New-York tribune., 1920-04-25

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gong to jail. Croker was investi-
gated and Cox was haled into court,
out nothing ever happened to either
OF them. Sullivan escaped even an
investigation.
1t was Croker again. before the
Mazet committee, who laid down the
rules for selecting judges.
"Then we have this" Mr.. Moss
suggested, "that you participate in
the selection of judges before thew
are elected and then participate in
the emolument that comes Of their
judicial proceedings?"
"Yes, Sir" Croker answered.
And it goes into your pocket?"
Yes, that is my money!" the wit
ness asserted.
"And the nomination Of the Judges
by Tammany Hall in this city is
almost equivalent to an election. is it
not?" Mr.. Moss asked.
Eyes"
$50 that If you have a controlling
voice in the affairs Of your party
and secure the nomination Of true
men you may be sure that at least
in the Real Estate Exchange and
in the firm of Meyer & Croker YOU
will as true Democrat get some
of the patronage?"
eve expect them at least to be
friendly" Croker answered.
"And get. a part Of the patron
age?"
eyes, SIR"
In This Croker Was Supreme
The cynical frankness with which
he disclosed his motives and his
aims and his unbroken success in
the face of open confessions are the
things that made Croker the great
est of all bosses. Platt controlled
greater constituency; he was state
boss and meddled extensively in ma
tional affairs as we'll as those of
New York City, but, while he never
denied that he was boss, neither did
he ever SO disdainfully declare him
self.
Roger Sullivan was boss Of ILL.,
nois as we'll as Of Cook County, but
he was not publicly, at least, brazen,
and Cox, like Platt, was the "easy
boss"
Both Cox and Croker laid down
necessary rule for retaining power
in the organization. Cox expressed
is simply:
II made good in politics because
l never lied to any one and because
l never went back on friend"
Croker was more complicated. He
said:
"The district leaders of Tammany
Hall cannot get or hold their places
without the good will of the majority
Of the Democratic voters Of their
districts. Do you suppose that the
voters are going to stand by unde-
serving men? A man must be bright,
energetic, temperate and, above all,
absolutely square if he wishes to
gain and hold district leadership
in Tammany Hall. Tricks and de-
ception may do for time, but the
man who gets to the front and stays
there is the man who is absolutely
truthful and honorable"
ystat queer conceptions Of truth
and honor men may hold is illus-
trated by another statement Of Gro
ker's, made to the late William T.
Stead shortly before Croker retired
as boss of Tammany, In 1902. Stead
said to Croker:
"Looking back over those thirty
years, Is there not a single act or
deed which In the light Of your ex-
perience you regret having done or
that you now feel that you should
have left undone?"
Not One Regret or Error
Stead says:
"The boss paused. He removed
from his lips the cigar of Brobding-
nag and half closed his eyes for
moment. Then, with calm, deliber
ate emphasis, he replied:
"'No, sir; not one. I do not re-
member ever having done anything
l ought not to have done, for I have
done good all my life"
Croker exposed himself another
time at the height of his power. A
youthful enthusiast met him In the
lobby Of the National Democratic
Club and said to him:
"Mr. Croker, II you had your li9o
to live over again, would you try to
be what you are to-day7"
The leader of Tammany looked
hard and long at his questioner.
"You know" continued the eager
inquirer, "that most successful men
regret their past--I mean they think