the
organization were pending. and that
there was likely to be general reor-
ganization OF the party throughout the
state. The Grant influence is working
TO get back In Tammany a number Of
prominent men who were driven out
by Croker and his friends OF 1897 and
1898 Such an arrangement II carried
out will. II Is said. mean the gradual
elimination Of the Croker influence with
out an open row. The attempt OF the
Triumvirs TO pose as managers OF Tam
many 10 HoW recognized as failure
No one takes them seriously, and I'm sew
eral recent moves the tact OF Grant and
his friends Is recognized by most OF the
district leaders.
Justice James A. O'Gorman, the new
grand sachem of the Tammany society,
is close personal and political friend
OF Mr.. Grant and Daniel II. McMahon
one Of the Triumvirs. was put into poll
tics by the former mayor. Ii was JUS
tice OGorman who invited w. Bourke
Cochran TO make the principal speech
at Tammany hall on July T. Grant and
Cochran have long been close friends.
At one time Croker, Grant. Cochran and
Gilroy were known as the "Tammany
Big Four" The Grant Cochran friend
ship continued after Croker drove Cock
ran out OF the organization.
In the days before Croker began turn
ing down his old friends and finding new
ones. the days when the Democrats car
ried the state, the state committee and
conventions were controlled by David Il.
Hin. Edward Murphy. Jr., and Hugh
Mclaughlin. Tammany was rarely con-
suited about the makeup of a state
ticket. In 1898 Mr.. Murphy broke away
from Hill and Joined forces with Croker.
named the state ticket. That ticket was
beaten. They tried again in 1900 and
again were beaten and Mr.. Murphy lost
control OF the Democratic machine in
his home city, Troy.
OLD ALLIANCE REFORMED.
Tammany politicion says that the old
alliance OF Hill. Murphy and McLaugh-
lin has been reformed. MIR Grant is a
son-in law OF Mr. Murphy. and his in
fiuence In Tammany will not be exerted
In opposition to the political interests Of
his father law. II he can dominate
the organiza tion this year the Hill Muir
~ L.
the party in the state without opposition
from Tammany.
The new forces In the Democratic
party in the state are working TO get
back into the organization the men COM
posing the so-cslled Cleveland element
without the aid Of these independent
Democrats the fight TO regain control OF
the state government next fall Is reeog-
nized as hopeless. The present leaders
will be glad TO nominate the Hon. Dan
lei s. Lamont for governor II he will
take the nomination. Mr.. Cleveland, IL
is reported. Is willing to do all he can 10
help bring about such an arrangement.
Mr.. lamont Is out Of the country at
present So far all overtures to the
Cleveland, or sound money. faction have
been ooldly received. All the prominent
Democrats who opposed Bryan in 1896
and 1900 will have nothing TO do with
Tammany so long as the Croker influence
is in ascendancy. The men known as
the Manhattan Club crowd are merely
holding aloof and awaiting developments.
One OF them said the other day that II
seemed 70 be a good year TO sit on the
fence and watch the game.
CROKER CROWD is WORRIED.
The Croker forever crowd In Tam
many are worried over the situation.
They voted for tho Triumvirs and now
find that the three agents they put for
ward are without power or influence
They can accomplish nothing and the
organization cannot gain a recruit so
long as IL is apparent that Croker Is CIV
ing orders from England. II Is also ap-
parent 20 the Croker Old Guards that
the Grant influence Is steadily gaining
strength, and that TO fight that inhu-
ence means the loss OF many votes In
tho primary and the fall election. Tho
Croker followers expected him 10 come
hack and take charge In person when
he learned OF the strength Of the oppo-
sition TO his rule from England. They
have now lost hope Of his coming this
year and they are In q Quandary. They
fear TINT II present conditions continue
the Greater New York Democracy will
carry a number OF assembly districts
at a primary. II they compromise and
agree to the overthrow OF the Croker
agents at this time they fear that Croker
would be unable 10 regain control II he
came back next year
Mr.. Grant n going abroad for short
pleasure trip. but he has no intention Of
visiting Croker He will return In n
few weeks and during his absence his
lieutenants will keep up the night against
present conditions I'm Temmany. As soon
as the Fourth Of July celebration Is over
the big politicians OF Tammany will be-
sir to move on Saratoga. and many i'm
portnnt political conferences will be held
there this summer.
Former Senator Murphy has n cottage
there James Shevlin. Senator McCarren
and other lieutenants of Hugh McIaugh-
lin spend their summers there. II Is un -
dorstood that tho meeting Of the Demo
cratic state committee 20 call the state
convection will be held in Saratoga late
in July or early IN August BY the timo