Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-11-17
TOday's TelegrRphic News


Copyrighted 1906 by the Publishers Press ]
Dublin, Ireland, Nov. IT, Richard
Croker today gave ont al interview in
which he added chapter 10 his quarrel
with William K. Hearst and paid his
respects to his enemies in Tammany
Hall
Ia reply TO the correspondents FIRST
question as to what bad caused Hsarsps
defeat 10 the recent election, Mr., Croker
replied Good Almighty" Then he
ADDED "His defeat ia Judgment OF
heaven owing to his scurriIous charges
and his ungenilemanly condact OF the
campaign, villiiying everyone who did
not hold his opinion Ia all my expert
euce | do not remember a campaign
which sunk to such billiugsgate. | see
Hearst referred to me as corrupt poll
ticisn. If he thinks 80, why did he visit
me in 1908 at Vantage, and bsg me to
resume the leadership of Tammany Hall?
Mr.. Hearst imploreI me to rt-en;er pol
itics, saying that Lewis Nixon was it
competent aud that everybody wanted
me to return. Hearst also confessed
that he was ambitions to enter poll
tics and said | could help him.
because think Hearst is still a
danger to democracy, I consider ii my
duty to speak. If Hearst had been elect
ed governor and had continued raising
class distinctions, cnrsing those who made
our country and vilifyiug everyone with
bank account, Am convinced he
would have caused class war, bringing
sadder days than any America has ever
known. His power to do this has not
disappeared. Democracy should be on
quad against him. God help demcc-
racy if Hearstsm becomes its guiding
principle"
Mr. Croker was asked what he had to
say about the charge by Bourke Cochran
that he was a corrupt politician, and he
replied.
al want to tell Cochran that | be-
lieye him to be the biggest BLACKBOARD
of modern times In all my experience
J have never fourd an honest streak in
him. When Cochran was poor youth
l not only Introduced him into politics,
but as he had no money, | induced
Tammany to pay the expenses of his
congressional campaign When be got
into Congress Cochran wanted TO be APP
pointed 90 The ways and means com
miitee. | still had faith in him and
suggested his appointment to Speaker
Crisp. Mr.. Crisp de.nurred, saying he
feared democracy would be sorry later.
but finally Cochran was appointed.
consider Cochran one of the most dan
gerous and one of the most treacherous
men in American politics always
found Charles F. Murphy upright,
honest and well meaning, | am still
unable to account for his support o.
Hearst in the nominating convention"
NJ. Croker in referring to charges thai
have been made against him said: 81
any one can specifically accuse me O.
corruption in my ihirty-GVe years o
political life, let him speak ont.
give permission to everybody to tell al
he knows about me now. Regarding thu
future, | want to dispel the rumor tina
| / intend to re.enter poitic' Nothing
could induce mo to reasssrt myself IL
Tammany and play another part in poll
tics. an out for good and all. "
Further on Mr.. Croker said: "Th'
future Of the democratic party ia in thu
hands of the workingmau, and democrats
should improve the conditions OF Labor
and should insist that trusts which raise
prices be killed. Rebates and enormous
dividends should be prohibited and com
bining 10 raise prices or corner toodstnil
on the stock exchange shOnld be made {
criminal offense. Fight OF
clean cut Issues and do not accuse opOC
nents of crimes simply because they ar
opponents. If you cannot win by fail
means, do not stoop to foul one'. ID
not despair at defeat il you have retOineC
your manhood. That has been the Lessor
of my political career"