The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-08-27
WHITNEY AND CROKER
Why Tammany Supported Cleveland in the
Successful Campaign of 1892.

gazed at the mantelpiece. BY that
time Mr.. Whitney had become so ner-
Vous from overwork, lack of sleep and
a troubled mind that he could do moth
ing but walk back and forth. Not a
word was said for perhaps five min
utes; then Mr.. Whitney stopped in
front of Mr.. Croker and said: Croker.
I've got something l want to say to
you, and l don't know how to begin,
Are you going down town?"
Yes" Mr.. Croker replied, without
taking his eyes from the mantelpiece.
How would you like to ride down
with me, and perhaps we can talk il
over on the way?"
All right" Mr.. Croker replied, and
that ended the conversation. With a
word to his friend to meet him at his
office in the Mutual Life building, Mr..
whitney followed Mr.. Croker into the
waiting carriage, and away they went.
Three-quarters of an hour later, Mr..
Whitney came swinging into his office
looking twenty years younger. He
greeted his friend like a long lost
brother, threw back the Iapels of his
coat, tipped back his hat as he might
have done in his undergraduate days,
and paced the length of the room three
or four times with the cleaning spirit
of boy; finally he stopped and said:
That is one of the most extraordinary
men have ever met. You may have
noticed that l was nervous when I
left the house. Well, l was, I couldn't
get started on what l wanted to say,
even after we got into the carriage,
and it is an actual fact" he said with
laugh, that neither of us said a
word until we reached WASHINGTON
Square. Then I turned to him and
said: Croker, l am in the most I'M
comfortable position l have ever been
in in my life. The people think 1
nominated Cleveland, and suppose he
thinks l may have had something to
do with it. That being so, l have got
to elect him, and l don't do it unless
l can convince the country right away
that New York is in line, and the only
man who can help me out is you. There
is no use talking about it, we both
understand the situation. All I've got
TO ask you is, will you do it?' Mr..
Whitney paused an instant and gave
another boyish laugh and continued:
While l was making my speech Croker
sat there looking straight ahead, as
1mpasslve, as a craven image, and not
having the slightest sign of what he
was thinking, or what he intended to
say; and he didn't breathe a word for
full minute Then he took his cigar
out of his mouth and turned around to
me and, in the most matter of fact
voice imaginable, said Mr. Whitney,
l have been waiting fifteen years to
find you in hole. You needn't worry
about this. I guess it will be all right
Well, Mr.. Whitney continued, after
momentary pause, Il suppose I thank
ed him. 1 don't know Anhow, that
is all that was said, and maybe I
don't feel better. Now let's go and
get something to eat"
The next mornings newspapers con-
tanned positive assurances of Tam
many Halls determination to support
the national ticket with all it's might
ana main, and within twenty-four
hours thereafter it was definitely known
throughout the country that Mr. Muir
ply had joined hands unreservedly
with his friend Croker in an effort to
carry the state of New York The ef-
feet of this announcement upon the
workers of the party throughout the
country was electrifying. 1t was the
beginning of the end of Republican
rule for at least four years.
This story is told only for the pur-
pose of affording an interesting illus
tration of differences in political meth
DDS. 1t happened within sixty-four
hours after the nomination of Mr..
Cleveland. Five weeks have elapsed
since Judge Parker. also d New York
Democrat, having not a single per-
sonal antagonism within or without his
party, was nominated; and two borough
bosses are still Juggling at each others
Threats from the most sordid of motives
and enhancing daily the prospect of
Republican success in the three essen
tial states of New York, New Jersey
and Connecticut.