Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1904-09-03
WHITNEY and CROKER
Why Tammany Hall Supported
Cleveland In 1899.
HOW A HARD PROBLEM WAS FACED

Colonel George Harvey Tells of VIM.
c. whitney, Work as "A PeacemnL-
err That Ended In Election Of n Pres
Ident-How He Was Helped by For
mer Tammnny Chief.
Colonel George Harvey, the editor
of Harper's Weekly, tells in a recent
issue n 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 Fifty-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:
1t may seem strange, but II is q
fact, that until last evening did not
begin 10 realize how serious a respon-
sibility l had taken upon myself in
doing what | did to bring about the
nomination Of Cleveland. II is quite
possible. although | 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 / 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.
Il have been so busy ever since
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 ! sat down last
evening and candidly reviewed the sit
uation | 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
and most efficient helpers in the cam
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
feel that | have not an hour to lose II
| 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 | shall be utterly dis
couraged if go to bed tonight without
having made distinct progress. That"
he added, with characteristic shrug
Of the shoulders and a laugh that his
friends would recognize, lis what /
=
"a discussion OF ways and means
followed" writes Mr. Harvey. end
ing i'm 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 had
been too great; his wounds We're too
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 gentlemans charac-
teristics his feeling that both the party !
and himself had suffered unnecessarily
at the hands Of Mr.. Cleveland his nat |
urally unforgiving spirit in situation
of that nature and his inclination to be |
lieve that Mr.. Cleveland's reelection |
would bring more harm than good to |
the Democratic party. his name. too,
was dismissed.
only MIR. Croker remained.
81 don't know Mr. Croker Mr |
Whitney said. I suppose have seen
him twice in ten years and then only |
to speak to him casually. I can think |
Of only one possibility In connection |
with him. When l was a young prac-
ticing lawyer. just beginning 10 get |
ahead, the two men whom looked up /
TO most in the Democratic party were
Mr. Tilden and Mr.. Hewitt, and /
knew them both pretty well. one day
Mr.. Hewitt sent for me and said that
Richard Croker one Of the minor lead
ers in the Tammany organization. had
been indicted for murder and seemed
likely 10 suffer unjust punishment be
cause Of his logged refusal TO clear
himself Mr. Hewitt said that he had
made a thorough investigation and
was absolutely certain that the guilty
man was not Croker, but man who
had befrlended him and whose naIno
Croker would not under any circum-
stances divulCc Mr.. Hewitt added