The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-09
croker WANTS
'FR|ENDSOF ERIN
]. To BACK PEACE
Former Tammany Boss Urges
Z Americana to Back Policies
Of Griffith.
By HAYDEN TALBOT.

dramatic, but In my eyes the
thought Of the poor Irish people
again running to shelter from bull
let's, again plunged into direst pow
erty, again crushed under the hope
lessness Of the future-this Is more
dramatic" ~ ~
1sSt Consents to Interview.
-. Richard Croker. New York's old
IN his magnificent home. Glencairn, at
6andyford. made this statement to me
today In the course Of an exclusive
interview for Universal Service.
Il, While at Glencairn ] had talk
with DR.. Lennon, who has been In
daily attendance upon Croker since
October Is. on his arrival from
America. In view OF the alarming
reports regarding the condition OF
Croker's health, II win undoubtedly
relieve thousands Of his friends in
America to learn that his illness is not
considered dangerous. His SPECIFIC
inalady Is gall stones.
Owing to his advanced age-he Ii
Z eighty-one years old-an operation Ii
held to be impossible. and 1t IL not
likely that he will ever leave the oeo
again.
How Illness Originated.
Mrs. Croker explained to me how
the illness originated. Strangely
enough 1t was indirectly q result Oh
the disorders In Ireland. Owing to
the martial law In Ireland passengers
were not allowed to disembark at
Queenstown. The Crokers had to pro-
coed to Liverpool and thence to Holy
head, where they arrived late at night.
They had to stand for an hour on
windswept pier while their baggage
was examined by British authorities.
Il was this exposure which brougnt
on q chill and which superinduced his
present ailment.
. For two and q half months Croker
has been confined to his bed and .
few weeks ago his wife cabled her
brother-in-law, Clarity, In Oklahoma
City, to come at once. To this she
attributes the rumors that her hus-
band was dying.
'pIafned that the real reason for his
being summoned was his experience
as q farmer and his ability to take
over the management Of Glencairn's
SOS acres, Including the wonderful
racing stables in which are nine
daughters Of Orby, the winner OF the
1907 derby
~ Summoned by Gable.
It was Boss Croker himself who
composed the cable summoning Gar.
.rity-another instance OF his shrewd-
ness to have a man on the job who
knows the business Of managing q
big farm. '.'' ''n".' r'.
When I was ushered into the bed,
room of the famous old Tammany
ctieftain. found him literally buried
underneath papers, one Of which he
lowered to shake hands with me.
With his greetings there was a shake
- 81
Naturally enough / was delighted
with the result of the vote in the
Dali. But today's developments are
not OF the kind to make any friend
OF Ireland happy.
at In true that the Irish people
through the action Of the Dali come
into possession Of their own house
and are at last free to clean house
and set II In order. But how II II
,going to be done while half Of them
are determined to destroy everything
As fast as IL 10 built up?"
10 1nasmuch as none OF the Sunday
papers contained q line suggesting
that ratification did not mean unity
IN the only legislative body IN ireland
at the moment 1t was plain that the
old boss, as always, had his inside
information.
Knows Both Factions.
A moment or two later he made It
clear that he was in the closest touch
possible with the leaders Of both fac
tons.
Arthur Griffith" he said, has been
q frequent and honored visitor here
~ has been De Valera. They are
both good men and patrfots-men of
intelligence-but now that they are
fighting what Is to become Of Ire
land7
.suS.>~~ a. .-.,.zh a.. ~ --,a A. -
attitude of each Of them although
there can be no question about which
ones policy 10 the best for ireland.
de Valera Is like Wilson, not only
a. regards both Of them having been
school teachers, but in that kind of
stubborness, born Of extreme egoism.
- When was leader Of Tammany Hall
! always sought the advice of every.
body. even the Republicans-although
as often as not did not lot the other
fellow know that was seeking ad-
vice.
at Is the only thing that q leader
can do, unless he considers himself
above the party and II he thinks that,
why have a party? =
DE Valera has done fine work for
Ireland both as q soldier and as an
executive. but he has done no more
than Griffith. The point is that Ire
land has, too few such men and can
afford to lose neither Of them.
"Unhappily the thing has zone SO
fhr that I am very much afraid that
ireland n going to lose one Of them
and that one Is the one who has the
smallest number Of gunner behind
him.
What q pity It Is, to be sure.
For once again the British govern.
ment can put her case to the world
and say with uplifted eyes and sancti.
monious voice. See what we have
offered ireland and see how Ireland
has taken IT.
Bitter for Irish.
~Once again the English govern
msnt has traded successfully upon its
assumption that the Irish people are
not at to govern themselves. o.
course Il In q bitter pill for Irishmen
TO take the oath OF faithfulness to the
English king, but all that anybody