Evening journal., 1906-11-17
"GOD ALMIGHTY"
HELD UP HEARST
Croker Saysif Willie Had Won
GOVernOrship War Would
Have Followed
PUTS DEMOCRACY ON GUARD

Copyright 1906 by Publishers Press.)
DUBLIN, Ireland. Nov. 17.-Richard
Croker to-day gave out an interview in
which he added a chapter to his quar-
rel with w. r. Hearst and paid his re-
spects to his enemies in Tammany
Hall.
Te old chiefs talk was marked by in
tense earnestness. After the interview
was written he personally made cor
rections. It is, therefore. a sort of ofh-
cial proclamation, the last, Croker de-
iclares he viii make.
In reply to the correspondents first
question as to what had caused
Hearsts defeat in the recent election,
Mr.. Croker replied simply:
God almighty"
Then he added: "His defeat is a
Judgment of heaven, owing to his sour
rilous charges and his ungentiemanly
conduct of the camapign, villifying
everyone who did not hold his opinion.
In all my experience 1 do not remem-
Der campaign which sunk to such
lbillingsgate.
Hearst Wanted Help
'I see Hearst referred to me as cor
rupt politician. If he thinks so, why
did he visit me In 1908. at Vantage,
and beg me TO resume the leadership Of
Tammany Hall Mr.. Hearst implored
me to re-enter politics. saying that
Lewis Nixon was Incompetent and
that everybody wanted me to return.
Hearst also confessed that he was am
bitious to enter politics, and said
could help him. Now Hearst is putting
me in the position OF being in the
'plunderbund' with Belmont, Morgan,
Carnegie, Root, Roosevelt. Ryan,
Freedman and the Rev. Lindsay Par
ker. 1 am proud to be associated with
these gentlemen. for they have done
more for New York asleep than Hearst
has accomplished in a conscious state
of mind
when / was in New York Hearst
and / were close friends, and always
nked HIM. surely Hearst did not at
that time think me corrupt. I do not
know why he thinks so now. Hearst
has greatly changed in the last few
years. Now apparently he is controlled
by the idea that he is greater than the
Democratic party. He is ambitious to
make the party his servant. He is a
slave to passion and egotism. His
creed is that everybody who is for him
is an angel. while everybody who is
against him is demon.
Is Exceedingly Dangerous
Because I think he is still a danger
Ito Democrats, consider it my duty to
speak. If Hearst had been elected gov
ernor and had continued raising class
distinctions. cursing those who made
our country and villifying everyone
with a bank account, am convinced
he would have caused a clash war
bringing sadder days than any America
has ever known.
His power to do this has not dis
appeared. Democracy should be on
guard against him. God help Democ-
racy If Hearstism becomes its guiding
principle"
Cochran a BLACKBOARD
Mr.. Croker was asked what he had to
say about the charges made by Bourke
/ Cochran that he was a corruptionist,
and he replied:
Il want to tell Cochran that I be-
llieve him to be the biggest blackguard
of modern times. In all my expert
ence ] have never found an honest
streak in him. When Cochran was a
poor youth I not only introduced him
into politics, but as he had no money,
1 induced Tammany to pay the ex-
penseS of his congressional campaign.
When he got into Congress Cochran
wanted to be appointed on the Ways
and Means Committee. / still had faith
in him and suggested his appointment
to speaker Crisp.
"Afr. Crisp demurred szying he fear
ed Democracy would be sorry later,
but finally Cochran was appointed.
Il consider Cochran one Of the most
dangerous and most treacherous men
in American politics. All that is neces-
sary to learn his character is to look