The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-01-17
PASSING OF CROKER.

The addiction of Richard Croker as
the democratic boss of New York
City and his surrender of power to a
successor are made the subjects Of
much editorial comment. This is but
natural. The power which has been
welded by Croker and the n in
which it has been employed are mat
lers Of history, though unpleasant
reading it is to all, except possibly
himself and his devoted followers.
fragrant and defiant as was the con-
duct of Tweed and synonymous as
the name of the old boss has become
politics, his rule was as one of the
utmost purity and honesty when COM
pared with that of the nan who has
just stepped from the throne of Tam
many. Tweed was but a tyro in steal
ing, corruption and all else that goes
to make men odious when held up
for comparison with the man who
was his second in the line of succe
sion to the chieftaincy of the great
organization which for years
dominated New York politically. He
was more fortunate, however. He
was not doomed to undergo the dis
grace and agony that were the share
allotted to the declining days of the
other famous boss. Tweed's reign
ended with himself in jail, but Crok-
er's ends with him removing himself
and much of his ill gotten gains to a
foreign shore, there to live under the
flag which he so often employed in
rallying those about him whose SER
vices he needed, by playing upon their
passions and %prejudices and hatred
of that same emblem.
AS he was a hater of the English
and all that is English in this country
to the extent that it enabled him to
stronger entrench himself in power,
SO may he now be relied upon to be-
come just as great a friend and adj
mirer of the people and institutions
against whom he formerly inveighed,
and for the same purpose-in further
ance Of his own ends and desires.
With the wealth he acquired here by
methods never taught in Sunday
school Or church he intends to live tile
life of an English squire and if pcs.
sible gain the social standing that was
ever denied him in this country, fer
with all his money and political pow
er, Croker never had entree to what
may be called the best society. Even
his family was made to feel the sting
of ostracism because of the fathers
notorious reputation and the stain
that chung to his name, a stain that
neither money nor power could re
move.
The Associated Press assures us
that the scene marking the passing of
the famous boss was an affecting one
and that the great man had actually
a tremor to his voice when he babe
farewell to his late associates in
plumber and thievery. One can cas-
lily imagine the cause of his feelings.
which, strong nan that he is, he could
not repress. Before him arose the
past and all that it meant-p ,wer.
money. influence and the means of
gratifying greed and lust. Ahecd Of
him was the future with none of these
in store. 1t is true that he retains
his wealth, but the power to add to
it in the only way he has eve learned
is gone. But what must have ground
him most and torn his heart the sor-
est was the contemplation forced upon
him that the time had passed when
he could longer hope to defy the peo-
| pie and be their master and despot in
everything he chose. L,rg had they
borne with him AMI patiently had
they submitted to his rule of debauch-
cry and vice, but the moment had
finally arrived when with one supreme
and mighty effort they had cast him
aside and freed themselves of his DOM
ination and of those whose master
and protector he had been SO long.
He might have continued as the
head of Tammany, but even this is
doubtful. With the powerful organi-
cation completely overthrow and dis
credited he stood in the position i'll
which SO many before him have stood.
He had fought nce too often and hav-
wanting those among his followers
who began to look upon him as no
longer fit for the place of leader, and
Whether rightly or not, they blamed
him for the defeat and wanted a new
leader. Croker shreWdly realixod