New-York tribune., 1906-11-02
CROKER HIT SORE SPOT
TIGER FEELS THE BLOW.
Leaders Reticent, but Interested an
His Return.

News of Richard Crokers remarkable de-
nunciation of the Hearst-Murphy combination
spread like wildfre among politicians last night.
1t the one topic Of conversation among the
Democrats, both Of the Hearst and Regular
Tammany persuasions. but its reception
sentially different according TO the brand OF
Democracy professed by the listener.
Charles F. Murphy heard with interest Mr..
Croker's condemnation of him. but refused to
say anything about it, Some of his friends who
heard of it with him said that it would not alter
existing conditions greatly. Oldtime Tammanv
leaders did not take that view OF the affair
however. but declared that it would be a bomb
for Hearst second none launched this year.
Some Of them were inclined to think that it
would be q bomb for Murphy also Men
ciated for years with Richard Croker considered
such utterance Of the greatest Importance
They did not think that it necessarily portended
a return OF Mr.. Croker to this country to re-
sumo political power. but they thought it pointed
TO a change in the control of Tammany Hall
soon after election, vocing their private
beliefs that Mr.. Hearst could not be elected by
any possibility.
The Gilsey House took 1t calmly and some
what sadly although the Hearst leaders pro-
fessed to regard it as unimportant at the worst,
and at best somewhat of a help to Mr..
Hearst.
Il don't think MIR. Croker's utterances will
| have much effect" declared Max F. Ihmsen
| Mr.. Hearst's chief OF staff, somewhat lugubri-
! ously, except to help along Mr. Hearst. Nc
Carren. and Belmont, and Ryan, and Andy
! Freedman, and Croker-they're all about in the
same class. you know. Their opposition will
help Mr.. Hearst"
But won't Mr. Crokers old friends. in Tam
many be likely to knife Hearst because of this
decraration?' was asked
"Oh. well, there may be some knitting. OF
course there will be a few whom McCarren may
control and a few who may choose to follow
Mr.. Croker, but nothing TO amount TO any
thing" answered Mr.. Ihmsen
JAMES ]. MARTIN WITH CROKER
I James ]. Martin for years one of the strong
est and most agacious of the Tammany chief
tains. who recently resigned the leadership of
the 9th Assembly District because of the
| Hearst-M Murphy coalition declared his entire
accord with what Mr.. Croker had said. and re-
iterated his belief that not even the Tammany
Democrats would support Hearst at the polls.
Il am thoroughly in accord with what Mr..
! Croker has said about Murphy's nominating
/ Hearst" said Mr.. Martin. He is entirely cor
! rect when he says that the organization should
! have gone down 10 defeat with its colors fly
! ing rather than TO accept its candidate a
! man who already had nominated a ticket
against that of the organization and who for
months had been denouncing the leaders of
/ Tammany thieves.
That was the crucial point, and the point
! on which I took my stand at Buffalo. 1 do not
believe Hearst has the slightest chance for cleo
! tion. He and all his candidates will be
swamped. BY nominating him at Buffalo the
! Democrats split their party wide Open Hearst
! may barely carry New York County but even
/ that is doubtful He has chance in Kings
! Queens Richmond Up the state the party is
/ him"
What will be the effect of This statement
! of Mr CroIIer's?' Mr.. Martin was asked
Wait and see he answered grimly "Suf-
| 4icent to the day is the evil thereof"
Tammany workers found in the club OF the
! Suliivans In the Bowery last night seemed to
| be more interested in card games than in plans
| for getting out votes for Mr. Hearst They
! listened with interest to what Mr. Croker had
eaid about Tammar"'s astounding and un-
! prinC.pieG performance in turning deIeSa-
! ton over TO the man who had called them
thieves hut they shut up like CLANS when they
| were asked what they thought Of Mr.. Croker's
! views What seemed TO he in their minds OF
| possible trouble voiced by the anxious in
! quiry: Does Croker say ANYTHING a bout COM
! Ing bact?'
That question asked. too In Julius Har-
burgers club, IN Second avenue, near 30 street,
! where pictures of Croker and Sulzer were dis
| played in company with q campaign lthogra ph
! of Hearst. Hamburger himself had gone TO bed
but his followers in the club remarked that Mr..
! Croker had "hit II straight" and that william
Sulzer was tho real thing as q Jenersonian
Democrat.