The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-08-27

vass and that of the last year-1Ss2-
when the Democratic party was sue
cessful. The situation which con-
fronted Mr.. Whitney upon his return
from Chicago at that time was GER
tainly as difficult as that which de-
manded the attention of Judge Par
ker's lieutenants this year. Instead
ferences between the bosses of two
boroughs, Mr.. Whitney faced the ne
cessity of overcoming the most bit
ter resentment of the entire working
element of the party in the state. That
he lost no time in accomplishing this
task is well remembered. The story
of precisely how he did it, however,
has never been told. and becomes in
teresting at this time.
The next morning but one after his
return from Chicago, Mr.. Whitney
summoned to his house in Fifty-sev-
enth street a friend with whom he
was accustomed to discuss his most
trying political problems, and stated
the situation in substantially these
words: 1T may seem strange, but
it is a fact that until last evening l
did not begin TO realize how serious a
responsibility 1 had taken upon my
self in doing what did to bring about
the nomination of Cleveland 1t is
quite possible, although 1 do not think
so, that another candidate, if nomi-
mated with practical unanimity, might
have proved successful at the polls.
consequently my responsibility is not
only to Mr.. Cleveland. whom 1 have
urged so strongly to make the trial,
but to the Democratic party itself,
with which l have always been iden-
titled and from which l have received
many honors. l have been so busy
ever since 1 returned from Europe in
trying to accomplish the nomination
that, TO tell the truth, I had overlooked
the grave problems bearing upon the
election of the nominee. When l sat
down last evening and candidly re-
viewed the situation l must say that
! was appalled,. 1t is useless to deny
TO ourselves that practically all of the
old-time Democratic leaders. the men
who would naturally be looked to as
the guiding and most efficient helpers
in the campaign, are bitterly opposed to
Mr.. Cleveland. Not that they will fail
TO vote the ticket, but their support at
the present moment certainly promises
10 be lackadaisical and tinctured with
feelings of personal hostility. The first
and most serious problem to solve is
here in New York, and | feel that l
have not an hour to lose if 1 hope to
succeed in breaking the combination
that insisted upon Hill and is still hos
tile, and likely to continue so, to CleVe-
land. 1 feel so strongly the necessity
for the greatest promptitude of action
that l shall be utterly discouraged if
l go to bed tonight without having
made distinct progress. That" he ad-
ded, with a characteristic shrug of the
shoulders, and a laugh that his friends
would recognize, lis what 1 wanted to
talk to you about"
A discussion of ways and means fol-
lowed, ending in a recognition of the
necessity of obtaining at once the
hearty cooperation of one of the three
dominant factors in the organiza ton
Mr. Hill. Mr.. Murphy, or Mr.. Croker
Mr.. Hills name was promptly elm
mated from consideration. His disap-
pointment had been so great, his
wounds were too recent. With Mr..
Murphy. Mr.. Whitney had, at that
time, very slight acquaintance, and it
was partly for this reason that he had
called INTO consultation one who knew
Mr.. Murphy more intimately. After
careful consideration of that gentle
mans characteristics-his feeling that
both the party and himself had suffer-
ed unnecessarily at the hands of Mr..
cleveland, his naturally unforgiving
spirit in situation of that nature and
his inclination to believe that Mr..
Cleveland's reelection would bring
more harm than good to the Demo-
cratic party-his name, too, was dis
missed.
Only Mr.. Croker remained: 81 don't
really know Croker" Mr. Whitney said.
suppose l have seen him twice in
Ten years, and then only to speak to
MN casually. l can think of only one
possibility in connection with him.
when l was a young practicing la wyer,
Just beginning to get ahead, the two
men whom 1 looked up to most in the
democratic party We're Mr.. Tilden and
Mr.. Hewitt, and l knew them both
pretty well. One day Mr.. Hewitt sent
Tor me and said that Richard Croker,
one OF the minor leaders in the Tam
many organization, had been indicted
Tor murder and seemed likely to suffer
unjust punishment because of his dog
geo refusal to clear himself. Mr. Hew-
Ut said that he had made a thorough
investigation and was absolutely GER
croker, but a man who had befriended
MIN, and whose name Croker would
not under any circumstances divulge.
Mr.. Hewitt added that he considered
croker an honest, faithful and deserv-
ing young man, and he proposed to get
MN out of the scrape if there was any
way to do ii. He said he was willing
10 furnish money for the employment
or lawyers and the getting Of evil
dence and would pay me for any time
that | should give to the case, if 1
would take it up and give il my un-
divided personal attention, until we
should ind that the man could or could
not be saved. OF course | could not
take payment from Mr.. Hewitt for
SUCH service, but l did under his di-
rectlon undertake the task. / went
down that morning and had a talk
WIN Croker, but could get nothing out
OF him, and it is a positive fact that
! did not see him again until. along
with several others. congratulated
MIN upon his acquittal Since then,
as l have said, / have seen him only
Two or three times, in the most cas-
ual way. Now he, of course, remem-
oers that, and he may feel a sense Of
gratitude that would enable me to APP
peal TO him on personal grounds; and
nave become so oppressed by this
ieehng Of responsibility that
brought upon myself that / am ready
10 do II unless you can see some rea-
son why / shouldn't"
There seemed TO be no such reason.
snd Mr.. Cookers house number was