The New York herald., 1922-04-30


sioner of Public Works two years pre-
viously. 1t was also testified that Grant
| had given to Croker's little daughter
presents aggregating $4,000 Much %
! this testimony was uncorroborated. In
| spite of the revelations of vice in the
city under Tammany and of the i'm
mense sums raised by the organization
| from the business interests Croker re-
nominated and elected Grant in tbs sue
| ceeding election of 1890. achieving one
| of the most brilliant victories In his
career. Francis NJ. Scott, a Democrat.
on q citizens reform ticket was beaten
by $4,000 votes.
Croker followed this victory by an
other two years lates, electing Thomas
F., Gilroy. Tammany Grand Sachem, as
Mayor by a plurality of 5000. IT was
in this election that the record was
made in one election district of only
four votes cast against Crokers ticket.
Opposed Cleveland I'm 1892.
Croker. intrenched in his dictatorship.
opposed the denomination of Grover
| Cleveland in 1892 New York's candida tc
being David b. HILL But Croker did
not like Hill, and by many his opposi-
| tion to Cleveland was believed to have
beea a rather forced one. The entire
New York delegation. however. signed
the famous pronunciamento declaring
| that If Cleveland were renominated the
State of New York would be lost. I'm
the convention Bourke Cochran, then
hand and glove with Croker. delivered
| his philippe against the then Demo-
cratic President of the United States.
Nevertheless Cleveland was nominated
on the first ballot.
Withdre win 1894.
In May. 1894. at a time when Tam
many was facing the bitterest campaign
in its history, Croker suddenly called the
Tammany leaders together and resigned
his post as chairman Of the finance COM
mittee, declaring that his health could no
longer withstand the burdens which the
office entailed. This was his first abdi-
cation. 1t was accepted with a display
OF emotion on the part of the leaders
that made the scene a memorable one in
Tammany He'll.
BY his enemies ii was charged to a
lack Of courage on the part OF the hero
of so many political battle fields to face
inevitable defeat. His friends. however,
have always insisted that Croker then.
as in 1902. was actuated entirely by a
desire to get away from the burdens of
leadership and race his horses.
The Lexow investigation occurred that
year, but Croker was not put on the
stand. He returned from Europe ready
to testify. he said, but he did not assume
the actual reins or leadership. Tam
many, in consequence floundered
through the most disastrous campaign
in its history. managed by a committee
consisting Of Thomas f. Gilroy, James j.
Martin and Henry ID. Purroy The vic
tory OF Mayor Strong by $4,000 COM
pleted the disorganization Of the once
splendid machine that Croker had
created.
Il have retired absolutely. will,
rever again go into politics, or rather I
win never take any active part in the
management of political organization"
we're Crokers words when he gave up
LIS post. In 1895 John C. Sheehan was
named to nll Mr.. Croker's place. But
the faithful, men like Larry Delmour.
Andy Freedman. Maurice Holahan and
the Scannells, continued to look long
iigly across the water for Croker, still
protesting that he had quit for good.
Returned From Ireland in 1897.
The return from Elba. one OF the most
astonishing political events of MI.
Croker's picturesque career. occurred ir
the summer in 1897 after Sheehan had
borne the onus or the disastrous Bryan
campaign. characterized by Tammany's
weakhearted support Of the Peerless
Leader Disclaiming still any intention of
rcsuming the leadership. Croker suddenly
ir the fall sent for Sheehan and told
him TO take back seat. THE Boss has
come back" wac the joyful cry of the
faithful.
At meeting OF the leaders sheehan
.ta n nd al tad fp "a Ia
old place at the top of Tammany.
Croker dictated the nomination OF Robert
A. Van Wyck and won the frst cleo
ton for Mayor in Creators New Yorn
ON wide open town ticket. The
Braves returned to the public trough
singing the praises of their old chief.
It was the most notable triumph of his
life.
Croker, enthroned once more, with the
ecclamations of the faithful ringing in
lis ears opened his court at Lakewood,
following the election. 1t was there
that all the Tammanyites repaired and
there Croker parceled out the patronage,
nc more attention being paid to Mayor
elect Van Wyck than IL he had been a
bcliboy.
Ruled city Through Van wyck.
The four years OF the Van Wyck ad-
ministration marked the elimination OF
Croker's political career and was the
most picturesque period in the life OF
the old Tammany boss. No political
leader in America ever was SO feted,
flattered. courted and caressed as Cro-
ker was in the days when he held his
evces AZ the Democratic Club. Every
body If any Importance In the city adj
l,nis ration struggled to get his ear
nd IL one OF his favored courticrs.
AS II to mark his coronation, qen