The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
CROKER THINKS
GOD DEFEATED
HEARST
Former Tammany Leader Is
Bitter in Denunciation of
the New York Editor
STATEMENT GIVEN
OUT IN DUBLIN
Declares That Bourke Cock
ran Is the Biggest Black
guard of Modern Times

DUBLIN. Nov. I7.-Richard Croker
gave out an interview today, In which
he added a chapter to his quarrel with
William Randolph Hearst and paid his
Hall. The old chiefs talk was marked
by intense earnesfness. In reply to
the correspondents first question as
to what caused Hearst's defeat in the
recent election Croker replied simply,
''God Almighty"
Then he added: His defeat is
judgment of heaven, owing TO his sour
rilous charges and his ungentlemanly
conduct Of the campaign. vilifying
every one who did not hold his opin-
ions. In all my experience l do not re-
member a campaign which sank to
such billingsgate.
Il see Hearst referred to me as
corrupt politician. If he thinks so,
why did he visit me in 1903 at Wan
tage and beg me to resume the leader
ship 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 con-
fessed that he was ambitious to enter
politics, and said that 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 Parker I am proud to
be on guard against him. God help
Democracy If Hearstism becomes its
guiding principle"
Mr.. Croker was asked what he had
to say about the charge made by
Bourke Cochran that he was corrupt
politician. and he replied:
COCHRAN A BLACKGUARD
Il want to tell Cochran that 1 be-
Iieve him to be the biggest BLACKBOARD
of modern times. In all my experience
have never found an honest streak in
him.
WI hen Cochran was a poor youth I
not only introduced him into politics,
but. as vet he had no money I induced
Tammany to pay the expenses of his
Congressional campaign. When he got
into Congress Cochran wanted to be
appointed on the Ways and Means
committed still had faith in him
and suggested his appointment to
Speaker Crisp. Mr.. Crisp demurred,
saying that he feared Democracy would
be sorry later. But finally Cochran
was appointed
7 consider Cochran one of the most
dangerous men in American politics.
All that is necessary to learn his
character is to look him straight In the
face and watch him little, noting
the closely set eyes roll in his head
as he attempts to deceive.
Cochran is one of the abIest speak
ers in America, but he never believes
word he says. This is the man who
got into the Four Hundred and is now
preaching clean politics. God save
Democracy from such reformers."
NONSENSE. SAYS HEARST
LoNGvIEw. Tex. Nov. 17.-william
Randolph Hearst passed through here
tonight en- route to Monterey, Mexico.
In reply to Richard Croker's state
nient that Hearet's recent defeat was a
judgment of God and that he CCroker)
had been urged by Hearst to resume
the Tammany leadership. he said:
Croker's statement is nonsense. 1
have never cared whether he went
abroad or stayed at home. I don't care
particularly who is leader of Tammany
Hall AS a citizen l can't imagine a
worse leader than Croker. and as a
Democrat I could not imagine more
disastrous leader. I rather think that
the best thing for Croker to do is to
stay abroad, and should think it the
safest thing for him in this dav of in