Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-18
Croker Liked Hearst Once.


When I was in New York. Hearst and I
were close friends and I always liked 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 con-
trolled 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 a demon.
The Charge Of Cochran.
Because 1 think he is still a danger to
democracy I consider it my duty to speak
If Hearst had been elected governor and
had continued raising class distinctions,
cursing those who have made our country
and vilifying every one with bank ac-
count. l am convinced he would have
caused a class war, bringing sadder days
than any America has ever known.
His power to do this has not disappear
ed. Democracy should be on guard against
him. God help democracy If Heartism be-
comes its guiding principle"
Croker was asked what he had to say
about the charge made by Bourke Cochran
that he was a corrupt politician, and he
spoke vigorously and bitterly Of Cochran,
adding:
When Cochran was a poor youth I not
only introduced him into politics, but, as
he had no money, 1 induced Tammany to
paign. When he got into Congress Cochran
wanted to be appointed to the ways and
means committee. l still had faith in him
and suggested his appointment to Speaker
Crisp.
MIR. Crisp demurred, saying he feared
democracy would be sorry later; but finally
Cochran was appointed. consider Cock
ran one Of the most dangerous men in
>0Iy fo te he H.
got into the 400 and is now preaching clean
politics. God save democracy from such
refOrmerS.
Talks Of 'Friends."
IT am unable to explain the attacks on
me by my one-time Tammany friends be-
cause of my interview in the Dublin Free
man. 1 simply wanted to vindicate my old
friends whom 1 saw a year ago pictured
in Hearst's papers in striped suits march
ing to prison. befriended them in the
past, and thought l was defending them
now.
Asks for Fair Judgment.
"I ask the judgment of all fair-minded
persons I have nothing to regard with
shame in my political career except my
friendship for Bourke Cochran. I never
did anything corrupt nor betrayed any,
body.
"Only once did / ever enter a deal with
the republicans and that was during the
administration of Gov. Black, when SEN
ator Plat and I agreed to urge the pass
age Of the anti-cartoon bill. The agree
ment was without result, as Gov. Black
declined to sign the bill. Black was praised
as New York's best governor for his attf
tude, but directly afterward he was being
cartooned as rogue.
81 am convinced that II the anti-cartoon
bill had passed President Mckinley would
now be alive. II the cartooned .plunder-
bunderers are assassinated the RESPONSE
bllity will not be hard to trace.
II affirm that on no other occasion have
I negotiated with the republicans II any,
one believes he has proofs to the contrary
or If any one can specifically accuse me
of corruption In my thirty-five years Of
political life, let him speak out 1 give
PERMISSION to everybody to tell all he
knows abou. me now.
Won't Re-Enter Politics.
Regarding the future. want to dispel
the rumor that intend to re-enter poll
tics. Nothing could induce me to reassert
myself in Tammany and play another part
In politics. / am out for good and all.
/ would not live FIVE years If I returned
to the political arena. Here In Ireland
with my horses, / am looking forward to
the fifteen best years of my life
when I resumed the leadership of
Tammany in 1896 I did so only after
twenty-five of the district leaders had