The New York herald., 1922-04-30
Dared Defy Tweed as Ward
Leader, but Brooked No
Defiance Himself.
RETIRED TO IRISH HOME
Then Devoted Life to Horses
and Cattle and Forgot New
York Politics.

Richard Croker was the leader of
Tammany Hall when that position
carried with it virtually the political
mastery of New York city. A poll
tician of uncommon sagacity and
keenness. he united the warning ele-
ments in Tammany and ruled it with
more absolute sway than it had
ever known under his predecessors
Bill" Tweed and John Kelly.
Croker's rule over Tammany lasted
seventeen years. counting in the brief
period when. with Croker abroad. John
Z. Sheehan was it's titular head. In
those seventeen years Croker suffered
only two defeats in the city-the
election of William l.. Strong in 1894
and that of Seth Low in 1901. The
fealty Croker demanded from his fol-
lowers and the discipline he enforced
on those he put on Tammany tickets
has made that period unique in New
York politics.
The leader of the Hall in those years
was frequently referred to as New
York's uncrowned king" His career,
so far as New York politics were con-
cerned, ended characteristically and
dramatically in 1902 with an abdica-
ton that evoked tears from the Tam
many followers. Since then he had
lived the life of an Irish gentleman,
wrapped up in his horses and his
blooded cattle. and as far removed
from American politics as anybody
could very well be.
"FoIlowers His Slaves"
.'Dick Croker is the noblest work Of
God-an honest man.. said his prede-
cessor. John Kelly, just before his
DEATH and most cf Croker's followers
agreed with this and on the occasion
of his leave takings insisted that he
was the greatest leader Tammany ever
had. A man whose very name was
anatherna to the reform elements in
this city for years and regarded as the
incarnation of political unrighteousness
he evoked in consequence an almost
slavish loyalty from a large part Of
New York's population.
To many whose memories still stretch
back to the time when Croker ruled
New York he was the very ideal Of
political leader. Taciturn, sphinxlike
and bold at times to the point of
audacity, with a political sagacity al
most uncanny to his followers, he knew
how to reward and enrich the faithful
With the spoils of victory and to punish
the least infractions of his commands
He alone was the slatemaker in those
days and the dictator of appointments.
His power was no better evidenced than
In the scenes at Lakewood that fol-
lowed the election of Van wyck as
Greater New York's first Mayor. 1t
was Croker and not the Mayor elect
that was followed and courted through
hotel corridors by the horde of ap-
plicants for office brought there by the
greatest victory in Croker's career.
Justice DAILY Dened Him.
II was the disciplinary system insti-
futed by Croker that in part was re-
sponsible for his success in making
Tammany powerful after record OF
cisorganization, and this same system
brought down on Croker's head some
or the worst storms of his career. 1t
led to murmurings and an outburst
when he went SO far as to demand from
Justice Joseph F. Daily of the Supreme
fourt that he appoint personal friend
Of Croker's. Michael T. DAILY, as chief
clerk, on the ground that as Judge DAILY
mad been eluected by Tammany he
must obey its orders
with the stubborness for which he
was famous Croker, on his refusal.
turned Judge Daily down for a renomi-
nation, though II meant facing a storm
f1e elected Justice Leventrtt, whom he
had nominated In his stead, but Il cost
him. n the epinion of many the State
ticket that year. which for the first
and only time in his career he had
dictated, and made Theodore Roosevelt
Governor.
Physical prowess and courage were
responsible chiefly for the early rise OF
young Croker, the son Of an Irish emf
grant, from the level Of the East Side
political gangs. He had IL hard fist
and could shoot II straight.
This physical prowess may have been
due to the fact that his father was a
blacksmith. But though blacksmith,
he did not have the humble lineage
which many attributed to him On the
contrary. Croker's father, Eyre Coot
Croker, came of a family which for six
generations had owned their own land
in Ireland and was, as things went
there. of the gentry. His ancestors had
Included officers OF rank in the English
army and even member OF Parliament
Richard Croker was the youngest OF
seven children and was born on Novem-
0ci -, lofo, III the NilidBt OF 1dSlletOWn-
roche, Cork. -Four years afterward the
Croker family, feeling the effect OF
famine then sweeping Ireland, resolved
10 come to this country. The Croker
brood were all packed in a sailing ship.
passed through Castle Garden, the Ellis
Island Of those days. and went TO live
In a little house on the Bloomingdale
Road. Here they remained for some
years until the father moved them
downtown and put his son Richard In
= school in East Twenty-seventh street
Richard Croker--fie seldom used his mid
die name Of Welstead-got his only
Schooling there. At Is he went to work
in the machine shops of the New York
rentral
Il The East Side of New York was then
IN the grip OF several gangs. One OF
them was the Fourth Avenue Tunnel
gang. BY whipping most OF the local
fistic celebrities Of his quarter Croker,
while still a lad. had lifted himself
From a neighborhood obscurity to a po-
sition af some fame In the eyes OF the
IA