The evening world., 1908-12-02
NARROW OLD
MAN" CROKER
CALLS WISE
Sorry "Poor Old Man" Was
So Weak as to Sell Out
to Republicans.
INCONSISTENT, HE SAYS.
rites Me Up With Tweed, but
Has Only Praise for Root.
Tweed's Lawyer"
INCONSISTENT, HE SAYS.

Richard Croker retorted to-day upon
Rabbi Wise that he ohe rabbi was a
narrow old man. and that he was sorry
for hlm-"soryy for a poor old man who
had no more strength Of mind than to
sell himself to the Republican party"
Continuing, Mr. Croker declared that
the remarks OF Rabbi Wise that the
night OF the banquet given to the
former Tammany chieftain was
night of shame" revealed his narrow
ness.
He may call himself Republican So
oial!st," said Croker, but he is not
true Socialist. I'm sorry for him-sorry
for a poor old man who has had no
more strength of mind than to sell him
self 20 the Republican party.
~ see that he calls me the successor
OF Tweed Yes. did succeed Tweed,
Some one had to. He was driven out OF
power with nv help.\ So l succeeded to
the leadership.
Did ever stand for Tweed? No, sir,
was against him and l was glad to be
able TO help TO beat him. And l say to
this Republican, Socialist rabbi there
must have been incompetent prosecutors
in this city If am fit 10 be put in the
same boat with Tweed.
Has i, Motive, He Says.
NO. | don't want any controversy
with Wise. lie has a motive, that's all.
But | see, by the way, that he had
nothing but praise for Roosevelt and
Root. have nothing against Root,
I ,l,..,. ha oil
for Tweed. Wise doesn't call him any
names, though. Well. Wise isn't con-
sistent. lie says I'm to be blamed and
ties me up with Tweed, and he has
nothing but praise for Tweeds lawyer.
Root"
Croker said that Rabbi Wise had
shrewdly guessed that the banquet he
called "a night of shame" had as its
purpose the gathering about him of n
united Democracy for the campaign of
1909.
The comment of Rabbi Wise on the
Croker banquet that attracted the most
attention was made at the dinner of the
Ethical-Social League last night and
was as follows:
Last night was night of shame for
New York City. 1t was night of
shame for the twelve Supreme Court
justices and for Mr.'Jerome, who dis
graced themselves and dishonored the
city by joining in a tribute to the sue
cessor OF the boodling Tweed. and
the predecessor of the unspeakable
Murphy
Likened to Tweed.
Between Tweed and Murphy stood
Croker. more deft and cunning than his
predecessor, but not less hungry and
INSCRIPTIONS. One feels pity for those
justices of the Supreme Court who were
present, Let us be charitable and as
sumo that they did not wish to be pres
ent. but let us not forget that they did
not have courage to stay away.
THE citizenship of New York should
resolve never 10 do honor to any man
who lends himself to a plan to do
honor to the one-time betrayer and de-
spoiler of his city, lately returned to
these shores. Let list of the guests
be published. that We may know who
these reverers Of Croker are.
las long as Croker had the grace 20
shut himself out from public scrutiny
by remaining hidden upon his Irish es-
tate. We Gould afford 10 forget Him, but
when he returns here. after having
sought to defeat Gov. Hughes. il is time
for New Workers who love their city
and loathe her shame to take counsel
together,
IF these men" said Rabbi Wise,
have the provision TO gather together
a year before the next municipal con
lest. regurdful of their private inter
ests. let the eth.cal-social forces of the
t.,.It ,,HIt .l,I..
our city from another term OF mislui,,
Let these forces be In earnest and MOI
squabble about getting the name OF
God into the Constitution ami yet have
such thing as Plat In the United
States Seuate'
SONG FROM SAMSON AND DELLA.