The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-26
INSIDE OF YAMMANY IN 1897.
ASK SHEEHY OR y. y. MARTIN on
BIG TIM IF THIS rs HISTORY.

49, 49, W -
walked In-Maybe He FIew-G0t 70
Cookers Omce First With Invitation.
Richard Cookers recent interviews cabled
from Dublin, wherein he speaks OF Repre-
~cntative W. Bourke Cochran and William
r.. Hearst and matters past and present in
Tammany, led John c. Sheehan to issue a
statement which reflected upon Mr.. Croker.
Mr.. Cookers friends resent certain state
ments recently made by Mr.. Sheehan re-
gardinR the return of the old chief of Tam
many Hall to its leadership in 1897. One
OF these said last night:
Il have prepared a statement which is
intended 20 reflect upon nobody, but it is
a presentation of absolute facts. Mr..
Cookers friends in Tammany will verify
all of the assertions made in this state
ment. How and why Mr.. Croker resumed
the leadership of Tlmmany in 1897, after
he had formally abdicated two years before,
may be ancient history. but il the incident
is interesting enough for Mr.. Sheehan to
discuss as a historian, then it's facts ought
TO be presented with some regard for his
torical accuracy. Some Of these facts
have never beer published. They are
known to only a limited number of persons
htu lHcy COiiiphtLtty Ttlhtc, II any Ttlubd-
ton is needed, the charges made by Mr..
Sheehan that Mr.. Croker was false, de-
Ceitful and dishonest in his treatment OF
him, and that Mr.. Croker returned to this
country in the fall Of 1897 empty in pockets
and devoid of sympathizers.'"
The statement prepared by Mr.. Cookers
friend and subscribed to by others Is as
follows:
Everybody remembers that John c.
Sheehan was hoisted into the chair Of leader
Of Tammany by Richard Croker-yes,
'hoisted' is the word. Mr.. Croker was
physically and mentally tired and was
anxious to get away from the worry and
drag of Leadership. His friends knew
his affection for Tammany and his earnest
desire for its continued prosperity, for it
will he remembered that he had been lead
ing it to victory after victory-never to
defeat. 1t seemed TO him that Mr.. Sheehan
would make a good leader, and his recon-
mendation that he be selected as his Sic
cessor was silently acquiesced in, never
unanimously approved. Some of his
friends may have doubted his judgment.
They never questioned his sincerity and
they accepted the selection, some Of them
with gloomy forebodinRs.
We'll, we know that Mr.. Sheehan's real
troubles in this life began after he became
leader, so called, of Tammany Hall. Purroy
set up an opposition shop an kept him on
the anxious seat. Members of the execu-
tive COMMITTEES avoided Fourteenth street
as il il were plague infected. Sullenness
and dissatisfaction pervaded the ~organiza-
ton. The very atmosphere of { e Hall
was depressing. Matters seemed to be
going from bad to worse. The first cam
paign under the new charter was coming
on and everywhere there was doubt about
the result and d'strust of Mr.. Sheehan's
ability TO lead a winning fight. The Re-
publicans had perfected the charter in the
fullest belief that they would elect the first
Mayor. and their confidence that Tammany
was now to be well trimmed seemed TO be
well founded.
Matters were in this condition when Mr..
Croker landed from Europe On the morn
ing of September 7, 1897. He went direct
TO the Hotel Manhattan with his family.
At 1 o'clock that afternoon he was at Ill
Broadway, where he had a real estate
office with Peter F. Mayer. The news
papers of that period will tell you hat
Mr.. Sheehan was one Of many political
n personal friends who called there to
welcome him home. To them all Mr.. Croker
made it as clear as language could that he
was back only for a visit, but that he would
aid and assist Mr.. Sheehan all that he could
in the approaching campaign. His very
first words to the reporters when he came
ashore, predicting the election Of Tam
many's ticket by $1,000, inspired conf
dence at once in the rank and file.
an the course of that interview he stated
that he intended going up to his farm for
q few days rest. When Mr.. Sheehan as
ser ted tie ether day that Mr.. Croker re-
tuIred empty in pockets and devoid of
~ MLathiGerS' he forgot something that
everybody else remembers. Mr.. Cookers
farm vas at Kichheld Springs, this State.
In Otsezo county the owner of a farm is
not regarded, by his n~eighbors at least,
a. a man lean Of pocket or down at the
heel.
Connecting that the farm amounted to
nothing, there were several pieces Of real
estate in this city that did. There was a
house opposite Mount Morris Park, an
other in 1l7th street, bought by Mr.. Croker
when he was Coroner, and there were ten
lots at l4sth street and Seventh avenue,
once the property Of Cyrus w. Field. There
were one or two other parcels which at the
moment we caunot locate. All these were
owned by Mr.. Croker. If they are to be
considered material evidences Of poverty
then Mr.. Sheehan was correct in his dag
nosis of Mr.. 'Croker's financial condition.
To an affuent Buffalonian they might in
dicate emptiness of pocket, but never to a
frugal New Yorker.
MIR. Croker moved 10 the Murray Hill
Hotel a few days after his return. Il can
not be truthfully said that he lacked COM
pany from the day he landed, for there
was a steady throng of visitors 10 his quar-
tiers. But in Fourteenth street the quar-
antine flag still tapped in the breezes. the
Hall was practically deserted, and il Mr..
Sheehan ever felt real lonesome-I mean
lonesome for n leader of Tammany Hall
that was the time. That Mr.. Croker's
advice was freely asked by the members of
Tammany Hall during the weeks preceding
the holding OF the city convention and that
his influence was potential in bringing about
the nomination of Robert A. Van Wick for
Mayor will not be denied by Mr.. Sheehan.
I'VE do not believe hat Mr.. Van Wyck's
name was ever thought of in Fourteenth
street until Mr.. Croker suggested il. Mr..
Sheehan had several good men in his mind
for Mayor, among them Charles w. DAYTON
and Delos McCurdy, but he kept them
there instead of presenting them TO the
executive committee.
The Brooklyn people have always in
sisted that Mr.. Sheehan wanted 10 hog