The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-12-15

ident-How He Was Helped by For
mer TanAaay Chief.
Colonel George Harvey, the editor
Of Harper's Weekly, tells in a recent
Issue Il remarkable story Of the man.
ner in which the late William c. Whit
ney harmonized the anti-Cleveland
Democracy in 1892 and paved the way
for Mr.. Cleveland's second election.
Instead of having to harmonic the
petty bosses of the two boroughs of
New York Mr.. Whitney had to placate
the entire working element Of the
whole state. Colonel Harvey writes
that the next morning but one after
his return from Chicago Mr.. Whitney
summoned to his house in Fffey-sev-
enth street, New York, friend with
whom he was accustomed to discuss
his most trying political problems and
stated the situation il substantially
these words:
ut may seem strange, but it is a
fact. that until last evening l did not
begin to realize how serious q reSpOn-
sibility l had taken upon myself In
doing what l did to bring about the
nomination of Cleveland. 1t Is quite
possible, although l do not think SO,
that another candidate, if nominated
| with practical unanimity, might have
proved successful at the polls. Con-
sequently my responsibility is not on
~ to Mr.. Cleveland. whom l have
urged so strongly to make the trial,
but to the Democratic party itself,
with which | have always been iden-
tilted and from which have received
many honOrS.
II have been SO busy ever since l
returned from Europe in trying to
accomplish the Nomination that. to tell
the truth, had overlooked the grave
problems bearing upon the election Of
the nominee. When l sat down last
| evening and candidly reviewed the sit
| uation l must say that was appalled,.
| 1t is useless to deny to ourselves that
| practically all OF the old time Demo-
cratic leaders, the men who would
| naturally be looked to as the guiding
paign, are bitterly opposed to Mr..
| Cleveland Not that they will fail to
vote the ticket, but their support at the
present moment certainly promises to
| be lackadaisical and tinctured with
| feelings of personal hostility.
The first and most serious problem
| to solve is here in New York, and /
/ ~ fr
hope to succeed in breaking the COM
bination that insisted upon Hill and is
still hostile and likely to continue so
| to Cleveland. | feel so strongly the
| necessity for the greatest promptitude
| of action that l shall he utterly dis
| couraged If go to bed tonight without
having made distinct progress. That
he added, with a characteristic shrug
| of the shoulders and laugh that his
friends would recognize, sis what
| wanted to talk to you about"
~ discussion of ways and means
followed writes MI. Harvey, lend
! ing in a recognition of the necessity OF
| obtaining at once the hearty co-opera
| ton of one Of the three dominant fac
tors in the organization-Mr. Hill, Mr.
Murphy or Mr.. Croker. Mr.. Hills
name was promptly eliminated from
consideration. His disappointment hat
been too great: his wounds were toe
recent. With Mr.. Murphy, Mr.. Whit
ney had, at that time, very slight &C
| quaintance, and it was partly for this
reason that he had called into con
-sultation one who knew Mr.. Murphy
more intimately. After careful con
sideration of that gentleman's charac
tcristics. his feeling that both the party
and himself had suffered unnecessaril!
at he hands CT 2Ir. Cleveland, his nat
ur,ily unfo.giving spirit in Il situation
of that Ne ;ure AMI his inclination to be
lieve that Nh Clevotands reelection
would bring more harm than good t.
the Democratic party. his name, too
was dismissed.
"Oniy Mr.. Croker remained.
81 cont know Mr.. Croker Mr.
Whitrcy said. 4 suppose l have seeI
him tHicc i'll ten years and then Onl.
to speak to him casually. l can thinl
Of only one possibility in connection
with him. When l was a young prac
ticing lawyer. just beginning to ge
ahead. the two men whom looked VI
to most In the Democratic party wer
Mr. Tillen an,l Mr.. Hewitt, and
knew them both pretty we'll One da,
Mr. Hewitt sent for me and said tina
Richard Croker. one of the minor lead
ers in the Ta:IGany organization, ha'
| been indicted for murder and seeme
likely to suffer unjust punishment be
cause of his dogged refusal to clea
himself NJ. Hewitt said that he ha
made Il thorough investigation an
was absolutely certain that the guilt
man wa; Eot Croker, but a man VIII
had Iefriended him and whose nam
Croker would not under any circuu
stances GiyUlge. Mr.. Hewitt adde
that he considered Croker an homes
faithful ard deserving young man, an
he proposed to get him out OF tn
scra5c # there was any way to do i
He said he wa; willing to furnish MOI
ey for the employment of lawyers an
tie getting CT e.itience and wouli pa
/ me fer any time that l should give I
/ the case il would take it up and civ
| | it my undivided personal attention III
| til we should find that the man could c
1 could not be saved. OF course | coul
. not take payment from Mr. Hewitt ft
such service. but l did under his d
rection undertake the task. wei
down that morning and had tai
with Croker but could get nothlr
out Of him, ard il is positive Ia
that | did not see him again unit
along with several others, l congrat
lated him upon his acquittai. SIN
n then. as have said, l have seen hi
orly two or three times in the mo
casual way. Now, he, OF course,
: members that, and he may feel ser,
d Of gratitude that would enable me
, appeal to him on personal grount