The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-08-18
Old Tammany Chief May
Return to Enter New
York Arena.
HAS A CONFERENCE
WITH DAVID B. HILL
Former Leaders Get Together in
Ireland and Plan TO Aid the
Reunited Democracy.

what BODIES II that David Bennett
Hil and Richard Croker have been
spending week together at the Croker
place IN Ireland. and that Simultaneous
ly with the announcement of this rather
remarkable visit. the former boss of
Tammany announces that he will come
to this country and give his moral sup
port to Bryan?
And right along with these announce
ments. Boss Murphy puts out declara- |
tion full OF confidence. that the Demo-
Gratis are going to carry New YORK
this year. he isn't given 10 talking
much, Murphy isn't In that regard
he is worthy successor OF Croker, who
never talked and was reputed always
10 make good.
A conference OF Croker and Eiu at
the latters home al this time hardly
could fail 10 set all the political guess
ers a-fiutter; and Il surely has had
that effect The traditional relations
between the two veterans of New York
politics-the one retired from leader
ship Of the upstate end OF the party,
the other from the chieftaincy Of Tam
many-have been analyzed and consid- |
cred, with a view TO making ths.a en-
tighten the present meeting between
them.
Croker and Hill have by no means
always been friendly, but they have.
on the whole, got on wen. In 1900, at
the Kansas City convention, which
gave Bryan his second nomination, they
did not work in the utmost harmony;
but really it was hard at that time
TO tell which Of the twain was more
interested in the effort 70 down Bryan.
Bossed the Delegation.
Hill and Croker were two bosses OF
that delegation. Hill wanted to force
a conservative platform through the
convention, and worked like a Trojan
for days, pleading with delegates, and
opening headquarters In the effort TO
set 1t done, He wanted to make
paramount ISSUE Of Soathern represent
alton in Congress, to drop free silver,
and get sane again,
Croker co-cperated with him in all
this. and gave him Gus Van Wyck for
New YOrks member of the resolutions
committee. Tie conservatives had con-
troll Of the committee, Indeed, in the be-
ginning, and il looked aS if BRYAN would
be denied the platform on which his
heart was set. Indeed. he would surely
have been defeated IN the platform
room but Tor. playing his last card; ne
telegraphed the committee that unless
the money plank OF 1886 were specific
ally, verbatim ad literatim, restated.
he would refuse the nomination
That was enough. 1t was too late 10
get out a new candidate and take him
at his word, and everybody knew il
would be rutnOus anyhow % change
horses at such a time. The Committee
surrendered. and both Hill and Croker
were defeated while Bryan ruled.
Both Against Cleveland.
Eight years before that HiH and
Fsud
Grover Cleveland in the 1882 convention
at Chicago. Croker did that rather be-
| cause he hated Cleveland, than because
he loved Hill New York gave its dele
cation to Hin for President, and Croker
was for Hill; but desTste it all, William
| c. Whitney defeated them all, and nom
mated Grover Cleveland without his
own State
It looked gloomy, to try to elect Cleve-
land without Tammany. and with Hin
sulking. But Whitney went to Hin and
got him straightened out so far as was
necessary to assure that he would do
no active damage. Then, 70 every
body's surprise. Tammany came around
II did SO because Croker, then boss,
deCreed that it should do sO5 decreed
il because he wanted to repay TO Whit
ney a favor the latter had done him
many years before, In fact. the stern
old boss hunted UP Whitney 10 tel INN
that Tammany would be all right, and
that he could devote his attention else
So in that fight the Democrats were
saved by being able, most Unexpectedly,
| to secure the aid of Croker. He carried
| New York for them Hin, indeed, was
| by no means enthusiastic about it; but
/ ne kept hands on.
Relations Improved.
Since that time, and since 1900, the re-
lations OF Bryan, Hill and Croker have,
from all accounts, become better than
ever before. True, Hill and Croker are
ont of the active game; but they are
vet looked up 10 and Tevered by their
ancient followers as the real elder
statesmen Of Empire State Democracy;
the men whom to have followed was 10
have plaved politics at It's best, and 10
have won something Ike half the time
These two men are yet real powers
in their State; they are sui looked
upon as the best brains LETT in Demo-
cracy: and II they should decide to get
together, and, returning from Europe,
make joint appeal to their old follow
ings 10 stand for Bryan and put the
Democracy on its feet, they would cause
81 tremendous sweep of the old enthus-
/ iasm in the State.
Mr.. Croker became reconciled to
Bryan, from al accounts, even before
Hill did The thing which brought both
/ these men TO realize that Bryan was in
/ evitable. was first the tremendous de-
feat of Parker in 1900, which made them
know the day was past for Democracy
to try TO win by being the conversative
party; and after that. the acceptance of
/ the Bryan program BY Roosevelt. who
vindicated and popularized 1t.
Bryan Accepted
After this, these wise heads recognized
that Organism and radicalism were not
10 be shunted OF by the party. II might
get rid of Bryan in time but not OF the
principles he has brought into the party
from the populists, ana that Roosevelt
had dragged over 10 the Republicans.
Ii wolld be hard TO say at what point
Croker forgave Bryan and established
relations OF amity and even more, with
him. But il came about in a fashion
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