Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-09-01

hi2hlv interesting contiioutoH |"
political history has just been made by
Colonel George W. Harvey, editor OF
Harper's Weekly 1t is the inside
story of how Richard Croker came TO
contribute so greatly to the election OF
Grover Cleveland in 1892. 1t was
William c. Whitney who brought II
about. and the result was directly
due to trait strong in the heart OF
the old .rammany leader-gratltude.
Colonel Harvey writes OF the per-
p]exity which faced Mr.. Nhlnev
when he returned to New York after
bringing about the nomination OF MI.
Cleveland He called into consulta-
ton one of his closest friends and con
fded to him the problem which he
had III some Way=to solve.
Hill. Croker, Murphy.
II will De recalled that Alr. Ctcve-
land had been nominated over Mr.
Hill. who had the earnest and hearty
suprori OF Mr.. Croker. the fammany
leador. a.Ii= Senator Hta.Fil1. the l1A-
state leader. Mr.. Whitney 9aw the
absolute necessity Of getting these ele-
meats together in open and active sup
port Of the nominee or there would he
absolutely 40 chance OF victory, As
he discussed the situation immediate
" upon his return from the conVel-
ton to he friend moEticae6. pre-
sumably Colonel Harvey, who then
enioyed confidential business relations
with him, Mr.. Whitney said:
'"The first and most serious problem
to solve is here in New York, and |
feel that | have not an hour to lose il
I hope to succeed in breaking the COM
bination that insisted upon the nom
ination of Hill, and is still hostile and
likely to continue so to Cleveland.
feel so strongly the necessity for the
greatest promptitude Of action that /
shall be utterly discouraged if | go to
bed tonight without having made dis
tinct progress That he added, with
= characteristic shrug of the should
ers, and laugh that his friends
would recognize, sis what | wanted
to talk to you about
"A discussion of ways and means
followed" writes Mr.. Harvey, lending
in a recognition of the necessity OF
obtaining at once the hearty coop
Grafton of one of the three dominant
factors in the organization-Mr. hill,
Mr.. Murphy or Mr.. Croker. Mr.. Hills
name was promptly eliminated from
consideration His disappointment
had been too great, his wounds were
too recent With Mr.. Murphy, MI.
Whitney had al that time. very slight
acouaintance, and it was partly Tor
this reason he had called into con
sultation one who knew Mr.. Murphy
more Intimately. After caretul con
sideratior Of that gentlman char,
acter;stics. his feelings that both the
partv and himself had suffered un-
necessarily at the hands OF Mr.. CleVe-
land his naturally unforgiving spirit
in a situation OF that nature, ana MS
inclination to believe that Mr.. Cleve-
lands reelection would bring more
harm than good to the Denocfa''e
partv. his meme, too was dismissed.
croker's Trial Recalled.
"On]v Mr.. Croker remained.
81 don't know Mr., Croker, Mr.
Whitney said, I suppose have seen
him twice in ten wears. and then ohiE
10 speak 10 him casually. can
think of o,lv one possibility in con
nectj0n with him. When was q
youne practicng lawyer. Just begin
ming to get ahead, the two men "hohf
I looked up TO most IN the democratic
nartv were Mr. 1il1en and MI. lte"-
III and ! knew them both pretty
well. One day Mr.. Hewitt sent l0'
me and SAID that Richard Croker, one
of tho minor leaders in the IamlhahA
organization. had been indicted lot
murder. and seemed likely to suhet
unjust punishment because OF MS "o9-
ged refusal TO clear himself. Mr.
Hewitt said that he had made a 'hof-
o1ph vestigation, and was absolu'e-
IL certain that the guilty man was not
Croker. but a man who had befriend
cd him. and whose name Croker wouio
not under any circumstances d1vuise
Mr.. Hewitt added that he consloefee
Croker an honest, faithful anu oe
serving young man, and he proposed
to get him out of the scrape II there
was any way to do it. He SAID he
was willing to furnish the money 1ol
the employment of lawyers and the
getting of evidence, and would pay me
for any time that l might give to th'